ECNL Boys South Carolina National Event: Day 3 Recap

Daily Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2

The ECNL Boys South Carolina National Event concluded Sunday with over 50 teams competing in the U-13 and U-14 age groups.

Continue reading for a rundown of the action.

Putting the Team On Your Back

There may have not been a better individual effort at ECNL South Carolina than that of Atlanta Fire United U13’s Mason Peacock.

In the team’s contest against BVB IA North Texas on Saturday, Peacock logged two of Atlanta’s three goals, and followed it up with an even better outing Sunday.

Peacock scored two goals in the run of play and converted two penalty kicks, recording all four Atlanta tallies as his side defeated Ohio Elite by a score of 4-2.

“Mason is a special player for us,” said Alex Pineda Chacon, Atlanta Fire United’s Head Coach. “He’s special not just at our club but across Georgia as well. He’s a player that has that potential to make it to the next level and he showed everyone why.”

The first and fourth scores came in the run of play, displaying Peacock’s ability to find open space and exploit it. On the first goal, which came in the opening minutes of the game, Peacock found an open patch near the back post and when a cross found his feet, he made no mistake about his shot. For the fourth tally of the game, Peacock ran onto a lead pass from a teammate, held off a defender and knocked a low shot into the corner.

As for the penalties, Peacock buried his shot both times, going low and to the keeper’s right, out of reach of the netminder.

In just three games, Peacock recorded six goals and accounted for 75 percent of his team’s tallies. An impressive weekend for sure.

That’s a wrap ? it’s been real, #ECNLSC pic.twitter.com/0P2vuzuAvc

— ECNL Boys (@ECNLBoys) May 10, 2021

Sunday Funday

Heading into Sunday, NTH-NASA U13 was looking to end ECNL South Carolina on a high note.

The team had played well against its opponents NCFC Youth on Friday and Pipeline SC on Saturday, but was still searching for that elusive win, with Sunday’s game against South Carolina United as the team’s last chance.

NTH-NASA started the game out on the front foot, earning a 1-0 lead early into the contest. Sairis Panah got loose from the South Carolina defense and charged in on the goalie alone with the ball at his feet. A quick poke to the right and the ball went straight into the netting for the score.

NTH-NASA continued to press throughout the remainder of the first half, but South Carolina kept the game within striking distance, forcing the game to halftime with a 1-0 score line.

Coming out of the half, NTH-NASA was determined to increase their lead and was rewarded early on. After a service into the box, a deflection forced the ball into the air. The South Carolina United goalkeeper challenged for the 50/50 ball, but Noah Bright managed to get his head on it first, knocking it across the line to give the Atlanta-based team a 2-0 lead.

As the half wound down, South Carolina pressed harder and harder, getting numerous looks late in the contest off corner kicks and other set pieces. However, NTH-NASA refused to let one across the line and at the final whistle, NTH-NASA had earned their victory.

“You feel like you’re so close every game, every one’s a nailbiter,” said Mike Gailey, NTH-NASA Head Coach. “So to end the weekend with a win after a draw and a loss, it feels good. It’s day three, everyone’s tired, everyone’s ready to go home, but it was good for us to end the weekend with a win.”