Dallas Cup Tireless Boys Outside Backs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the largest and most traditional club soccer tournaments of the season, the Dallas Cup was held last week in North Texas, with 450 boys and girls teams competing across five different venues in the area from April 13-20.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2025/04/dallas-cup-boys-day-2-photos/"><strong>Dallas Cup: Boys Day 2 Photos</strong></a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Soccer Texas was in attendance and on Monday, April 14, we followed a handful of Boys' matches at both the Richland College and the Moneygram Soccer Park. With the tournament now concluded, we're featuring some of the players who made a strong impression in the matches we got to watch, and this time we'll look into the outside 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":"Dylan Romero","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_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":"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":"[program_tooltip program_id='283624' first='Capital' last='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-6806959c63326"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Romero helped his team [program_tooltip program_id='283624' first='Capital' last='City SC'] U15 MLS Next defeat Canadian side Woodbridge Soccer Club 2010 5-1. Playing as a right back, he was a reliable offensive option for his team. Romero pushed forward very constantly and displayed great variation in the final third, being effective when dribbling the ball forward in wide positions, but also showing quality to bring it inside and operate from more of a central position, from where he could pass and finish. The outside back also handled his defensive duties very well, using his body to win duels and controlling the space in front of him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":285191,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/04/2J4A0005_607ace.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-285191" /></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='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":"[program_tooltip program_id='283311' first='Dallas' last='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-6806959c633cd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I got to watch Horton when his [program_tooltip program_id='283311' first='Dallas' last='Texans'] Academy 08B ECNL side topped Phoenix's FBSL Tuzos Academy 08B Elite 64 3-0. The Texans dominated possession the entire time, and the defender was an interesting weapon for them at the left back position. Horton engaged in some good combination plays out wide and had no trouble getting to the end line to send dangerous crosses into the box. On some occasions, he would stay in a deeper position, more centrally, giving support to this team's attack, and he did a great job of picking up second balls and immediately finding teammates in good spots in the final third with his accurate passing. Horton also used his pace and great positioning to shut down the Tuzos' attempts to hit in transition.</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":"Ethan Aaronson","_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":"101","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Hebron","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='283639' first='Dallas' last='Hornets']","_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-6806959c63463"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Aaronson had an important role in the 2-1 victory of his team [program_tooltip program_id='283639' first='Dallas' last='Hornets'] 0B Beta over AC Brea B08 EA2. After the Hornets built a 2-0 lead in the first half, AC Brea made a strong push forward, putting a lot of pressure on their opponents' defensive system. Playing as a right back, Aaronson had to deal with most of their attacks and did a solid job, playing with great firmness in his defensive actions and stopping most of their attempts. Because of the context of the game, he didn't step into the attacking half very often, but managed to initiate some dangerous transition plays with accurate passes down the line that found the team's forwards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":285205,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/04/2J4A0072.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-285205" /></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='288471' first='Victor' last='Otalvaro']","_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":"101","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bridgeland","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='283243' first='Albion' last='Hurricanes FC']","_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-6806959c634f2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I got to watch Otalvaro's [program_tooltip program_id='283243' first='Albion' last='Hurricanes FC'] ECNL in a tough one, as they lost to Brazilian giants and eventual Super Group winners Botafogo 6-0. It was a challenge for Albion to try to stop their opponents and, despite the unfavorable result, Otalvaro had a decent showing at left back. Matched up with older opponents, who have some professional experience in Brazil, he did well despite the constant pressure from the Brazilian side. Otalvaro defended his space well, won some duels, and even forced the opponents' wide players to come inside to make plays on some occasions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["210652"],"_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-6806959c63543"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jones captained [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] U15 MLS Next to a solid 3-0 victory over Mexico's Global Sporting Club 2010. Playing as a left wingback, he had a lot of freedom to push forward and spent most of the match in the attacking half, offering his team a nice offensive option. Jones didn't limit himself to staying wide, moving very intelligently in the final third, and popping up in great spots to facilitate plays - he rarely kept the ball, often connecting smart first-time passes that found teammates in great spots. He was also very intelligent to attack the space behind the opposing backline, consistenly getting the ball in the end line and sending nice crosses into the box.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":285254,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/04/2J4A0252.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-285254" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->