ECNL Girls Playoffs – Center Backs to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After long nine months of competition, the highlight of the season is right around the corner in the ECNL Girls League, with the playoffs set to begin on Friday, June 24, in San Diego, California.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As many as 348 teams from the entire country will head to the West Coast to compete in the six age groups in an event that will reunite the absolute best talent in the country to fight for a spot in the ECNL Finals, which will take place in Richmond, Virginia, in July.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the days leading up to the start of the ECNL Playoffs, I'll highlight some of the most promising players I got to watch during the season, and these are the center backs that showed tremendous potential.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["33383"],"_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":"Mills will anchor the backline of Solar SC G06 during the playoffs and she's one of the best in the position. Not many players combine physicality and intelligence as well as she does and that puts her in a position to dominate opponents at ease at the heart of the team's defense. Mills uses her physical tools very well when involved in 1v1 duels inside and around the penalty box, but also has the pace to chase attackers near the sidelines and cover the outside backs. She's very mindful of her defensive actions and rarely makes a foul or is caught out of position. The center back is also very clean on the ball, helping the team in possession, and uses her 5'10u0022 frame very well on defensive and offensive set pieces, getting some goals off of headers.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-648907f2b3032"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11562849/64628acb02b21304e8bb943b' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-648907f2b307d"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["26735"],"_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":"Wilson is one of the central defenders of Challenge SC G06. She forms a strong partnership with Sydnee Smith as the two complement each other very well, bringing different skills to the game. While Smith is the most mobile and dynamic of the two, Wilson is very physical and strong and does an excellent job of protecting the penalty box. She's very strong in the air, having great success when dealing with crosses, but is also very tough to beat in 1v1 situations because of her great positioning and her ability to read opponents and force them to wider positions. She's also very comfortable on the ball and supports the team's buildup.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-648907f2b30f3"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/CRw2-cmIzIz/","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"instagram","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/CRw2-cmIzIz/ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["26927"],"_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":"Viewed as one of the most promising center backs of her generation, Gilmore is part of a strong FC Dallas G07 team. She's wise beyond her years and one of her main strengths is her ability to cut corners and get to the ball before opposing forwards. She's the type of center back that can shut down any kind of attacker as she has the physicality to deal with the stronger ones but also the pace and composure to stop dynamic wingers. Gilmore can also be an interesting offensive asset to her teams with her ability to break passing lines out of the back and her good positioning and calm in front of goal in set pieces.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-648907f2b3144"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":100714,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/02/IMG_1637.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-100714" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["27052"],"_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":"Wiele plays a massive role for her Sting Austin G08 team. A center back with the quality on the ball of a midfielder, a position she plays in high school, she's heavily involved with everything her team does on the field. Despite not being very tall or physical, Wiele is very difficult to get by because of her positioning, excellent movement and decision-making. She never misses a step and has a great overall vision of the game. The center back also plays a big role in the team's buildup by connecting good passes out of the back or even driving the ball forward herself. The team's primary option for set pieces, Wiele also tallied several goals and assists during the season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-648907f2b3191"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18426256/6474fccdff0d1c0aa81aa97a' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-648907f2b31ae"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["110607"],"_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":"Rodell played center back when I last saw her in action with Sporting Blue Valley G08, during the ECNL Houston event, but she can also be used in midfield. On the occasion, she was up against some really talented forward and held her own, providing a lot of strength to her team's backline. Rodell is very good at putting pressure on opponents and pushing them away from the penalty box. Strong in the air, she's also very good with her tackles and defensive actions in 1v1 situations, often benefiting from her excellent positioning to make plays. Rodell is also very clean on the ball.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-648907f2b320b"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1627749521294823445?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1627749521294823445%7Ctwgr%5E0b8f1ef4f1a9913e7ae8d1fffc6d8f43044d6028%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10u0026amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fprepsoccer.com%2F2023%2F02%2Fecnl-houston-day-3-standouts%2F","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/grtorres/status/1627749521294823445?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1627749521294823445%7Ctwgr%5E0b8f1ef4f1a9913e7ae8d1fffc6d8f43044d6028%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fprepsoccer.com%2F2023%2F02%2Fecnl-houston-day-3-standouts%2F </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->