ECNL Dallas: Five Texas Center Backs to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The ECNL Girls League is coming to Texas this weekend as the city of Dallas is set to host the second event of the 2024 calendar year and the sixth of the 2023-2024 season from Saturday to Monday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Matches will take place at the Toyota Soccer Center, in Frisco, and the MoneyGram Soccer Park, in Dallas, and as many as 224 teams will be in action, competing in the U14, U15, U16, U17 and U18/19 divisions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Texas will obviously have massive representation in the event, with 50 teams from the top clubs in the state entering to compete and showcase their skills over the three days of the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Soccer will be on-site following all three days of action, but before we get there, we'd like to highlight some of the most exciting prospects of the host state that will be on the field. It's time we check on the center backs:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["148753"],"_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":"Lawless and her team Albion Hurricanes FC G09 will play against FL Premier FC, GSA and Washington Premier this weekend in Dallas. She typically plays as a right-sided center back and is extremely solid for them, limiting the damage caused by opponents around and inside the penalty box. Lawless is very good in 1v1 duels, reading opponents well and waiting for the right moment to tackle them. Very strong in the air in defending and attacking set pieces, the center back also has great quality in possession, hitting short and long passes with impressive accuracy.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ca8fa3ede48"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":162212,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/02/IMG_0522.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-162212" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Stratford vs Memorial</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["27001"],"_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":"Young will be with Solar SC G08 in their matches against San Diego Surf, Crossfire Premier and Sporting Blue Valley this weekend. With her and [player_tooltip player_id='27199' first='Rhiannon' last='Mahon'], they will have one of the best, if not the best, center back duo in the entire event - they will both be at a US Soccer training camp in Chula Vista right after it. An extremely physical and intelligent defender, she's really difficult to get by because of how well-positioned she typically is and how quickly she can react. Young, who can also play in midfield, is very comfortable on the ball and often dribbles it forward from the backline. She's an offensive threat with her strength in the air and her ability to shoot from distance as well.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ca8fa3edeb8"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14318851/638188570dc1910d743bc2b5' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ca8fa3edf51"} /--> <!-- 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":"Carrigan Gekas","_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":"Flower Mound","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"DKSC","_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":"Gekas' DKSC G07 team has matches against San Diego Surf, World Class FC and Minnesota Thunder coming up this weekend in Dallas. She's really solid working around and inside the penalty box with her ability to read and intercept passes, but is also very successful when she has to track forwards and defend higher, around the midfield line. Gekas uses her body extremely well to close out space and is very effective at pushing attacking players back. The center back has good quality when on the ball too and often connects smart long passes out of the back.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ca8fa3ee001"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17359924/65a868fff55f8b15a805b96a' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ca8fa3ee024"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["26931"],"_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":"Schkade and Challenge SC G07 will be tested against SLSG Navy, Michigan Hawks Magic and SLSG Green MO in this weekend's event. The center back was pulled from Challenge's Regional League team this season and has been a great addition, helping strengthen the team's backline with her solid play. Schkade is very good at using her physical tools to deny opponents space in the final third and can be dominant in the air too, helping the team defend set pieces. She has great skills when on the ball and typically plays in midfield with her high school team, often getting on the score sheet.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ca8fa3ee07b"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1659927613039599618?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/grtorres/status/1659927613039599618?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["26302"],"_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":"Guthrie and her new team Sting Dallas Black G06/05 will be challenged by Minnesota Thunder, Northwest Elite FC and Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the event. She joined this season, coming from Solar, and immediately became a key piece in the team's system, forming a very solid center back duo with [player_tooltip player_id='27296' first='Taylor' last='Yablonski']. Guthrie is physical, but also extremely mobile, which allows her to defend more dynamic or more athletic forwards with the same efficiency. She has great spatial awareness and will rarely let a pass find an opponent behind her. A very technical player, who can also play in midfield, she's heavily involved with the team's buildup too.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ca8fa3ee0dd"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":151191,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/IMG_4184.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-151191" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Challenge SC ECNL G06 vs. Sting Dallas Black ECNL G06</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->