Houston area lockdown center backs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Texas continues its tradition of developing elite soccer talent on the girls' side, with prospects emerging from every corner of the Lone Star State to display tremendous potential and, at times, even make it to the US Youth National Teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Every now and then, we'll have weekly series highlighting a few of those talented players, but as they say, everything is bigger in Texas, so we'll need to do it in part, focusing on one region at a time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We start with the Houston area and this time we'll look into some of the strongest center backs in the region:</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":"Valarie Trinh","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'4u0022","_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":"Seven Lakes","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"SG1","_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":"Trinh was one of the captains of her high school team Seven Lakes in her senior season and also plays a big role for SG1 06 in the ECNL Regional League. She's not very tall or physical, but gets the job done with tremendous efficiency on the backline thanks to her outstanding positioning and decision-making. Trinh is excellent at stepping up to cover her teammates and is also very hard to beat in 1v1 situations because of her ability to anticipate moves. She adds a lot of quality to the team's buildup with her passing and calm on the ball and is also a vocal leader at the back.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6639503711938"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":165949,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/03/IMG_2600.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-165949" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Seven Lakes vs. Jordan</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- 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":"Ella Johnson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_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":"Pearland","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Rise SC","_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":"Johnson is a key player in her high school team Pearland and also a standout at the club level, captaining Rise SC 06 in the Girls Academy League. She's a very physical center back, who uses her body well to protect the penalty box and win duels, but who can also defend in space, putting pressure on opposing attackers and controlling plays. Johnson is very strong in the air too and does a very good job at clearing crosses. He's very quick with the ball, moving it around in no time with short passes that force opponents to shift.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66395037119ec"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15498632/63efa66a688e63083073ff05' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6639503711b76"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["159503"],"_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":"Lasida is a standout in her high school team Tompkins and also features for Albion Hurricanes FC 08 in in the ECNL Regional League. She's extremely athletic and has the physical tools needed to engage in physical battles, but also the pace to track opposing attackers away from the penalty box. With a solid all-around game, she can play anywhere across the backline, including both outside back spots. Lasida is also very efficient in possession as she can dribble and connect passes with either foot and does a very good job of initiating transition plays immediately after she gains possession.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6639503711bdc"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpGijCsvtLw","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=BpGijCsvtLw </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":"[player_tooltip player_id='229570' first='Bryana' last='Molina']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_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":"Conroe","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"HTX","_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":"Molina emerged as a promising defender in the last high school season with Conroe and also starts at center back with HTX 09 in the Girls Academy league. Her mobility is one of her main assets on the field as it allows her to cover a lot of ground and react quickly to what's happening in front of her. Molina knows how to win 50-50 duels and is always well-positioned to clear crosses inside the penalty box. She also has the quality to contribute offensively, connecting good passes out of the back and occasionally pushing forward with runs through the middle.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6639503711c78"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":153370,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/11/IMG_5846.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-153370" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">HTX 09G GA vs. Lou Fusz 09G GA</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["112610"],"_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":"Murray is a center back for Challenge SC 09 team in the ECNL league. She typically plays on the right side of their back three and poses a real challenge to opposing attackers. Murray is very physical and doesn't shy away from duels, using her body to put pressure on opponents and cutting passing lanes with great intelligence. She does a very good job when he has to defend attackers who like to operate with their backs to the goal and also has quality on the ball.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6639503711cd4"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":171539,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/04/IMG_4248.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-171539" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Albion Hurricanes FC G09 vs. Challenge SC G09</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->