The stars of the ECNL were out all weekend in Florida in both the Continental Tire ECNL National Selection Game and the Continental Tire ECNL Regional League Selection Game.

In Saturday night’s Continental Tire National Selection Game from Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, the West team took a 1-0 lead into halftime and were able to double that lead in the 56th minute of the second half on a goal from Sammie Walker (Baltimore Celtic).

Just minutes later though, Nick Sarantakos (Richmond United) fired in a laser from inside the box to quickly cut the West’s lead in half and make the game 2-1.

In the 64th minute, Elijah Vivanco (United Futbol Academy) slotted home the West’s third goal of the night to again put the West up by two goals.

The West would tack one more in the final minutes of the game to secure a 4-1 victory.

After the game, Vivanco, who was named the Player of the Match, credited the victory to the chemistry his team was able to establish.

“It definitely was a great experience with all the different players. I think we had very good connection and chemistry,” Vivanco said.

A night earlier, the stars of the ECNL Regional League took the stage at Seminole Soccer Complex.

The East snatched the early 1-0 lead in the 15th minute when Cole Martin (Boulder County United) converted a great finish at the near post off a corner kick.

The East held the lead throughout most of the first half until Perry Neuman (Sporting Iowa) fired home a great finish from inside the box to knot the game up going into halftime.

That goal before the half provided the West the spark they needed, as they were able to carry the momentum over into the second half.

In the 52nd minute, after a great pass into him, Max Cooper (Virginia Reign FC) put home a rebound from his initial shot inside the box to put the West ahead 2-1.

In the 71st minute, Eli Bush (Blast FC Soccer Academy) ripped a shot into the lower left corner from the top of the box to double the West lead at 3-1.

Just minutes later, Mykah Harris (Washington Premier FC) launched home the West’s fourth goal of the night to secure the 4-1 victory.

After the game, Max Cooper was named the Player of the Match, after he sparked the West’s strong second half with his goal. Cooper noted the goal before halftime gave the team the momentum they needed going into the second half.

“Scoring the goal gave us the momentum,” Cooper said. “We got our energy going. We talked at halftime and we figured it out together. We came out and brought the heat and that was the key to the win.”

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