ECNL Boys Playoffs: Five Texas Outside Backs to Watch

<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>   <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>   <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. Today, we'll look at the outside backs:</p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Montgomery and his BVBIA 08 team finished eighth in the Texas Conference with seven wins, three losses and seven ties and will play Florida West FC, Slammers FC and NCFC Youth Academy in the Champions League playoffs. The first thing that stands out about the outside back's game is his endless energy, which allows him to run up and down the field forever. Montgomery gets to the final third very easily and is very dangerous there because of his ability to cross or come inside and finish chances - he also has a good presence inside the penalty box in set pieces. The right back also plays with great energy on defense and uses his body very well, being very difficult to get by. </p>    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/04/IMG_4043.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-170923" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">BVBIA B08 vs. LA Breakers FC B08 </figcaption></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Horton's Dallas Texans Academy 08 team was the second-best in the Texas Conference, getting ten wins, four losses and three ties and will meet Association FC, Eastside FC and STA in the Champions League. With his solid all-around game and superior decision-making, Horton is a point of balance for the team, making smart plays that keep them in a rhythm. Very physical and intelligent, he's a lockdown defender, who has the tools to defend forwards with different profiles with a high level of efficiency. The left back is also productive offensively, connecting good passes in the final third and crossing with impressive precision, even when from a considerable distance from the penalty box.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/04/IMG_4068.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-170929" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dallas Texans Academy B08 vs. Mustang SC B08 </figcaption></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Carson is a key piece in the strong DKSC 07 team that finished at the top of the Texas Conference with 13 wins, two losses and two ties and is scheduled to face Florida Elite, World Class and Arlington Soccer this week in the Champions League. A very athletic right back, he handles his defensive duties with great efficiency, putting pressure on opposing attackers and forcing them back. When on offense, Carson will eventually get to the end line and make dangerous crosses, but he's probably more dangerous when he comes inside to create superiority in the central area of the field. Because of his calm on the ball and his ability to dribble in traffic, he often gets opponents out of shape defensively, generating space for his teammates.</p>    <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=UqBFZQOzTpk </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Having Muniz as a key piece, HTX 07 ranked third in the Texas Conference with 11 wins, three losses and two ties, advancing to the Champions League, where theynwill have San Diego Surf, NVA and CESA Triumph as their first opponents in California. He does a good job offensively, staying high and winning possession with interceptions, but helps the team considerably more offensively. Muniz is a very technical left back, who is very good at getting the ball to the end line and very precise with his crosses, but can also create more centrally - because of his ability to hit the ball and vision, he can find nice passes around the penalty box and finish from distance. The left back is also very precise with his set pieces, adding another element to the team's offense.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd_Dk6pYLro </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Garrison and his Solar SC 06/05 team were the third-best team in the Texas Conference with 12 wins, two losses and three ties, earning a ticket to the Champions League - their first match in San Diego will be against Davis Legacy. He can play as a right back or a right-sided center back on a three-man defense and is very tough defensively. Garrison uses his body well to battle opponents and is also very good at defending them closely, not allowing them much space to create or finish chances. Garrison also has good pace to get to the attacking half and is very intelligent with combination plays and precise with long crosses and shifts.</p>    <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=skkLK-oONmI </div></figure>

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.