ECNL Boys Regional League Selection Game: West Team wins PK shootout in Texas

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. (ROSTERS)

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.”