ECNL Boys Texas: 16s – Standout Center Backs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The ECNL Boys League hosted a national event from April 19-21 in Round Rock reuniting 90 teams in the 16s and 17s age groups for three days of action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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 provided daily coverage with photos and a report on the individual standouts of the day. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2024/04/ecnl-boys-texas-16s-day-2-photos/">ECNL Boys Texas: 16s - Day 2 Photos</a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2024/04/ecnl-boys-texas-16s-day-2-standouts/">ECNL Boys Texas: 16s - Day 2 Standouts</a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now with the event over, we'll take a little bit of a deeper dive and feature the positional standouts in the 16s division, and now it's time to hype up the solid center backs:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"John Paul Vallejo","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_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":"Central Catholic","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='283296' first='Classics' last='Elite']","_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":"Vallejo's [program_tooltip program_id='283296' first='Classics' last='Elite'] team was shorthanded over the weekend, having only ten players available, and was only able to get a tie and two losses. Things would have been more difficult without the center back, who worked hard to give the team some defensive stability despite the numerical disadvantage. Vallejo was deployed in the middle of the team's back three and was always well-positioned to cover the other center backs. Because of the team's situation, he was exposed to duels more often than he normally would, but still had some success, using his physical tools and good reading of the game to make stops. The defender also did a fine job in possession, connecting nice 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-66303db34f4e8"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["90899"],"_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":"The captain of [program_tooltip program_id='283397' first='[program_tooltip program_id='278668' first='Lonestar' last='']' last='SC'] Red, Cox saw his team end the week with a win and two losses. The left-sided center back was a bright spot in the team and played a major role in their efforts. Despite not being very physical, Cox was very efficient with his defensive actions, reading plays well to make interceptions and using his positioning to keep opponents away from the penalty box and win possession. He also proved to be extremely valuable offensively, breaking lines with his passing, sending precise crosses into the penalty box from distance and even making some runs through the middle.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66303db34f5d6"} /--> <!-- 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":"Emiliano Perales","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_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":"La Vernia","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='283458' first='San' last='Antonio FC']","_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":"With Perales at the back, SAFC had a solid defensive display in the event, getting two wins and a tie, with just one goal conceded. Fellow center back [player_tooltip player_id='90421' first='Blake' last='Willingham'] and him worked really well together, displaying great coordination and complementing each other with tremendous efficiency. Perales played on the left side and used his size to intercept long passes, while also doing a great job in 1v1 situations. The defender was also heavily involved in the team's buildup and displayed a lot of quality to support his team's offense with his intelligent and accurate passing.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66303db34f747"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":170892,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/04/IMG_3925.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-170892" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">SAFC B08 vs. El Camino Futbol Club Salinas B08 </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["286927"],"_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":"Puna was one of the defensive anchors of his team HTX that got two wins with clean sheets and one loss, with two goals allowed. He played as a right-sided center back and did a very good job covering his area of the field. Puna is not very tall or physical, but is extremely fast and uses that to his advantage on defense. He's typically the first to get to loose balls and is very efficient with his interceptions because of how quickly he can make his moves. 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The center back was also very efficient with his passing, playing simple and short on most occasions.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66303db34fa0b"} /--> <!-- 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":"[player_tooltip player_id='319321' first='Cooper' last='Bates']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_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":"Allen","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"BVBIA NTX","_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":"With Bates at the back, BVBIA NTX were among the top teams of the event, securing three wins with just two goals conceded. His center back duo with Evan Rosencrans was one of the team's strengths as the two led their defensive efforts with great efficiency. Playing on the right side, Bates displayed a very complete game, combining interesting physical and technical skills to go well in the air, have success in 1v1 duels and show up when he needed to cover his teammates. The center back was also an offensive weapon in set pieces with his ability in the air.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66303db34fbd4"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":170918,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/04/IMG_4024.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-170918" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">BVBIA B08 vs. LA Breakers FC B08 </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->