ECNL North Carolina: Texas Center Backs to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The ECNL Girls League is hosting its last National Event of the season this week, with the city of Greensboro, North Carolina, welcoming three days of action, from Friday to Sunday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bryan Park will stage the event, which will count on 169 teams from the U15, U16 and U17 divisions, each playing three matches over the weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Texas will have light representation this week, with Challenge SC and DKSC sending teams in two divisions and Albion Hurricanes FC and Dallas Texans being represented by one squad each. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's take a look at some of the most promising players from the Lone Star State that will be in action in North Carolina, today listing some of the reliable center backs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["26745"],"_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":"Gammons and her Albion Hurricanes FC 08 team will face FC Alliance, WNY Flash and Slammers FC this weekend in North Carolina. A midfielder with her high school team Ridge Point, she's been used on the backline with Albion and is getting the job done. Because of her physical tools, Gammons can dominate the penalty box in the air and also be on the winning side of duels with opposing attackers. She's an extremely technical player, who can pass the ball with great precision with either foot and who can play a major role in the team's buildup with her vision and calm on the ball.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6643e6bd372e0"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":173267,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/05/IMG_4882.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-173267" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Albion Hurricanes FC G08 vs. Sting Austin G08</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["112758"],"_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":"Morawietz will be a key piece in Challenge SC 08's backline in their matches against NVA, Minnesota Thunder and World Class FC. She's dominant in the air, but also has excellent mobility, being able to defend in transition and outside the penalty box with great efficiency. The center back protects the space behind her extremely well, deflecting any attempts of through balls or long passes, and is also very quick to react to plays developing in front of her. Morawietz has good quality on the ball and likes to use it to support her team's offense with smart passes and surprising runs on and off the ball through the middle. She also has a strong presence in the opposing penalty box in set pieces.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6643e6bd37338"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilmGGgjbdjU","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilmGGgjbdjU </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["26964"],"_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":"Schad will be with Dallas Texans 07 this week in Greensboro, where they're slated to play WNY Flash, FC Stars White and Pateadores. She can play anywhere on the backline, but has been mostly used as a center back or on the right. Schad is physical, but also very mobile and does a very good job in 1v1 situations. The center back does a very good job of staying tight to the attacker she's defending and is never caught ball-watching inside the penalty box. She has good technical resources and great calm on the ball, often connecting good 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-6643e6bd373bc"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y01Y_lqdzj0","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y01Y_lqdzj0 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- 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 and DKSC 07 have matches against Scorpions SC, Michigan Hawks and FL Premier DC coming up this week in North Carolina. The center back does a very good job with her positioning when defending around the penalty box as she's always in good spots to make interceptions and cut passing lanes. She's very smart with how she uses her body to get in the way of opposing attackers and is very efficient at forcing them back when they work with their back to the goal. Geaks also likes to ignite offensive plays with long passes and does it very effectively.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6643e6bd37462"} /--> <!-- 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-6643e6bd375ca"} /-->