ECNL Boys Phoenix: Texas Goalkeepers to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One week after the girls, it's now time for the Boys to appear in the fourth national event hosted by the ECNL League this season this weekend in Phoenix, Arizona, with teams from all over the country set to play from Friday to Sunday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Having the Reach 11 Sports Complex and the Reata Sports Complex as its venues, 230 teams in the U15, U16, U17 and U19 age groups will come from the entire country to play three matches each and showcase their skills against some of the top talent in the country.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Texas will send 36 teams to the event, with sides from Albion Hurricanes FC, BVB International Academy, Dallas Texans, El Paso Locomotive, FC Dallas, FC Westlake, HTX, Rise SC, San Antonio City SC, San Antonio FC and Solar SC representing the Lone Star State in Arizona.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we count the days for the start of the event, let's take a look at some of the top talent from Texas who will be heading to Arizona this weekend, starting with the goalkeepers:</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":"Artur Rojas","_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":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"100","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Frisco Heritage","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Solar SC Academy","_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-672a951644aee"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rojas will be in goal for Solar SC Academy 08 in their matches against MVLA, Beach FC and Association FC. He's a big, yet very agile and explosive goalkeeper, who can get to shots anywhere between the posts. Rojas is a very technical shot-stopper, who rarely gives up a rebound or deflects shots into dangerous spots. Despite his size, he's very quick to get to the ground to make saves and uses his legs well to make stops. Rojas also controls the penalty box very efficiently and is very reliable when dealing with crosses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxmRn-fNFPY","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=FxmRn-fNFPY </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["211823"],"_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-672a951644b47"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pocsik and his Dallas Texans Academy 08 team will face Chicago Magic, El Camino Futbol Club Salinas and Gretna Elite Academy over the weekend in Arizona. Also a football player, he's very athletic and that shows in his ability to explode for the ball when going for a save. Because of his futsal background, Pocsik has excellent reflexes and is capable of making impressive point-blank saves. The goalkeeper dominates the penalty box and is very effective at catching crosses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Two BIG wins this weekend for the <a href="https://twitter.com/DallasTexans08B?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DallasTexans08B</a> Academy ECNL team. 👍🏻<br><br>vs BVB 1-0<br>vs FC Westlake 3-1<a href="https://twitter.com/ECNLboys?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ECNLboys</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TopDrawerSoccer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TopDrawerSoccer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSoccerWire?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheSoccerWire</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepSoccerTX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepSoccerTX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JREskilson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JREskilson</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/grtorres?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@grtorres</a> <a href="https://t.co/cHsKClcQGJ">pic.twitter.com/cHsKClcQGJ</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='211823' first='Max' last='Pocsik'] (@MaxPocsik) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaxPocsik/status/1853585004623720521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- 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":"Axel Jimenez","_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":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"100","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Franklin","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"El Paso Locomotive","_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-672a951644bc0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jimenez is the goalkeeper of the El Paso Locomotive 08 team that will play against Germantown Legends, Westside Metros and Rebels SC in Phoenix. He should be one of his team's individual standouts with his ability to mak impressive saves. Jimenez reads opponents very well and is always at the exact best spot to make spots, which allows him to get to shots not many others would. He's also very quick to leave the goal and uses his arms and legs very well to increase his body range and deny chances to opposing attackers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://www.ncsasports.org/mens-soccer-recruiting/texas/el-paso/franklin-high-school40/axel-jimenez9">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":"Elijah Gradilla","_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":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"100","_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":"BVB IA 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-672a951644c36"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">BVB IA 08 will rely on Gradilla's presence between the posts when they face Association FC, Colorado Rapids and MVLA in the event in Phoenix. He's as consistent as it gets in goals, making the saves one would expect from an elite goalkeeper without any hesitation. Gradilla can be very acrobatic when needed, but he sticks to simple moves whenever possible, adding an extra level of reliability to his saves. He's also strong in the air and uses his feet efficiently when passing the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHnvnu9Cqas","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=vHnvnu9Cqas </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":"Titus Duron","_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":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"100","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Cornerstone Christian","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"San Antonio City 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-672a951644caf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Duron will be with San Antonio City SC 07 in their matches against Rebels SC, El Camino Futbol Club Salinas and 1974 Newark FC. A new face within the squad, having moved from MLS Next's Capital City, he's been doing a solid job with his new team. Standing at 6'4", Duron covers a large area in the goal, but also does a very good when he needs to make saves that depend on athleticism and reflexes. A football kicker, he can also deliver long passes with good precision.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blOcnhpohG0","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=blOcnhpohG0 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->