ECNL Boys 2023 National Playoffs: Day 2 Recap

Monday’s action at the 2023 ECNL Boys National Playoffs saw the second day of competition for the U17 and U18/19 age groups, as well as play get underway in the Champions League for both the U13 and U14 age groups.

A total of 112 teams among the U13s and U14s took the field for their first time in Greensboro, with their sights set on starting off their group stage campaigns with a win.

U17 Champions League: Mustang SC vs Solar SC 4-3

In the 06 Champions League on Monday, Mustang SC earned a wild 4-3 win over Solar SC on a stoppage time winner.

Right before the half, Solar grabbed a goal from Ryan Schryver to take a 1-0 lead into the break. Mustang answered the goal quickly once the second half began. In the 46th minute, Matthew Aldana scored his first of the game to knot things up at 1-1.

With the game tied at 1-1, things really picked up in the final 20 minutes. Aldana struck again, burying a volley off the post and in to give Mustang the 2-1 lead. Just minutes later though, Solar responded from the penalty spot to tie things up once again.

The goal scoring wasn’t done yet though. In the 85th minute, Chad Kuykendall worked his way around the Solar keeper and was able to tap in Mustang’s third goal of the game for what looked like a massive game winner.

(+READ: ECNL Boys 2023 National Playoffs: Day 1 Recap)

With Solar desperately pushing for a stoppage time equalizer, a foul was called inside the box to set Solar up with a huge penalty kick opportunity to tie the game in the dying moments. Christopher Nezianya calmly stepped up and buried the penalty to once again level things, this time at 3-3.

Mustang frantically sent the ball downfield on the ensuing kickoff, and just moments later, in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Harry Herlich fired home the seventh goal of the game and sent the entire Mustang team running down the sideline to celebrate the huge 4-3 win.

U13 Champions League: Nationals SC vs SLSG Illinois 3-0

On the opening day of group play games at the U13 age group, Nationals SC picked up a big 3-0 win over SLSG Illinois to open up their playoff campaign.

After the game, Nationals Head Coach Chris King talked about the nerves players still get at this age group, but once his team was able to get into the rhythm of the game they were able to deal with this more and more.

“At this age they’re always going to carry nerves,” King said. “It takes time to get into the rhythm of the game, but as the game went on they got better and better and I’m happy with them. They’re confident and they’re ready to go.”

(+READ: ECNL Boys Regional League champions crowned across the country)

King also emphasized that the result came from a strong team performance. Although he had some standout individuals, he gave the credit to his whole team after the game, saying it would not have happened without the collective effort of everyone.

“Ultimately, I’m going to give it to all of them. They won together,” King said. “We’re a team, that’s what I told them from the beginning until the end. We have players that had special performances, but they can’t be special if the players around them aren’t doing their job.”

U14 Champions League: Beach FC vs STA 2-2 

In the U14 Champions League, Beach FC and STA opened up their group stage play with a thrilling 2-2 draw on Monday evening.

With the two sides going into the halftime break scoreless, the action really picked up once the second half got underway.

Beach FC got on the board off a goal from a corner kick in the opening minutes of the second half, but that was quickly answered with a goal from John Martinez off a corner kick to tie things up at 1-1.

STA then grabbed the lead back on a great ball into the box to Dylan Mazzarella who worked his way past a defender and fired home a goal to give STA the 2-1 advantage in the 62nd minute.

Beach FC battled back though. On a great set piece, Juan Daniel Martinez found himself open in the box, and with his back turned to the goal, headed the ball over the keeper to tie things up once again.

The game continued to be wide open in the final 20 minutes, with both teams searching for the game winner, but the 2-2 draw held up, with the teams sharing the points in their group stage opener.

After the game, Beach FC Head Coach Juan De Arcos, credited the pressure that his forwards and wingers were able to put on STA and how they were strong in possession throughout stretches of the game.

De Arcos noted that in such a tight game against a quality opponent, the little details of the game are what his team needs to continue to work on moving forward.

“I thought we came out strong in the first half trying to keep possession,” De Arcos said. “STA is a great team as well so we just need to work on the little details going forward.”

As for the result, De Arcos believes a draw was fair for both sides. With chances for both teams to steal the game throughout the second half, consistency is the key to getting results in these types of games.

“It could have gone to either side,” De Arcos. “At this level, it’s a type of game where you’ve got to be consistent, keep the ball, maintain and protect it, and work together as a team.”