ROUND ROCK, TX - On Friday night the stars of ECNL Regional League Texas were out at Round Rock Multipurpose Complex for the Continental Tire ECNL Regional League Selection Game. 

Minutes into the second half the East got on the board first when Josue Moreno (DKSC) got on the end of a dangerous corner kick played into the box and headed it home to put the East up 1-0.

Both sides had great chances throughout the second half, but East goalie Bernardo Caminiti (Doral SC) and West goalie Daniel Salib (Albion Hurricanes FC) made key saves to keep the game at 1-0.

The West kept pushing for the equalizer though and eventually broke through on a goal from Steven Curran (Rebels SC) to knot the game up at 1-1.

With the game tied at 1-1 the two sides had to go to penalty kicks to decide a winner.

For the East, Noah Rehburg (Sting SC), Jaxon Ottosen (Union KC), Michael Long (Dynamos SC), and Alexis Hernandez (Challenge SC) all converted their penalty kicks, while for the West, Reed Wearner (Colorado Rapids), Mateo Palma (Lonestar SC), Hector Morales (One World Soccer), and Cameron Ayoade (Kansas Rush) converted their shots in the opening rounds.

In sudden death, Manny Hernandez (Libertyville FC 1974) made a huge stop to put the West one shot away from the win. Cameron Rothgeb (FC Westlake) then stepped up and put in the game-winning penalty to grab the 5-4 win on penalties for the West.

After the game, Isaac Alford (Boise Timbers) was named Player of the Match for his outstanding defensive effort throughout the course of the game.

“I was nervous going into it, but it was fun,” Alford said after the game. “I was able to help control the pace of the game.”

Alford said the massive crowd and atmosphere of the game helped pushed the West on as they rallied in the second half and then outlasted the East in penalties.

“The crowd was very loud. It helped us push to get the win. It was just a fun time.”

Perfect Weekends

This weekend in Texas, 15 teams won all three of their games across the four age groups. In the B07/06 Regional League, Charlotte Independence, De Anza Force, Kansas Rush, and Solar SC all went 3-0, while in the B08 Regional League, Colorado Rapids, Doral SC, Kansas City Surf, PSA Monmouth, and Solar SC went 3-0. In the younger age groups, Association FC, BVBIA, Lonestar SC Red, and SAFC went 3-0 in the B09 age group, while Dallas Texans Academy and Solar SC were 3-0 in the B10 age group.

Kansas Rush B07/06 Posts 3-0 Weekend in Texas

Kansas Rush B07/06 was outstanding in Texas winning all three of their games against Mississippi Rush United, FC Dallas, and NTX Celtic. Kansas Rush Technical Director Daouda Kante, who was named the ECNL Regional League Coach of the Year last summer, said the experience for his players to play competition from other areas of the country is instrumental for his players’ development.

“The competition is great. There’s diversity with teams coming from different areas of the country, and for our players to be exposed to college showcases, we are very grateful,” Kante said. “For us to play against different styles and different formations, that will really help our players' development going forward.”