ECNL Girls Playoffs – Outside 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 today we'll look at outside backs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"Lucca Okeley","_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":"Magnolia","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Challenge SC","_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":"Okeley typically plays on the left side of Challenge SC G06's defense and she does a very good there, helping the team on both sides of the ball. She's really solid at defending her area of the field, using her great positioning and her physical tools to make stops and win possession. Because she has good size, Okeley can also tuck inside and help the team in the air when needed. She's also very strong when pushing forward, dribbling the ball quickly and efficiently upfield. The outside back also has good chemistry with her forwards, making runs near the sideline or through the middle according to their positioning.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6488dca157d5a"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":137795,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/05/IMG_6630.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-137795" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Challenge SC G06 vs. Classics Elite G06</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["26669"],"_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":"Andrews plays right back for a talented Solar SC G06 team. A Kentucky commit, she can also be used in the center of the defense, but is at her best in a wider position, where her athleticism and her ability in 1v1 duels make more of a difference. Andrews is excellent at shutting down opponents, in great part because of how well she can read the game and anticipate their moves. She's also very fast and disciplined when tracking back and often provides excellent coverage to her center backs when plays develop on the opposite side of the backline. Andrews also does a good job offensively, overlapping the wingers and midfielders and offering a passing option for them out wide.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6488dca157dd2"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/EmersonAndrews8/status/1643449822010023936?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/EmersonAndrews8/status/1643449822010023936?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["27303"],"_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":"The FC Dallas G07 prospect is among the most versatile ones as, besides playing right back, she can also line up as a center back and even as a forward. It takes a lot of different skills for a player to be able to perform well in all these positions and this is exactly the most exciting thing in Lavender's game. She has great physical and technical skills and uses them according to what she needs at each moment. Her athleticism helps her put tremendous pressure on opponents when she's tracking them and playing defense, but it also makes of her a very dangerous player when she pushes forward as she can beat defenders with her pace. Lavender reads the game very well and that also helps her make good decisions on both sides of the ball.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6488dca157e38"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":98958,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/02/IMG_1638.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-98958" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">FC Dallas 07 vs. SLSG Navy 07</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["112011"],"_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":"Clark has split her time with GSA G08 this season playing on both outside back positions, but her natural position is on the right. That flexibility gives her coaches the ability to switch her positioning and have her defend the opponent's top winger as she's excellent at making plays against the ball. Clark takes care of her area of the field really well, pushing the opponents toward the sideline until she finds a good situation to make the tackle and either win the ball or stop the play. She never gives up after she's beaten and will always come back at it to try and win the ball back. Although her main strengths are on defense, Clark also offers an interesting offensive option on the right, making good runs off the ball and connecting good passes.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6488dca157e99"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/AvrilClark08/status/1667240447532474391?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/AvrilClark08/status/1667240447532474391?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["22217"],"_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":"Mailander plays with a lot of intensity on the left side of Eclipse Select SC G08's backline. She gets on the ball a lot and has an important role in the team's offense, making good runs and connecting passes from the left any time she sees an opportunity to do it. Mailander has a well-developed game on the ball and has the vision to find good passes forward, but can also carry the ball upfield herself and shield it from opponents. When she gets to the end line, the outside back can send some dangerous crosses into the penalty box. She's taller than most players in the age group and uses that very well when playing defense as she's excellent at cutting passing lanes and intercepting long balls.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6488dca157ef7"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":99600,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/02/IMG_2065.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-99600" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Eclipse Select SC 08 vs. GSA 08</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->