MLS Next Cup Playoffs and Showcase Day 3 Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>FRISCO, Texas - The blazing North Texas heat did not deter some of the nation's top U-17 and U-19 teams from putting on good displays in the Round of 16 at the 2023 MLS NEXT Cup. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PrepSoccer was in attendance on Monday for the playoff games in the two older age groups. Below are the standouts from those games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">U-19</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["46636"],"_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":"Lining up on the right side of midfield the Central Connecticut State commit was involved in both goals as his Weston FC side advanced against Southern Soccer academy 2-0. On the first goal he did well to get back on side after his initial cross was deflected out to a teammate. When the ball got back to him he found his teammate at the top of the box who slotted it home. Originally called offside he showed natural leadership by keeping his teammates away from the assistant ref allowing the center ref to discuss and overturn the offside call. On the second, Gains spotted a runner and put in a dangerous early cross which forced the SSA defender to play facing his own goal which he ended up putting it in.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["9263"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"The uncommitted left-back was a defensive force for a disciplined Real Colorado side. Tasked with a match-up against a tricky winger he picked the right approach in almost every situation. Kinch timed his tackles well knowing when to go to the ground and when to use his body to separate the attacker from the ball. Positionally, he was sound and able to step into passing lanes to pick off passes with very little effort.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6490df201b68f"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">U-17</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["12637"],"_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":"Delkus was a threat all game on the left for a talented St Louis FC side. He started the scoring with a nice left-footed finish and in the second half, he notched an assist after driving at the defense attracting the attention of three defenders and leaving a teammate wide open at the top of the box.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["12613"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Glover showed why St Louis made him their first homegrown signing with his performance over LAFC. Battling sweltering heat that led to games being pushed later in the day Glover was effective running into the channels and with his hold up. He earned a secondary assist on the opening goal and put the game to rest with a thunderous strike. On his goal, he showed technique and patience as he shifted the ball on to his favored right foot while beating a defender and smashed it home","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["6989"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"The Stanford commit was an all-action pressing machine in the first half for the Earthquakes in their closely contested victory over Barca Residency Academy. Barca was pinned back for most of the first half due to his pressing. On the ball, he is a creative dribbler who will run at defenses and put them on their heels. He came out in the second and only then did Barca start to find success building from the back and generating attacks.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Gabriel Villagomez","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"Midwest United","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Playing as a hybrid 8/10 Villagomez was the boss of the midfield for Midwest United in their 3-1 Showcase victory over Seacoast United. He showed an ability to hit long diagonals finding his teammates in stride. His passes were all well weighted and he was eager to get on the ball even if it was just to keep it moving and cycle possession. It was his freekick goal that turned out to be the winner.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6490df201b715"} /-->