Through the relationship with the United Soccer League, the Super Y League's USL Experience is an elite multi-day residential event unlike any other across North America. That notion rings true for FCV Annandale forward Keira Shoup, who attended the inaugural edition of the USL Experience, hosted by FC Cincinnati in 2016, and will attend the 2017 USL Experience in San Antonio, Texas.

"The USL Experience in Cincinnati was completely different than anything I had done before," Shoup said. "It was so fun getting to be treated like a real professional player, and the level of competition was just so high because everyone around you was at the top level, so it was really great."

The USL Experience provides top SYL players with some of the highest-level youth competition in the country and also deliveres a unique look into professional American soccer. The elite player program offers players the opportunity to train and compete like a pro, interact with professional players and coaching staff and receive access to professional training facilities.

• RELATED: 72 SYL Players to Attend 2017 USL Experience

A total of 70 players, including Shoup, took part in the first USL Experience, participating in a media day – which included a photo shoot and interviews – training and playing at FC Cinncinati's home venue in Nippert Stadium and attending a USL rivalry match between FC Cincinnati and Louisville City FC. The players also met and talked with the USL club's staff, including Head Coach John Harkes.

"I made friends from different states that I probably would have never met before. There's so many different people from different regions there," Shoup said. "I just got to meet a lot of different cool people who really love soccer."

The 2017 USL Experience will take place from March 30-April 2, and 72 Super Y League players are ready to attend. San Antonio FC, which is preparing for its second season in the USL and is led by Managing Director and former USL President Tim Holt, will host the event. Darren Powell serves as Head Coach for San Antonio FC, one of five sports franchises owned by Spurs Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the National Basketball Association’s San Antonio Spurs. The USL club plays its home matches at Toyota Field and will host the LA Galaxy II during the elite player program on April 1.

"Being on the field at halftime of the USL game [in 2016] was pretty scary because there was so many people, so many eyes watching you," Shoup said, "but it was just fun to get to be down on the field with the actual professional players."

Now, Shoup and 71 more of the Super Y League's top players are set to be recognized during the April 1 match at Toyota Stadium, and it is a moment she is psyched for.

"I'm definitely looking forward to going to the USL Experience in 2017," Shoup said.