NCFC Youth Alum, Evan Retzlaff, A Part Of History

This past weekend, Johnson and Wales University (JWU) Charlotte Men’s Soccer made history by winning the USCAA National Championship for the first time and NCFC Youth alum, Evan Retzlaff, was a part of it. Evan started playing with CASL/NCFC Youth when he was 5 years old. He started with our Recreation program before he moved up to Classic and then finally the ECNL Regional League. Through NCFC Youth, Evan was able to participate in State Cups and compete in Regionals. Through the years of training and opportunity to compete in meaningful events, Evan felt well prepared to transition to the college game.

JWU Charlotte Men's Soccer program started in 2015, and Evan joined the team in 2019. He currently is a Junior and serves as a co-captain for the soccer team.

Evan and his teammates went to Nationals with one goal, which was to bring the cup back to Charlotte. JWU Charlotte competed against Berkeley College (NJ) for the USCAA National Championship. JWU Charlotte scored 2 goals midway through the first half and continued to pressure Berkeley who were very strong in possession. In the 70th minute, JWU Charlotte added a 3rd goal. Soon after, Berkeley scored a penalty kick and quickly followed with a second goal, making the score 3-2. With 5 minutes remaining, JWU Charlotte added a 4th goal, sealing the victory.

Tommy Retzlaff, Evan’s father, says, “The intensity of the matches at Nationals was through the roof - the guys really stepped and thrived in the event - they were unphased by the excitement and hype of the environment”.

Evan and teammates were over the moon after his team pulled the victory! He says, “Winning the final was surreal!

We love seeing our alumni shine and seeing the accomplishments of college programs. Congratulations to Evan, JWU Charlotte, and the JWU Charlotte Soccer program and players!

Thank you Tommy Retzlaff, Evan's father, for providing us the information and play by play of the game. Tommy is a coach in our Classic (2007 Premier G) and Challenge (2011 NCFC Spirit G) programs and he's also a part of our Coaching Education Cohort.

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NCFC Youth Joins the National Premier Leagues

By Georgia Kelley • 03 Apr, 2024

North Carolina FC Youth to Join the National Premier Leagues North Carolina FC Youth is excited to announce that we will be joining the National Premier Leagues (NPL) beginning Fall 2024. NCFC Youth will have one team competing in the league from each of the U13 – U19 age groups for both the boys and girls divisions. Acceptance into the league will provide players on participating teams the opportunity to compete against fellow NPL clubs. The National Premier Leagues (NPL) provides a unified national developmental platform to various member leagues throughout the country. The NPL’s mission is to facilitate more meaningful games, reduce travel and provide a pathway to postseason competition. “We are excited to officially join the National Premier Leagues for the upcoming 2024-2025 season,” said Classic Director, Bobby Johnston. “Their core values and mission align with the experiences we want to provide our membership. This will be a wonderful addition to our player pathway and provide another opportunity for competitive games.” Information regarding tryouts, coaching staff, and which teams are participating in the NPL will be announced within the following weeks. Players not currently playing for NCFC Youth that would like more information can reach out to Bobby.Johnston@NCFCYouth.com. To learn more about the NPL, click here . NCFC Youth is a Proud Member of: Elite Clubs National League Elite Clubs National League Regional League National Premier Leagues North Carolina Youth Soccer Association