I-10 Shootout: Five Forwards to Watch
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One of the most traditional and competitive preseason High School Girls’ soccer tournaments in Texas, the I-10 Shootout will be held this week in the Houston area, providing teams with a unique opportunity to fine-tune their games ahead of the…
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Continue ReadingOne of the most traditional and competitive preseason High School Girls’ soccer tournaments in Texas, the I-10 Shootout will be held this week in the Houston area, providing teams with a unique opportunity to fine-tune their games ahead of the start of the regular season.
Held from Thursday to Saturday, the three-day event will reunite as many as 64 teams from Houston and beyond. They will compete in eight brackets, hosted by high school programs in the ultra-competitive Katy ISD.
Prep Soccer will be following the action later in the week, but, between now and then, let’s take a look at some of the most promising prospects that will be on the field. These forwards will carry the goalscoring hopes of their teams.
Atiana Lara
Atiana Lara
A quick and talented forward, Lara will be the main offensive weapon of her team Katy over the weekend. A recent University of Incarnate Word commit, she is excellent at running in behind the backline and beating defenders with her pace before sending the ball to the back of the net. Lara can also dribble the ball herself, using her ability to drive it with either foot to elude defender and keep progressing towards the penalty box. She’s very calm in front of the goal and very precise with her finishes, even when attempting long-distance shots.
Youssef became very popular online because of the videos in which she displays her jaw-dropping ball control and now we’ll be able to see what she can do at the high school level as she joins Memorial as a freshman. Because of her quality, expect her to immediately become the team’s offensive centerpiece and the catalyst of their scoring efforts. Youssef’s moves with the ball are nothing short of impressive and she has a vast repertoire to beat defenders. The forward can also fire missiles with her left foot and tends to have a stellar high school career in Texas.
Melanie Lagor
Melanie Lagor
Because of her diverse skillset, Lagor can play on the wing or more centrally for her high school team Dawson. Wherever she is, her teammates will look for her on the attacking third because of her ability to create and finish chances. Lagor is very creative with the ball and can make things happen with solo runs or by combining with her teammates. When dribbling the ball herself, she’s quick and very smart with her body moves, beating defenders and creating space to finish. She can also score from long distance and from set pieces.
A forward with impressive physical and technical skills, Spencer will be a nightmare to those trying to stop her as she plays for Summer Creek this high school season. A University of Florida commit, she has the pace to beat defenders in space and the footwork to make it past them when there’s less room available. Spencer is typically very direct, taking the quickest route to goal, and is not a selfish player, assisting her teammates when they’re in a better position to score. She also finishes very well, putting power on the ball and sending it out of reach for opposing goalkeepers.
Highlights
Amy Romero
Amy Romero
Romero joined Deer Park last season and immediately became a big part of their offense. Because of her quality on the ball and unpredictability, she is allowed to roam around the penalty box looking for the best spot to get on the ball and make plays. She’s very smart with combination plays through the middle, but also likes to take the ball to the wings, where she can beat opponents off the dribble and send crosses into the penalty box. A lefty, Romero also stands out for her impressive ball control, which allows her to catch opponents off guard when she decides to improvise.