Nation Ford’s Tyler Otwell goes for a pass around a Clover defender during Tuesday’s match.

Sophomore Sam Sykes and senior Andy Young each scored Tuesday night to help the Clover boys soccer team to a 2-0 road win over region rival Nation Ford in Fort Mill.

The win helps the Blue Eagles, which improved to 12-2-1 overall and 4-1 Region 3-5A, pull even with Nation Ford, who fell to 10-4 overall and 4-1 in the region standings.

Coming into Tuesday’s matchup, Clover’s lone region loss had been a 3-2 home loss to Nation Ford on March 14.

“They get all the credit,” said Nation Ford head coach Kenny Halas. “We weren’t awake in the beginning of the game. (Clover) deserved the win.”

Clover head coach Graham Stafford said his starting goalkeeper was out with illness while a starting center back went down early. Junior midfielder James Jenkin deputized between the sticks and pulled off several key saves to help secure a shutout against the Falcons.

“We had so many injuries,” he said. “We were the walking wounded. We had to change our style of play a little today. We had to play more direct, and it worked out for us.”

Clover provided several threatening attacks in the first half.

As early as the 13th minute, Young cut in from the left wing and hit a hard shot from the top of the box, but his effort curled past the far post.

Both teams traded strong chances, but the Blue Eagles finally struck paydirt in the 23th minute.

A Blue Eagles’ midfielder pumped in a cross from the far side, which invited a quick shot. The rebound off Morris came directly to Sykes, who was on hand at the top of the penalty box to smack a laser of a shot past Morris and into the Nation Ford net to give Clover a 1-0 lead.

Nation Ford had chances of its own. Junior Jackson Reinhardt found himself charging at the Clover goal in the 30th minute, but he had a narrow angle against Jenkin, who handled Reinhardt’s shot well.

Sophomore Tyler Otwell had a chance of his own just five minutes later, when his cross-come-shot forced Jenkin into a save at his near post.

Clover nearly capitalized on a Nation Ford error when two Falcons defenders were unable to clear their line. Junior Grady Pierce had a chance to double the Clover lead, but Morris did well to make the necessary save.

Young provided the final blow after the break. With 23 minutes to play in the second half, the striker fought hard to make a darting run down the left wing, held off a defender, and hit a missile from outside of the box to seal the win.

Senior Eric Pinski had a chance at a consolation goal for Nation Ford with five minutes left, but his half-volley from about 10 yards out was wide of the mark.

“They had great finishes,” Halas said. “Their goals were two really good shots. We didn’t have that quality. Just a lot of missed opportunities.”

Stafford said his team will focus only on the next game ahead, rather than the region standings.

“I’m just super proud today,” he said. “Every man, to a man, stepped up tonight.”

Both teams will return home for a region game Thursday, March 30. Nation Ford will host visiting Blythewood, while Clover will tackle Spring Valley (Columbia).

Nation Ford defeated Blythewood 2-0 earlier this month on the road.

The Falcons’ Colin Evans sneaks in between two Clover defenders.