ECNL Dallas: 17s – Outside Backs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top teams in the ECNL Girls League in the country were in Dallas from February 17-19, where the league held its sixth National event of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over 220 teams were in action over the three days of the event and Prep Soccer was in attendance, following several matches a day and taking a lot at some of the top-level prospects in the country. On Saturday, we were at the Toyota Soccer Center, in Frisco, where we got to watch 16 of the 52 teams of the 17s age group compete.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2024/02/ecnl-dallas-17s-day-1-photos/"><strong>ECNL Dallas: 17s – Day 1 Photos</strong></a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've already highlighted <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2024/02/ecnl-dallas-17s-day-1-standouts">the players that stood out in the encounters we got to watch</a> and now we'll expand that a little bit and list more prospects that left a strong impression, looking at one position at a time. This time we'll mention the outside backs:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["26623"],"_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":"Nugent was very active on the left side when her Solar SC team defeated World Class FC 2-1 on Saturday. She was pushing forward quite frequently and offering her team an interesting passing outlet down the line. Her positioning helped Solar stretch the field in a match in which they heavily dominated possession and had to move the ball around to break their opponents down. Nugent, who also did a solid job defensively when called to action, showcased quality in set pieces too.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d6738360e91"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/chloe11_07/status/1759970633557946644?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/chloe11_07/status/1759970633557946644?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":"","_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d6738360ef8"} /--> <!-- 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":"Bailey Altizer","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_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":"Mechanicsville","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Richmond United","_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":"Originally a midfielder, Altizer played as a left wingback for Richmond United and took full advantage of the freedom that the team's playing system gave her to bomb forward in a 4-3 win over the Colorado Rapids. She would get very high up in the field when her team had the ball, pinning the outside backs and generating space for the team in midfield. Altizer was very aggressive in possession, going at defenders with her dribbling and creating chances down the left side. Defensively, she combined with left-sided center back Kira Moore as the two kept things under control in their side.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d6738360fa0"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["132674"],"_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":"Another offensive player used as a left wingback, Drozda was very dangerous for SLSG Navy as they topped Challenge SC 2-0. Her attacking plays consistently created problems for their opponents as she had the ability to dribble the ball and beat defenders with her pace, but also combined very well with her teammates in give-and-go plays, aggressively attacking the space behind her marker's back. A right-footed player on the left, Drozda also had some good moments bringing the ball inside and finding passes. Even if she's a very offensive-minded player, the wingback also showed good commitment and effort on defense.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d6738360fff"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":163440,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/02/IMG_1889.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-163440" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Challenge SC vs. SLSG Navy</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["139404"],"_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":"Lamothe played left back for Sporting Blue Valley and put on a very solid shift in their 3-0 win over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. She used her physical tools well to dominate her side of the field and didn't allow her opponents to create much from there. Lamothe was very good at reading plays and made some smart interceptions by quickly stepping up and cutting passing lanes. She also displayed some interesting quality on the ball, connecting good passes out of the back and showing great precision with her corner kicks.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d6738361056"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["27134"],"_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":"Craig displayed good versatility in FC Dallas' first match in the event, a 2-0 win over the Portland Thorns, spending time at both outside back spots for the team. She took great care of her defensive duties, playing with great energy and intelligence to shut down offensive attempts. The outside back was also an important piece in the team's offensive system, playing very wide and helping them move the ball. Craig did very well with her passing and got to the end line a few times after combination plays.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d67383610a3"} /-->