ECNL Boys Texas: 16s – Day 2 Standouts
In this article:
The ECNL Boys League is hosting a national event this weekend in Round Rock reuniting 90 teams in the 16s and 17s age groups for three days of action. Prep Soccer Texas covered the first two days of the event,…
Access all of Prep Soccer
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe ECNL Boys League is hosting a national event this weekend in Round Rock reuniting 90 teams in the 16s and 17s age groups for three days of action.
Prep Soccer Texas covered the first two days of the event, following several teams from the Lone Star State as they took the field against opponents from other states and will be providing daily coverage with photos and a report on the individual standouts of the day. Positional standouts will be released in the weeks following the event.
On Saturday, we were at the Old Settlers Park, where the 16s division is being held, and got to watch eight matches during the day. These are the players that left a very strong impression.
Stefano Moya
Stefano Moya
Classics Elite had a difficult task in hand against the Del Mar Sharks, having only ten players available to start the match, and Moya’s transition plays were the team’s main option on offense. Playing on the left side of the team’s midfield, the skilled playmaker was never afraid to make moves and demanded special attention from opposing defenders. Moya had some dangerous runs in transition and scored the team’s first goal in their 4-2 loss in one of them, beating a defender off the dribble and finishing with power and precision. Moya also sent some dangerous crosses into the penalty box, generating other goalscoring opportunities.
Darius Hardge
Darius Hardge
Lonestar SC Red couldn’t handle the Colorado Rapids, falling 2-1, but Hardge had a good showing for them. ‘DJ’ was very active in midfield, playing an important box-to-box role to his team and adding quality on both sides of the game. He was very smart to identify heavy first touches and put pressure on opponents, frequently winning the ball. On offense, Hardge doubled up, eventually getting on the ball to dictate the tempo and on other occasions infiltrating the opponent’s backline to get the ball in more dangerous spots.
Aidan Williams Aidan Williams F TX
Aidan Williams Aidan Williams F TX
Williams helped SAFC produce a solid 2-0 victory over El Camino Futbol Club Salinas in Round Rock. His ability to carry the ball was very important for his team as it offered a nearly unstoppable option in transition. Williams spent most of the match on the right, using his pace and physicality to get the ball into the penalty box. His diagonal runs with or without the ball were always very efficient and he scored the team’s first goal in a play like that. The forward also played striker for his team, dropping back to connect with the midfielders and offering a passing option behind the opposing backline.
Mateo Oliveira
Mateo Oliveira
Oliveira tried to bring balance to an Albion Hurricanes FC team that fell to Placer United 1-0. While most of his teammates insisted on attempting to connect long passes out of the back, Oliveira tried to make them keep the ball and circulate it to disorganize the opponents. Oliveira’s passing was always precise and efficient and played a major role in the team’s buildup, getting the ball from the center backs to initiate plays. Playing at times as a No. 6, he also showed good energy and determination to play defense.
Salem Sharif
Salem Sharif
Sharif was the most creative player in his HTX team that lost to B-Elite DEN 2-1. Playing the No. 10 role, the left-footed playmaker was very active offensively and was involved with most of the team’s chance-creation during the match. Sharif’s movement off the ball was always excellent as, even though opponents knew their teammates were going to look for him in possession, the midfielder always found pockets of space between the lines to operate. He also had good moments in set pieces, hitting the ball with great precision.
Joseph Paz Torres
Joseph Paz Torres
Paz Torres was very active in FC Dallas’ midfield, leading the team to a 2-1 win over Real Colorado National. The game became very physical and, despite not being very tall or strong, the midfielder didn’t shy away, asking for the ball and going at defenders with his dribbling. Paz Torres was very good at progressing the ball and connecting with his teammates, using his excellent vision to find nice through balls and passes over the top of defenders. He was also very precise in set pieces.
Logan Montgomery Logan Montgomery GK TX
Logan Montgomery Logan Montgomery GK TX
Montgomery played a very solid match for BVBIA against LA Breakers FC, strongly contributing to his team’s 4-1 victory. An offensive-minded right back, he had great success when he pushed forward, getting to the final third with great power and intelligence. Montgomery scored the team’s first goal after a corner kick and created other good chances, concluding his runs with good shots and crosses. He also played with a lot of energy on defense and got several stops, keeping things under control on his side of the field.
Cross Horton
Cross Horton
Horton helped Dallas Texans Academy get a hard-fought 1-0 win over Mustang SC. It was a game of tight margins and the Texans’ defensive solidness ended up making the difference, having the left back as a foundational piece. A very physical player, he took great care of his zone, playing hard and using his positioning to make stops. Horton also contributed offensively with good passes and accurate crosses, even when he decided to send the ball into the penalty box from far away.