Texas High School Boys Team Spotlight – Clements Rangers
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The high school soccer season is underway in the state of Texas and until mid-April, then the State Tournament will be held, thousands of teams will be in action all across the Lone Star State competing for a spot in…
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Continue ReadingThe high school soccer season is underway in the state of Texas and until mid-April, then the State Tournament will be held, thousands of teams will be in action all across the Lone Star State competing for a spot in the playoffs.
Prep Soccer will be following the action and constantly providing match reports on some of the most exciting duels and highlighting the players that are standing out for their teams. We’ll also be presenting some of the most promising teams that we get to watch live so you know them a little bit better.
Fort Bend Clements Rangers
The Fort Bend Clements Rangers from Sugar Land are part of UIL’s Division 6A – Region 3, District 20. They won the State Championship back in 2014 but have never moved past the regional semifinals since then. Last year, the Rangers returned to the playoffs for the first time in three years and this season they have a handful of seniors who can make a difference in the midfield and the attack.
Players to Watch
Jay Brandon Manuel
Jay Brandon Manuel
It would be fair to say that Manuel is the most important player in Clements’ defensive system. He typically plays on the left side of the team’s backline and uses his mobility and great reaction speed to cover for his teammates. Manuel is not extremely physical or tall, but plays hard and is very efficient on the turf and it the air. He’s always very calm on the field and reads the game well on both sides of the ball, making good interceptions on defense and connecting good passes when in possession.
Rahul Moriarty Rahul Moriarty F TX
Rahul Moriarty Rahul Moriarty F TX
A skilled and versatile player, Moriarty can play basically anywhere between the midfield and the frontline. He’s been used in a deeper midfield role this season, from where he can dictate the tempo with his great passing skills and also use his size to shield the backline and help on defense. Moriarty is very clean on the ball and has a very high success rate with his passes, using either fit to find teammates in good offensive spots and to break defensive lines.
Maesum Brito
Maesum Brito
Playing in a more advanced role in Clements’ midfield, Brito is the team’s main playmaker. He typically stars more centrally, but is very good at moving to the sides and finding pockets between the defensive lines from where he can initiate plays. Brito is a very good passer and has excellent vision, but can also create plays on his own with his ability to improvise when dribbling the ball and his directness. He’s also very good at making late runs to the penalty box to get on the end of crosses and finish plays.
Julyen Broussard
Julyen Broussard
Clements’ captain, Broussard fluctuates between the team’s midfield and its frontline. He normally plays more on the left side of field, but is really dangerous when bringing the ball inside by either making individual runs or combining with his teammates. Broussard is really good on the ball and uses his size well to shield it from opponents. He’s also got good pace and is dangerous when making runs off the ball into open spaces.
Chris McMeans
Chris McMeans
A very complete offensive player, McMeans is the hub for Clements’ offensive game. Although tall and strong, he’s very mobile and can be deployed either more centrally, as a target man, or wider, creating from the sides. He’s very good in controlling long balls and holding it until his teammates approach too. McMeans works really with and without the ball, but is also very intelligent with his decisions. He’s not afraid to attempt finishes from anywhere and sometimes is rewarded for that.