ECNL Girls Florida: Five Texas Center Backs to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 has just begun and the first weekend of the new year will feature elite club soccer competition as the ECNL Girls League is hosting its Florida Winter event from Friday to Sunday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Set to take place at the Premier Sports Campus, in Lakewood Ranch, the event will have teams from the U16, U17 and U18/19 age groups, with as many as 230 sides making the trip to Florida to get some high-level competition early in the year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Several clubs from Texas will be in action too, as Albion Hurricanes FC, Dallas Texans, DKCS, Solar SC, Sting Austin and Sting Dallas will be represented in the tournament, sending 14 teams to the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These five center backs from Texas will be among the best in their positions in the event:</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":"Audrey Rush","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_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":"Reedy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Dallas Texans","_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":"Rush and the Dallas Texans G08 have matches scheduled against Alabama FC, FC Prime and Charlotte SA this weekend in Florida. Capable of playing as a center back or a defensive midfielder, she is one of the key pieces of the team's defensive system, providing stability and intensity. A track student-athlete, Rush can run for days and uses that engine very well in her job of protecting the team's goal. She is very strong in 1v1 plays and uses her positioning to get in good spots to make stops, having some success in winning the ball back down the middle.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658c90fc1186b"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["27199"],"_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":"One of the top players in her star-studded Solar SC G08 squad, Mahon and her teammates will be faced with Penn Fusion SA, De Anza Force and Concorde Fire Platinum at the event. One of the best center backs in Texas, she checks all the boxes of an elite defender, delivering excellent production on both sides of the ball. Mahon is extremely solid defensively, very rarely making a misstep on the backline and using her athleticism and reading of the game to shut down opposing attackers. In possession, she's truly among the very best center backs in the country, hitting excellent passes and finding teammates in great spots to make plays. The defender can also push the ball forward and that allows her to play as a right back.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658c90fc118f4"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/RhiannonMahon/status/1734260315712319602?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/RhiannonMahon/status/1734260315712319602?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["48063"],"_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":"Playing with DKSC G07, Larson will be tested against Ohio Premier, Concorde Fire Platinum and Portland Thorns. The most impressive thing in her game is her ability to play center forward and center back at a very high level, displaying the appropriate skillset to perform in two entirely different positions. When on defense, Larson stands out for playing hard and winning most of the duels she's involved with. Because of her ability to play up top, she is also very solid in possession and can connect good passes out of the back and make runs.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658c90fc11970"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvB0qObMuHQ","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=OvB0qObMuHQ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["54871"],"_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":"One of the starting center backs for Albion Hurricanes FC G07, Reed will have big challenges ahead, going against SLSG Navy, Utah Avalanche and VA Union. She can play play anywhere across the backline, but is typically used as a left-sided center back. Reed is very physical, but also quick, and that combination makes of her a nightmare matchup to any forward that goes her way. She is a big threat in corner kicks with her aerial ability, has an interesting passing range and often catches defenders off-guard with smart runs off the ball into the penalty box, especially when playing as an outside back.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658c90fc119ec"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkTnwfC_Dz4","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=CkTnwfC_Dz4 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["27296"],"_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":"Yablonski will be in action with Sting Dallas Black G06/05 in Lakewood Ranch and the team is set to face Match Fit Academy, FSA FC and Heat FC. Playing as a right-sided center back, she plays a major role for the team, defending well in space and inside the penalty box. Yablosnki is very physical, but also very intelligent - she gets in good positions to intercept passes and cover her teammates, but is unafraid to make a hard tackle if she has to. Very strong in the air, the center back is also very comfortable in possession and is very effective with her passing.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658c90fc11a64"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/TaylorYablonski/status/1703845561273569587?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/TaylorYablonski/status/1703845561273569587?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->