Next weekend, both the U19s and U17s at Black Rock FC will fly to Las Vegas to compete in the Players College Showcase, one of the biggest recruiting events on the West Coast. The Showcase is hosted at Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex. The showcase itself features elite teams from ECNL, MLS Next, and other top programs, with college coaches from across the country coming to watch. For all the players, this is one of the biggest opportunities they have had to get college exposure this year.
Unlike an average tournament, the showcase consists of multiple matches, guaranteeing all teams equal opportunity to display their ability. This 4-game schedule in 3 days puts teams under extreme fatigue. Black Rock FC’s schedules for both the U17s and U19s are strong and demanding, so it will be interesting to see how the program does.
The U17 group has its first game of the showcase next Friday evening against NM Rapids SC, a top ECNL side. Saturday for the U17s is then a double header, with games against CDA Slammers ECNL and Cleveland Football Academy. That will test the U17s fitness but also give them plenty of opportunity to perform. Lastly, they play Las Vegas Sports Academy of MLS Next on Sunday Morning to finish off the showcase. This matchup might be the hardest of all 4 games.
Black Rock FC’s U19 side will have 4 big games. They open the showcase with a Friday game against IMG Academy, a program that is well known across the country. They will then play against an ECNL side, an MLS NEXT side, and Hawaii Rush.
Photo from playersshowcase.com.
Off the pitch, Las Vegas will be a fantastic opportunity for the Black Rock program to come closer. A highlight off the pitch will be a team roller coaster ride with a beautiful view of Las Vegas’s nightlife. It will also be a wonderful experience flying across the country to enjoy the warm weather that we do not get here in Lake Placid.
As both Black Rock teams depart next Friday, the focus will be on representing the program as best as they can. In this intense showcase setting, every minute and action on the field will matter, and overall, it will be an experience that does not happen too often.
