ECNL New Jersey: Defenders to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The ECNL Girls is heading to New Jersey this weekend for its tenth Showcase in the season and the last before the start of the playoffs, in June.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The event will feature three days of competition across Memorial Day Weekend with as many as 166 teams from the 15s, 16s and 17s divisions set to take the field in Sommerset.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There will be some intriguing talent in action at the event and these five defenders will likely have big weekends with their teams:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["89216"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Klein was one of the top center backs in the ECNL Houston event a few months. Playing at the heart of the backline of the Pittsburg Riverhounds 06, she's a very solid defensive player, who's really difficult to beat. Klein is strong in the air, has excellent mobility and is solid in 1v1 duels, timing her tackles extremely well. She's also very confident and efficient in possession, connecting excellent passes from the back. Even better than her ability to accurately send the ball to her teammates is her reading of the game as Klein knows exactly when to attempt a long pass forward and when to play more conservatively, with shorter passes.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-646ce24bb193f"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGNIp6ruJvw","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGNIp6ruJvw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["26460"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"A Georgia State commit, Lopez is a versatile prospect, who can play virtually anywhere for Classics Elite 06. She just broke the record for the most goals in a single season with her high school team Antonian Prep, but has most recently featured on the backline for her club team. Lopez is a very complete player and is very solid when playing defense. She reads the game very well and is excellent at cutting passing lines and winning 1v1 duels. She's also an excellent passer and a lot of Classics Elite's buildup starts at her feet. Even when playing on defense, Lopez is a goal-scoring threat as she finishes from distance very well and is efficient in offensive set pieces too.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-646ce24bb19eb"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/angelina3lopez/status/1653213552021319680?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/angelina3lopez/status/1653213552021319680?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Lauren McIntyre","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"101","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Kennedale","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"DKSC","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"McIntyre's physicality is a huge asset when playing defense and she knows how to make the most of it. The DKSC 06 center back is really difficult to beat because she defends at a very high level in different ways. A University of Tulsa commit, she's very fast and can beat pretty much forward for the ball on a sprint, which also allows her to recover pretty well when a through ball finds it way into the backline. McIntyre is also very strong in 1v1 duels and can win the ball back even when dealing with the most physical forwards. Also capable of playing as an outside back, she's very good in possession, being able to connect good passes or dribble the ball forward through the middle or the flanks.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-646ce24bb1ae2"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/McIntyreLauren_/status/1582846453268897792?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/McIntyreLauren_/status/1582846453268897792?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["26458"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"An offensive-minded left back, Delgado plays a big role in Challenge SC 07's offense. Very technical and direct on the ball, she frequently pushes forward from the left and helps the team create chances. Delgado is very smooth on the ball and her complete game allows her to threaten defenses in different ways. A lefty, she's great at beating opponents off the dribble and taking the ball to the end line, from where she can send dangerous crosses into the penalty box. But she's also very good at making combination plays through the middle and finishing from distance. Delgado can also play further up on the field if needed.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-646ce24bb1b66"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17305623/637fd7005eece80ba84a09b9' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-646ce24bb1bbf"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["21853"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"One of the captains of United Futbol Academy 08, Raymond plays a massive role for the team from her center back position. Her presence in the back provides the team with great ability and her coverage frees the midfielders up to push forward and help the attack. Raymond's defensive ability is truly impressive as she always times her tackles really well and often find ways to win the ball even if her odds don't look great in a specific play. She's also very calm and confident on the ball, turning into a ball-playing center back when has team has possession, helping them build out of the back. Strong in the air, Raymond is an offensive threat in set pieces too. She will play in the National Selection Game on Saturday.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-646ce24bb1c38"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/marlee_raymond/status/1627427825069293574?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/marlee_raymond/status/1627427825069293574?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->