MOJO Showcase – The Strong Defenders
As many as 35 high school boys teams from several regions of Texas were in action between Thursday and Saturday in the Katy area as 11 different venues in the region hosted the traditional season-opening tournament MOJO Showcase, which was…
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Continue ReadingAs many as 35 high school boys teams from several regions of Texas were in action between Thursday and Saturday in the Katy area as 11 different venues in the region hosted the traditional season-opening tournament MOJO Showcase, which was first played in 2018.
Prep Soccer was in attendance during the first two days of the event and we were able to watch eight different teams compete -Eisenhower, Fort Bend Clements, George Ranch, Memorial, Royal, Shadow Creek, Seven Lakes and Tompkins.
Several prospects stood out in the matches involving these teams and we’re going over each of them during the week – let’s look at the center backs now:
Jacob Robisch
Jacob Robisch
A very reliable defender, Robisch offered a high level of consistency to Tompkins’ backline. He thrives for his positioning and often gets in good spots to intercept passes and make stops. Robisch also has good size and is very strong in the air, providing a solid offensive weapon in set pieces too. He does a good job with the ball at his feet as well, connecting simple passes and not getting too exposed to big risks on the back.
Javier Mestre
Javier Mestre
Mestre was one of the reasons to Seven Lakes’ defensive solidness during the MOJO Showcase. A center back with excellent mobility, he’s very good in 1v1 situations and has enough pace to recover and challenge attackers a second time when he’s beat. He’s also very efficient when building out of the back, finding good passes towards the sidelines and get the team out of pressure. Mestre also jumps well and has good positioning on the attacking penalty box in set pieces.
Reid Longwell
Reid Longwell
George Ranch’s captain, Longwell anchored the team’s backline during the tournament and helped the Longhorns secure two clean sheets in three matches. He’s very strong physically and tall and wins most of the aerial duels he’s involved with. Longwell is also a strong 1v1 defender and is one of those players who come back stronger for a second tackle after they’re beaten on the first one. He’s also really good at understanding what each play requires from him and is not shy of clearing the ball when needed.
Jay Brandon Manuel
Jay Brandon Manuel
Manuel emerged as a key piece in his Fort Bend Clements team against Eisenhower. Playing on the left side of the defense, he is very quick and smooth with his actions and rarely misses a play. Although he’s not the tallest or most physical defender, Manuel thrives for his positioning and quickness, anticipating plays and cutting passing lanes really well. He’s also very good and very calm on the ball and plays a big role in the team’s buildup, distributing the ball from the back.
Edson Meijia
Edson Meijia
Meijia was one of the bright spots in his Eisenhower team, leading the team’s defensive efforts. He’s not very tall, but has good strength and pace. Meijia uses his body well to shield the ball and is hard to beat in physical plays. He’s also very calm on the ball and doesn’t rush plays out of the back, hitting good and efficient passes that help the team advance the ball.