Texas Midfielders to Follow at ECNL North Carolina

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The ECNL Girls League is set to host its last National Event of the 2024-2025 season this weekend, when teams from all over the country will head to Greensboro, North Carolina.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Set to take place at the Bryan Park Soccer Complex between Friday and Sunday, the ECNL North Carolina will be the 12th national event organized by the league in the season and will reunite 198 teams in the U15, U16 and U17 age groups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The state of Texas will be represented in the event, with 13 club teams from the Lone Star State making the trip, and we're taking the week leading up to the tournament to highlight some of the top prospects who will be on the field over the weekend. In today's article, you'll get to know some midfielders worth a good look in the event:</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":"Kate McGowan","_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":"102","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Boerne","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='283296' first='Classics' last='Elite']","_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-682e544b45767"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McGowan will be with the [program_tooltip program_id='283296' first='Classics' last='Elite'] G10 team that has matches against GTFC Impact RL, NVA and Cleveland Force SC scheduled this week. A central midfielder, she is a key piece in the team's playing system, making a strong impact in the game on both sides of the ball. A lefty, McGowan has excellent vision and great passing range, helping the team move the ball from the center of the field into good spots. She also works well off the ball, helping occupy the space in the center of the field and fight for possession.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/22831968/66d831fc4a546d0a51a4c52e' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-682e544b45904"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["148139"],"_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-682e544b4595b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Reyna is part of the [program_tooltip program_id='283497' first='Sting' last='Austin'] G09 team that will have Slammers FC, Florida Elite and Bay Area Surf as their opponents in North Carolina. An extremely dynamic and creative playmaker, she's a key offensive player for them, getting involved in most of the team's attacking plays. Reyna is excellent at dribbling the ball and consistently manages to find space in crowded areas of the field to make plays, but doesn't hesitate to drift wide to bring the ball inside from the left. She also has excellent vision in the final third, not only picking the right options around the penalty box, but also timing her passes extremely well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":279865,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/02/2J4A0231_0e970a.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-279865" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["159176"],"_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-682e544b459a5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Marino and her [program_tooltip program_id='283282' first='Challenge' last='SC'] G09 team will be tested against NC Courage, NVA and Charlotte Independence in the showcase. An extremely intelligent and well-rounded player, she can play different roles in midfield, but is at her best when used more centrally, where she can feed the forwards with direct passes. Marino's high soccer IQ allows her to thrive in tight spaces and not spend much time on the ball, often making things happen with first-time passes and quick plays. She's also very committed with the defensive side of the game and works hard and plays with intensity off the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3v7y6uhcsk","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=A3v7y6uhcsk </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["27109"],"_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-682e544b459ec"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Heintz plays for the [program_tooltip program_id='283296' first='Classics' last='Elite'] G08 team that is set to meet Arlington Soccer, Indy Eleven Pro Academy and NCFC Youth in Greensboro. A hard-nosed and skilled central midfielder, she's a hub for her team and a lot of their game relies on her, on both sides of the ball. Heintz is very determined defensively and does a great job of shielding the team's backline with tremendous intensity and hard tackles. She's also very skilled on the ball and distributed the game extremely well, be it playing directly to find the forwards or having a more methodical approach. Heintz is an interesting weapon in attacking set pieces as well, with her ability to win aerial duels in the penalty box and score off headers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://sportsrecruits.com/athlete/morgan_heintz?video=4558938">Highlights</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["26454"],"_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-682e544b45a2c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Boedeker will strengthen [program_tooltip program_id='283282' first='Challenge' last='SC'] G08 in their matches against Match Fit Academy, Maryland United FC and VDA. She's a defensive midfielder who thrives with her ability to control the center of the field with intensity and great decision-making. Boedeker is very active at winning possession as she does a great job of reading plays and intercepting passes - she's also very good at getting first to second balls and recovering the ball. The midfielder also makes a big impact in the offensive side of the game with her ability to pass the ball and to shoot from distance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":274245,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/11/IMG_3111.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-274245" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->