The 2023 HFC Spring season finally came to an end on July 14twhen our final competing team had their attempt at winning a National Championship in Norco, CA, cut short on PKs! This season has been the longest and most successful season the club has ever had with not just one but TWO teams competing in National Championships this July. Check out their stories below:
2004/2005 ECNL RL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS 2023 Orlando, Florida
After an amazing season, playing both ECNL RL and National League P.R.O., these boys achieved a first ever in HFC history by qualifying for the National Championship in Orlando, FL. In their regular season, they were Carolinas Conference Champions for ECNL RL. In National League P.R.O. they achieved second in their division and qualified for the National Championship in Orlando, FL in July 2023. The boys were initially scheduled to be the 3rd boys team heading to Nationals but sadly were unable to attend the event due to an oversight. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and know that those graduating boys will have exciting careers ahead of them!
2008 Boys Premier | USYS Presidents National Championship | Wichita, Kansas
In the Spring of 2022 the 08 boys, led by Coach Lacasto, created history by lifting the NC Presidents State Cup. Fast forward a year, no one could have anticipated that they would become Back-to-back state champions... well, that's a lie, this team always knew they'd do it again! However, this season, winning the state championship wasn't enough! Following an incredible win within the state cup, the boys advanced to regionals in Greenville, SC. This event was the most prestigious event they'd competed in to date. With the incredible belief, grit and determination that they have generated of the years, the boys defied all odds and despite going into the final four as a wildcard seed, they prevailed as regional champions! The immense success that this team created in GVL, simply meant that they had one more event to attend this, Summer. A big trip to Kansas to compete for the big prize of being a National Champ. As always, the boys entered with thier 'underdog' mentality and were minutes away from a place in the final four, only to be sent back to AVL in the Elite 8. The boys finished the National Group play with a win, a tie and a loss. We could not be prouder of the journey this team went through this summer and if anyone knows any producers, we know this team would make an unbelievable Netflix series 😉! Here is to becoming Back-to-Back-Back state champs next year...!
2007 ECNL RL | ECNL RL National Championship | Norco, California
With the 22/23 season being the club's debut season within ECNL RL, the 2007 Boys were competing in the ECNL RL for the first time in club history this spring. If you ever watched this team, you would certainly not have expected to hear they were in their debut season! The boys were nothing short of fantastic and their route to CA was incredible.
Regular Season | Carolinas Conference Champions
Post Season | South-East Regional Champions
After an incredible 3-1 win in the regional final, the boys booked their tickets for an unforgettable week to CA. Sadly, for the boys, their dreams of lifting a National Championship were cut short in the Elite-8 in a heartbreaking PK shootout. The boys were superb throughout the game, but conceded late and sadly with the momentum shift, could not quite recover. Despite this, for a debut season, finishing in the final 8 of the entire country is no easy feat and the boys can look back on what has been a history making season with immense pride. The team already has their eyes set on going one step further next summer, with a firm target of becoming the first HFC team to win a national championship.
Honorable mention must go to our 04/05 HFC Boys. The boys were initially scheduled to be the 3rd boys team heading to Nationals but due to a late change, sadly were unable to attend the event. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and know that those graduating boys will have excited careers ahead of them!