GA Cup: Key Players in the Austin FC U18 team

<p>One of the most anticipated tournaments in the boys club soccer season is coming up shortly, as the MLS Next Generation Adidas Cup is set to take place at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, from April 12-20.</p>   <p>The tournament will feature 80 teams from 14 countries across the U16 and U18 age groups, including the MLS academies and some international heavyweights, such as Italy's Inter Milan, Germany's FC Bayern, the Netherlands' PSV, Brazil's Palmeiras and Mexico's Club America.</p>   <p>The three MLS clubs from Texas will send their teams down to Florida and we'll preview each of them in the days leading up to the event.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC'] U18</h2>   <p>[program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC'] were allocated in Group B for the GA Cup and will face MLS foes Charlotte FC and LA Galaxy, as well as Panama's Independiente. The team from the Lone Star State capital has 16 wins, five losses and two ties in the 2024-2025 MLS Next season.</p>   <p>Between [player_tooltip player_id='90881' first='Nico' last='Aristizabal'] and Cooper Roney, Austin have a pair of reliable options at goalkeeper. Captain [player_tooltip player_id='56081' first='Mason' last='Miller'] anchors the backline, having Lucas Cavalcante as his center back partner and the skilled [player_tooltip player_id='59926' first='Santiago' last='Maynez'] at right back and newcomer Isaac Brown-Samper on the left. In midfield, the versatile [player_tooltip player_id='90844' first='Landry' last='Moncrief'] leads the way, flanked by the likes of Jackson Stephens, Mohammad Badawiya, [player_tooltip player_id='88475' first='Abner' last='Zuniga'] and Damion Perez. Up top, [player_tooltip player_id='15962' first='Chris' last='Avila'] and Sean Albritton appear at center forward, with [player_tooltip player_id='90945' first='Cole' last='Coughlin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='56103' first='Joah' last='Reyna'] playing on the wings.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Players</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Aristizabal is extremely reliable between the posts and transmits a lot of confidence to his teammates when he's in goal. A Puerto Rican Youth international, the goalkeeper has solid technical skills and very rarely puts a foot wrong with his actions. He's explosive enough to make saves that wow those watching, but most of the time will go almost unnoticed because his excellent positioning and reading of the game allow him to step up and get the job done with simple actions. Aristizabal controls the penalty box extremely well in crosses and is also very efficient when using his feet, picking the safest options and confidently getting the ball where it needs to go.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/10/IMG_9392.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-269781" /></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Maynez plays as a right back for [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC'] and is one of the pillars of the team with his solid two-way game. He's extremely technical and well-versed in the attacking half and uses his quality on the ball to create chances. Maynez can be a threat out wide, using his ability to beat opponents off the dribble and his accuracy when crossing the ball to feed the forwards, but he also likes to bring the ball inside and operate as a central playmaker on some occasions. The outside back is also very dependable defensively, controlling his zone with great efficiency.</p>      <p class="text-gray-700">The team captain, Miller plays as a right-sided center back for [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC']. He's very solid defensively, reading the game very well and coming up with firm defensive actions to make stops inside and around the penalty box. Miller is also strong in the air and can be an offensive weapon in attacking set pieces. The defender plays a big leadership role with the team, consistently encouraging his teammates and making defensive adjustments, and is also very clean on the ball, contributing to the team's methodical buildup with short passes and long diagonals.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/03/2J4A0082_56a95d.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-283876" /></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Most commonly used as a defensive midfielder, Moncrief is the engine of [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC'], playing with tremendous intensity on both sides of the ball. He's very active defensively and does a great job of protecting the team's backline with strong and well-timed actions in the center of the field. Moncrief gets on the ball a lot when Austin have possession and he does a great job of initiating the team's attacking plays with his excellent distribution. The midfielder also likes to step into the final third and support his team's offense and he does that very well, picking the best moments to push forward and driving the ball with tenacity through opponents with his dribbling skills.</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=OJSsZHY0PAQ </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Playing as a striker, Avila is the focal point of [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC']'s offense. He's not very tall or physical, but is always a handful for opposing defenders with his intense and intelligent movement inside and around the penalty box. Avila doesn't always keep his spot in the center of the team's attack, often drifting wide to get on the ball, but knows his way inside the penalty box, consistently breaking away from center backs to get on the end of crosses or make himself available for through balls. Another major aspect of Avila's game is his ability to press defenders, which often allows him to win possession in the attacking half and create good chances for his team.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/03/2J4A0034_4d74e0.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-283863" /></figure>

One of the most anticipated tournaments in the boys club soccer season is coming up shortly, as the MLS Next Generation Adidas Cup is set to take place at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, from April 12-20.

The tournament will feature 80 teams from 14 countries across the U16 and U18 age groups, including the MLS academies and some international heavyweights, such as Italy's Inter Milan, Germany's FC Bayern, the Netherlands' PSV, Brazil's Palmeiras and Mexico's Club America.

The three MLS clubs from Texas will send their teams down to Florida and we'll preview each of them in the days leading up to the event.

Austin FC U18

Austin FC were allocated in Group B for the GA Cup and will face MLS foes Charlotte FC and LA Galaxy, as well as Panama's Independiente. The team from the Lone Star State capital has 16 wins, five losses and two ties in the 2024-2025 MLS Next season.

Between Nico Aristizabal Nico Aristizabal GK State TX and Cooper Roney, Austin have a pair of reliable options at goalkeeper. Captain Mason Miller Mason Miller D State TX anchors the backline, having Lucas Cavalcante as his center back partner and the skilled Santiago Maynez Santiago Maynez D State TX at right back and newcomer Isaac Brown-Samper on the left. In midfield, the versatile Landry Moncrief Landry Moncrief M State #83 Nation TX leads the way, flanked by the likes of Jackson Stephens, Mohammad Badawiya, Abner Zuniga Abner Zuniga M State #41 Nation TX and Damion Perez. Up top, Chris Avila Chris Avila F State TX and Sean Albritton appear at center forward, with Cole Coughlin Cole Coughlin 5'7" | F SAI Academy | 2026 TX and Joah Reyna Joah Reyna F TX playing on the wings.