Lonestar SC South U17s finish ECNL Boys Texas Event with perfect record

Day 3 at ECNL Texas kicked off with the Indiana Elite U17 squad facing off against the hometown team, Lonestar SC South, for the third and final Featured Match of the Day. And once again, the Featured Match of the Day did not disappoint.

Lonestar SC South came out of the game with their foot on the gas, generating scoring chances immediately. Just six minutes into the contest, Lonestar jumped out to a 1-0 lead as Aaron Olalde ripped a shot from 30 yards out into the top right corner of the net.

Lonestar SC’s goal set the tone, and the Texas-based club continued to add pressure to the Indiana back line, searching for an insurance goal. But despite peppering the Indiana Elite net, their goalkeeper kept everything in front of him.

“We had a lot of possession in the first half,” said Lonestar SC’s Judson Anderson. We just weren’t able to finish our chances.”

As the half wore on, Indiana Elite started to earn its chances, moving the ball away from their defensive zone and into the attacking third. Earning free kicks and scoring chances, Indiana Elite looked like it would gain an equalizer, and their attack came to a head in the 41st minute.

Indiana Elite’s Patrick Mikina had the ball at his feet at the top of the 18-yard box and banged a shot on net. His shot went just past the diving keeper and into the bottom left corner of the net, tying the game at 1-1 just before the end of the first half.

At the start of the second half, after a back and forth first, the two sides settled in to the match, resulting in significant midfield play by both sides. Early on, Lonestar SC earned a fantastic look on net, but the Indiana Elite goalkeeper pushed the shot over the bar before it found the back of the net.

The two sides battled in the midfield and each generated scoring chances throughout the half, but neither side was able to break through. It seemed the game was destined for a 1-1 draw, but just before the final whistle, the game saw one more goal.

Lonestar SC earned a corner kick on the right side of the pitch, sending a service into the box for one last scoring chance. The Indiana Elite goalkeeper punched the ball away, but it stayed in the box. Lonestar SC picked up the rebound and put a shot on net that was blocked by the Indiana Elite defense. On the clear, Anderson stole the ball and chipped a shot into the back of the net, giving Lonestar SC a 2-1 lead in the 88th minute.

“In the second half, it was a lot of the same, we weren’t able to get many chances,” Anderson said. “At the end though, Ryan Carlton hit a cross in, the ball goes off the keeper but I was able to hit it in.”

Two minutes later, the final whistle sounded and Lonestar SC earned the win. And with victories on Saturday and Sunday, the team went a perfect 3-0-0 at ECNL Texas.

“It was an exciting weekend,” Anderson said. “I think this is the first ECNL national showcase to be here in Round Rock. It was great to play here and was really fun.”

To view the complete scores and schedule for ECNL Texas, click here.