Sun is shining on players in Texas

As mentioned yesterday, the state of Texas has more talent than it knows what to do with and the sun is definitely shining on these young stars. Here are six other players to watch with ECNL Nationals and other weekend events on the docket.   [player_tooltip player_id='112755' first='Kennedy' last='Franks'], Keeper, Barbers Hill, Class of 2026   Franks was a freshman keeper at Barbers Hill High, and she plays her club at Challenge SC, playing for the 2008 ECNL team. Franks plays bravely. She plays without fear. And what that means for a keeper is that she is unafraid to react, and unafraid to be aggressive. She will come for a ball, or shut down an angle. She makes quick decisions. Her competitive drive fuels her fearlessness and her determination. She never stops working, and she is a great combination of fast and strong.   [player_tooltip player_id='136471' first='Lily' last='Miller'], Outside Defender, Walnut Grove, Class of 2026   Miller will be attending the newly-build Walnut Grove High in Prosper this Fall, after playing her freshman season at Rockhill High. She plays club for Sting SC's Royal 2008 ECNL team. An outside back, Miller stands out for being tenacious. She has a determination that is palpable and her motivation and willingness to work hard are obvious. She plays with a confidence, but not an arrogance, and is a highly intelligent player.   Aubrie Ramos, Attacking Midfielder/Striker, Sunset, Class of 2025   Ramos is someone who plays like someone older than she is. She is dedicated to the game like a senior, or a college player would be. She works hard and is incredibly responsible in terms of her actions and her training. She is a talented player, one who is very technical. She shows great ability on the ball, and off the ball when finding space and making runs, and is able to put the ball away from inside and outside the box. Ramos plays at Sunset High and plays her club with the Dallas Texans 2006 ECNL team.   [player_tooltip player_id='26964' first='Lauren' last='Schad'], Outside Defender/Central Defender, Frisco Emerson, Class of 2025   Schad is an inspiration for all players her age who suffer a big injury. Schad is working her way back from a knee injury, and is about four months into her recovery, and four weeks ago was given the green light to start running and pushing herself a bit. The word that gets tossed around when describing Schad is that she works hard, and that shows because she is putting in the work for her recovery. She is also very focused on the sport and focused on improving. She is a flexible and versatile player, who has played as a right back but also as an outside back. She's also been a very supportive teammate. Schad plays club with the Dallas Texans 2007 ECNL team and plays high school for Frisco Emerson.   [player_tooltip player_id='89070' first='Caroline' last='Smith'], Holding Midfielder/Outside Defender, Southlake Carroll, Class of 2026   When you think of the attributes that Smith offers, one of the most prominent is her versatility. She has spent most of her time as a defensive mid, and has spent time in other parts of the midfield, but has been playing more outside back for her club, which is the Dallas Texans 2007 ECNL team. She has remained in the midfield for a powerful Southlake Carroll program, and was moved up to the varsity as a freshman for the playoffs. Smith is touted for her understanding of the game, which makes her as versatile as she is. She's also known for playing with great intensity, for being highly aggressive, playing with confidence and winning 50/50 balls. Smith dedicates herself off the pitch as well. She is on the student council, she is a site leader for a community service event called The Dragon Event and is a three-year member of the Hope Squad, which is a peer-to-peer suicide prevention program.   [player_tooltip player_id='27048' first='Margaret' last='Welsh'], Defender/Forward, McKinney Boyd, Class of 2025   Versatile. The word to describe Welsh is versatile. You'll hear of players that can play the No. 10 and also play striker or as a wide forward, or a holding midfielder sliding up to the No. 8 or back to a central defender. But Welsh spends her time between playing defender and forward. She plays defender at McKinney Boyd High and plays forward at her club, which is the FC Dallas 2007 ECNL team. Welsh is a strong player with great game awareness, allowing her to be a consistent player. She is very technical, she is quick and remains composed.

As mentioned yesterday, the state of Texas has more talent than it knows what to do with and the sun is definitely shining on these young stars. Here are six other players to watch with ECNL Nationals and other weekend events on the docket.