ECNL Boys Playoffs: Five Texas Center Backs to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The ECNL Boys League season is set to reach its peak as over the next few weeks the playoffs and the Finals will be played, pitting the best teams in the country against each other.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>San Diego, California, is the next stop for club teams from around the nation as the city is set to host the Playoffs from June 25 to July 1 at the Surf Sports Complex.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As many as 336 teams from the U13 to the U19 divisions will make the trip to California to compete this week and among them are several sides from Texas. As the Lone Star State clubs prepare to deliver in the biggest moment season, let's take a look at some of the most talented players from the state set to take the field in San Diego. It's time we feature the 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":"Nicholas McNeal-Noumane","_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":"5'8u0022","_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":"","_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-666b4c1d79e1a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McNeal-Noumane and his BVBIA 09 team earned a spot in the Champions League playoffs by finishing fourth in the Texas Conference with a campaign of 12 wins, four losses and one tie - they will play SC Surf, River Island Surf and STA in San Diego. The center back is a key piece in the team's playing system with his ability to build out of the back. McNeal-Noumane is super confident on the ball and is given the freedom to push forward and initiate offensive actions with his dribbling and passing. He also does a good job defensively, anticipating plays with great efficiency and holding his own in duels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16627209/6543417cff02760984b558e0' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-666b4c1d7a133"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["90330"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-666b4c1d7a234"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Having Elkousy on the backline, Rise SC 08 ranked seventh in the Texas Conference with eight wins, five losses and four ties, qualifying for the Champions League, where they will meet San Diego Surf, Sporting Nebraska FC and Atlanta Fire United. He has all the tools to thrive at center back as he's physical, yet very quick with his movement. Elkousy doesn't shy away from battles with physical forwards, but is very efficient at anticipating plays and he tries to get to the ball first any time he can. The defender is very comfortable on the ball and has good technique going forward, which allows him to play as a left back as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":170179,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/04/IMG_3446.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-170179" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rise SC B08 vs. Solar SC Academy B08</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":"[player_tooltip player_id='319331' first='Oliver' last='Marrujo']","_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":"5'8u0022","_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":"Flower Mound","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"FC Dallas","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-666b4c1d7a33c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Marrujo's FC Dallas Red 08 was the fourth-best team in the Texas Conference with nine wins, three losses and five teams and will face Eclipse Select SC, Legends FC and LVU Rush in the Champions League playoffs. He's the anchor of their backline, playing with energy and using his body extremely well to win possession. Because of his ability to read the game and his mobility, Marrujo is excellent at defending in transition too, giving his team the confidence to push forward. The center back has a good presence in the attacking penalty box and often scorers on headers off of set pieces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://sportsrecruits.com/athlete/oliver_marrujo?video=4029613">Highlights</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":"Patrick Stoklas","_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":"5'9u0022","_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":"Allegiance Academy","_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-666b4c1d7a41f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Stoklas helped DKSC 07 top the Texas Conference with 13 wins, two losses and two ties and will be with the team in the Champions League playoffs, where they will be faced with Florida Elite, World Class and Arlington Soccer. He has a good mix of physical, technical and intellectual tools, which makes of him a solid defender. Stoklas plays with great energy and uses his body well to duel opponents, but is also very mobile and smart with how he moves towards the ball. The center back also has tremendous quality in possession and is calm under pressure, often initiating attacking plays for his side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySqVGZcu7IE","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=ySqVGZcu7IE </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":"Eli Walkup","_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":"6'1u0022","_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":"Weiss","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Lonestar SC","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-666b4c1d7a4ec"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">With Walkup on the backline, Lonestar SC Red 06/05 finished second in the Texas Conference with 13 wins, two losses and two ties, earning the right to play Maryland United FC in the Champions League playoffs in San Diego. He does an excellent job with his positioning, often blocking passing lanes and getting first to loose balls around the midfield area. Because of how physical he is, Walkup is also a tough matchup to any forward in 1v1 duels. The left-footed center back has great quality on the ball too and is very precise with long passes and shifts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWLcmgDARJs","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=KWLcmgDARJs </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->