Episode 19 — Raising the Bar

How MCSA’s new Napa United partnership brings MLS NEXT & Girls Academy opportunities home.In this episode, Executive Director Ian Fitzpatrick and Club President & Director of Coaching Shane Huff take you inside a game-changing move for Mendocino County Sports Academy.Our new strategic partnership with Napa United connects MCSA’s U13–U19 soccer players to the elite MLS NEXT and Girls Academy platforms —the same leagues where top college prospects and future professionals are developed —without leaving the community that shaped them.Ian and Shane share why this is more than just a pathway for our top players. It’s a blueprint for raising the standard across the club, deepening opportunities, and keeping our identity intact while expanding what’s possible. They walk through how players are identified, how collaboration with Napa United works day-to-day, and what this means for families in terms of training, games, and long-term development.If you’ve been with MCSA from the beginning or are just discovering us, this is an inside look at where we’re headed — and why we believe the future of youth sports here is brighter than ever.