ECNL Texas 08 Preseason Preview: On the Move

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The ECNL Texas Conference was remade for the 2023/2024 season. The Colorado clubs of Pride SC, Real Colorado Athletico and National, and Colorado Rapids joined the Texas and Oklahoma contingent. The already strong conference is even more competitive for the upcoming season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seven of the 16 teams in the 08 age group managed to make the Champions League playoffs last season. Two of those seven (Real Colorado National and Sting Dallas Black) advanced to the National Finals in Richmond.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While all of those will be dreaming of a repeat trip to the postseason, the player movement between clubs this offseason could shake up the order and the number of teams in the hunt for the national championship.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Check out a scouting report on some of the names who switched clubs or teams this season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["26578"],"_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":"Bohannon is one of four players to move from Sting to Solar in the offseason. The quartet were key pieces to their teams successful run to the National Finals and now they booster an already stacked Solar roster that saw three players move up to play on older teams in their club. Bohannon is an attacking midfielder or a forward. She is a high work rate player who comes from a soccer family. The drive to succeed is strong with her and the competitive nature of the Solar training grounds should elevate her game to another level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["26898"],"_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":"With [player_tooltip player_id='26709' first='Evan' last='O'Steen'] moving up to the Solar 07 and sometimes 06 teams, Cervantes is slotted as the starting keeper for the Solar 08 group this season. She has big shoes to fill as O'Steen is one of the top goalkeepers and players in the 2026 class. Cervantes has been a stud in this role in her own right. She was ranked as one of the top goalkeepers in Texas last season and helped her team to the National Finals. With Cervantes, Solar is getting a goalkeeper with a lot of similarities. She plays with a lot of confidence. Fearless of her line, Cervantes is aggressive in cutting out balls into the box. She has good hands and does well in securing possession of the ball in traffic. When she gains hold of the ball, she immediately looks at her options and attempts to jump start the attack.rnrn[player_tooltip player_id='26466' first='Anna' last='Mayer'] and Finley McKnight were the other two players from Sting to move to Solar in the offseason.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["112740"],"_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":"While plenty of the spotlight has been on Sting's exits, they've also made some key additions this season to go along with the key returners. [player_tooltip player_id='112740' first='Tyller' last='Grimes'] is one of those players who should move into a prominent role with the team immediately. Grimes was the starting center back for DKSC last season. She showed in those games how competitive she is as she regularly won the battles against the top forwards in the conference last season. Now, she will get a taste of pressure with Sting Dallas Black having expectations of advancing back to the Nationals Finals again in 2024.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d68c8c64622"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVGZyUHceIw","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=FVGZyUHceIw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["145043"],"_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":"Gonzalez is perhaps the most fascinating player move in this age group. She played for the Solar 09 group that advanced to the National Finals last season. She appeared on the FC Dallas 08 roster this month. FC Dallas didn't add many players during the offseason so her arrival was especially eye-opening. The FC Dallas roster is strong. They're a competitive bunch that likes to battle. Playing time will be hard to come by with a loaded roster already, but Gonzalez does seem like an ideal fit for that style of play. She is a hard-working attacking midfielder who can provide a bit of magic in the final third.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["145044"],"_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":"One of the positives of the competitive ECRL in Texas is that the level of play has helped a number of players work on their craft and earn spots on ECNL teams during the season and for the next season. Nnamani is one of those success stories. After a strong campaign with FC Dallas ECNL-RL 08 last season, she is now getting a shot in the ECNL with DKSC for the upcoming campaign. Nnamani is an attacking midfielder who really impressed me with her confidence playing through the center of the field. She never hides from the ball and is always working to get touches. She had a few dominant games last season while playing for the FC Dallas group, which was one of the most enjoyable teams to watch from a style of play aspect. Nnamani is one to watch this season as she adjusts to her team and new level.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d68c8c646b5"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='145043' first='Addilyn' last='Gonzalez'] -&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Solar 09 to FC Dallas 08&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='145044' first='Soluchi' last='Nnamani'] -&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>FC Dallas RL to DKSC ECNL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->