Dynamic Texas Outside Backs in Action at ECNL Florida

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 will start early in the ECNL Boys Club Soccer League as the first weekend of the New Year will feature a National Event in Florida, from January 4-6.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With club teams from three age groups in action in Lakewood Ranch, the event will reunite 230 sides from all over the country, which will all be looking to start the New Year on the right foot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Texas will have 22 teams making the trip East, with BVB IA, Dallas Texans, DKSC, FC Dallas, Lonestar SC, San Antonio FC and Solar SC all representing the Lone Star State in Lakewood Ranch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're taking the week to feature some of the most promising Texas players who will be on the field this weekend, and now we'll look into some of the outside backs that deserve your attention:</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":"Ethan Goldman","_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":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"","_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":"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-67714a7e2118b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Goldman will be with the DKSC 09 team that has matches scheduled against Doral Soccer Club, Wilmington Hammerheads and Beach FC in Florida. He typically plays right back for them and is an interesting two-way player, who gets the job done on both sides of the ball. Goldman is an offensive-minded outside back, who has a strong presence in the attacking half and is very effective in possession. He's quick and skilled enough to beat defenders off the dribble, but can also engage in quick give-and-go combination plays to get the end line. An accurate crosser, Goldman also does good work on the defensive side of the ball, putting pressure on opposing attackers and waiting for the right moment to go at them and win the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19951363/66f0468d6d6f3115707cbcc9' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67714a7e21341"} /--> <!-- 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='319324' first='Cross' last='Horton']","_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":"101","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Argyle","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Dallas Texans","_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-67714a7e213cf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Horton and his Dallas Texans Academy 08 team are set to be challenged by Maryland United FC, NCFC Youth Academy and Concorde Fire Platinum in Florida. A left back with solid technical and physical tools, he dominates his area of the field and plays with tremendous intensity. Horton is well-versed in the offensive side of the game, using his quality on the ball to create chances. He's a solid passer, has the ability to cross from long distances and also likes to underlap and appear as a goalscoring threat inside the penalty box. When playing defense, Horton knows how to use his physicality to shut opponents down efficiently.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">My goal highlight from Game 2 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ECNLPHX?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ECNLPHX</a>! Love my Texans, we had a 4-1 W today!<a href="https://twitter.com/ECNLboys?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ECNLboys</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DallasTexans08B?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DallasTexans08B</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDallasTexans?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheDallasTexans</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSoccerWire?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheSoccerWire</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepSoccer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepSoccer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TopDrawerSoccer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TopDrawerSoccer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CrossHorton2026?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CrossHorton2026</a> <a href="https://t.co/EsvpwgiseG">pic.twitter.com/EsvpwgiseG</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='319324' first='Cross' last='Horton'] 2026 (@CrossHorton2026) <a href="https://twitter.com/CrossHorton2026/status/1857958894917562860?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 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":"Carter Geist","_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":"6'1u0022","_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":"Allen","_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-67714a7e21457"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Geist and his BVBIA 06/07 teammates will play against Nationals Soccer Club, Charlotte SA and East Meadow SC during this weekend's event. He can help them at both outside back spots and also in central midfield. Geist is a very strong defensive player, who times his tackles extremely well and uses his body efficiently to fight for space and win the ball. He's very calm in possession and very rarely misses the ball or misplaces a pass. Geist has a good eye to identify opportunities to make runs with the ball and often creates good chances with these moves.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14834640/65f995b1c11a3c0f2c8631e1' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67714a7e2147d"} /-->