Aggieland Friendship Cup: Five Center Backs to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Preseason tournaments are popping up all around Texas as club teams from the Lone Star State finalize their preparations for the opening matches of their respective leagues and this weekend College Station is set to host one of the biggest of them, the Aggieland Friendship Cup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hosted by Challenge SC, the two-day event has attracted as many as 171 girls' teams from the U10 to the U19 age group, including some of the best sides from the Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio areas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There will be some elite-level talent in action this week at Veteran's Park and we'll feature some players worth your attention, this time focusing on center backs:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["148466"],"_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-66c64a9a0ea7e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brendel and her Albion Hurricanes FC ECNL 09 team are scheduled to meet Sting Black RL 08 and DKSC RL 08 this weekend. She's an incredibly versatile and well-rounded player, who can be used anywhere across the backline, as well as in midfield. Brendel is very quick to react and does an excellent job of defending in space, putting pressure on opponents and timing her tackles well. Despite not being very tall, she knows how to use her body to fight for space and shield the ball. The defender is also very calm and intelligent in possession, helping distribute the ball out of the back with tremendous efficiency.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peFJKd55-sM","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=peFJKd55-sM </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["26560"],"_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-66c64a9a0eb17"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kristufek will anchor Dallas Texans ECNL 08's defense in their matches against Albion Hurricanes FC RL 07 and Challenge SC RL 07 in College Station. She uses her size well to dominate opponents and defend in the air, but is surprisingly quick and mobile to step up and challenge opposing attackers outside the penalty box. Kristufek is also very confident in possession, always doing her best to keep the ball when she wins it and deliver it to a teammate. The center back also has a strong presence in the attacking penalty box in set pieces and often scores and assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15095931/656f1371578e0102acabcc6a' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c64a9a0eda2"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["26466"],"_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-66c64a9a0ee1a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mayer and her Solar SC ENCL 08 team will have Challenge SC ECNL 07 and Albion Hurricanes FC ECNL 07 as their opponents in this weekend's event. Her game at the center back position stands out because of how often she makes the right choices, which frequently puts her in positions to cut lanes and intercept passes. Mayer also understands the game well and knows when to step up and put pressure on opponents and when to hold her position and get ready to defend inside and around the penalty box. She's also very productive in possession, often connecting good long passes out of the back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/AnnaMay3r/status/1701759464011972862","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/AnnaMay3r/status/1701759464011972862 </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":"Francesca Johnson","_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":"5'10u0022","_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":"Episcopal","_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c64a9a0ef1d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Johnson and her Rise SC 07/06 GA team will be tested against Sting Black RL1 07/06 and DKSC RL NTX 07/06 in College Station. She plays a big role in the team's defensive system, leading their backline with calm and quality. Johnson has the size and physical tools to dominate the penalty box and does it in a very efficient and discrete way, protecting the goal at all costs. She also plays an important leadership role in the team, maintaining communication across the backline.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azHNCpBwVo4","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <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=azHNCpBwVo4 </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":"Gabrielle Webb","_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":"5'4u0022","_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":"St. Michaels Catholic Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"FC Westlake","_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-66c64a9a0f003"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A new face with FC Westlake 07/06 this season, Webb will help solidify their backline in their matches against DKSC RL NTX 07/06 and Albion Hurricanes FC RL 08 at Veteran's Park. She uses her pace and positioning extremely well to beat defenders to the ball when defending in transition. Webb is also a very efficient tackler, who has the patience and the reading of the game to wait for the right moment to attack the ball. Also capable of playing as an outside back, she has good quality on the ball and is able to create and finish chances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9QeEwHa2gg","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=Y9QeEwHa2gg </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->