ECNL Boys TX: Rise SC 08 vs. Solar SC Academy 08
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After a few months of break during the winter, the ECNL Boys Texas League is back in action with its spring season and teams from the Lone Star State and neighbor state Oklahoma are already back at it, battling every…
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Continue ReadingAfter a few months of break during the winter, the ECNL Boys Texas League is back in action with its spring season and teams from the Lone Star State and neighbor state Oklahoma are already back at it, battling every weekend on the field.
Prep Soccer Texas will pick up where it left off before the break and will continue covering matches of the League, bringing photos and analysis for each of them.
On Saturday, I was at South Campus, in Houston, where Rise SC B08 and Solar SC Academy B08 faced each other.
Rise SC 2 – 3 Solar SC Academy
It was a match of two very different halves, with the visitors dominating the first half and the home team fighting back in the final portion. Solar got an early goal with Tyler Bolton and followed it up with John Skiermont and Kam Kordewick, taking a 3-0 lead into the halftime break.
Rise made some changes in the lineup and regained control of the match in the second half, cutting Solar’s lead with goals from Farid Alipaz Farid Alipaz M TX and Luca Macouzet, but couldn’t avoid the 3-2 loss. Solar now have eight wins and four losses, while Rise have a 5-5-4 win record.
Top Performers
Micah Kwende
Micah Kwende
Kwende first emerged playing forward at the MLS Next level, but has been moved to center back with Solar and did a very good job against Rise. He used his physicality to defend well inside the penalty box, clearing balls and blocking shots. The defender also passed the test when he had to step away from his zone, putting pressure on opposing forwards and using his athleticism to defend in transition and cover his teammates. Kwende also did a good job with his passing, playing simply, but connecting the vast majority of them.
Arellano was a key piece in Solar’s midfield, having an important role for the team on both sides of the ball. Despite not being super physical, he was very active and dominated the central area of the field with his ability to reach quickly and get to the ball before the opponents. Arellano also displayed great calm and intelligence on the ball, often getting it under pressure or facing his own goal and finding ways to deliver it to teammates in a much better condition. The midfielder was also very precise when he sent crosses into the penalty box, be it in set pieces or the run of play.
Alex Leon
Alex Leon
Leon wasn’t always the most consistent, but made things happen when he got on the ball in the final third. A very technical and intelligent player, he had the freedom to roam around the penalty box and did a very good job of finding space to make plays. He was very effective in 1v1 situations, going at defenders and playing very directly. The No. 10 also displayed great vision to find through balls and send passes over the top of opposing defenders.
Tyler Bolton
Tyler Bolton
Playing as an inverted winger on the right, Bolton was very active and dangerous as part of Solar’s offense. He started the match on fire, scoring in the very first minutes with a beautiful shot from the side of the penalty box and sending the cross that resulted in the team’s second goal a few minutes later. Bolton’s left foot is very skilled to pass and shoot and he also does a very good job of dribbling the ball at a good pace. He displayed good offensive variation on the right, at times beating defenders off the dribble and taking the ball to the end line and on other occasions bringing it inside.
John Skiermont
John Skiermont
Skiermont was very successful leading the line for Solar, scoring a goal and getting involved in most of the team’s attacking plays. He was very efficient at checking back with his back to the goal and combining with the midfielders, helping create space for the wingers to explore. Skiermont’s movement off the ball was always very intelligent and perfectly timed and he benefited from it to beat his marker to the ball and score off of a beautiful header. He had a good presence inside the penalty box and that generated another good chance to score, but he put too much power to it.
Andrew Dillett
Andrew Dillett
After conceding three goals way too early, Rise’s backline eventually found some stability and Dillett’s performance was a big part of it. He had an interesting battle with Skiermont, winning duels inside the penalty box and around midfield and not allowing him much space to get on the ball. In the second half, Rise switched to a back three and he played in the middle, displaying good mobility to cover his teammates and disrupt plays on the wings. Dillett connected most of his passes during the match and had the ball a lot in the second half, finding some nice long passes.
Arana was a constant threat to Solar’s backline with his mobility and quality on the ball. He started the match playing the striker role, but needed more space to make plays and dropped back to play as a second forward and eventually as a left winger. He was very strong in 1v1 plays and used his body extremely well to beat defenders, making quick turns and fakes. Arana kept pushing during the entire match and attempted to create chances with long-distance shots and combination plays. He drew the free kick that resulted in the team’s second goal.
Luca Macouzet
Luca Macouzet
Macouzet came off the bench during the match and his presence helped Rise gain momentum and take control of the match in the second half. A physical player, he allowed his team to play long in a moment in which their buildup wasn’t working well and also forced Solar’s backline to adjust to his game, which took them quite a while to do. Macouzet engaged in many battles inside the penalty box and used his size to score the team’s second goal with a header.