Five Texas MLS Next under-the-radar goalkeepers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The MLS Next 2024-2025 season is set to officially come to an end on Monday, when the league's All-Star Game will be held in Austin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the last ten months, Prep Soccer Texas got to follow many of the matches played across the U14, U15, U16, U17 and U19 age groups held in Texas, getting to watch first-hand most of the highly talented prospects from the Lone Star State compete and develop with their teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While MLS academies tend to feature the top players in the region and receive more attention and interest from those watching, we were able to shortlist interesting players all over the state, highlighting the elevated level of play in the Lone Star State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now, with no matches scheduled until September, we'll take some time to feature prospects from non-MLS academies who displayed tremendous potential throughout the last season. We start with the goalkeepers:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["272082"],"_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-687e963fa39fa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ledford was one of the goalkeepers of the [program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers'] U15 team during the last season. He split time in goal with Victor Hart and the two made of the position an area of strength for the team, consistently delivering solid performances between the posts. Ledford is a very technical and reliable goalkeeper, who handles routine saves extremely well, but is also capable of stepping up to make big stops in key moments of matches using his excellent positioning and athleticism. He controls the penalty box very efficiently, smartly navigating it to get to crosses, and also stands out for his distribution, connecting good passes out of the back and finding teammates in good spots with accurate throws.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/DGzlZauOJTY/","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"instagram","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/DGzlZauOJTY/ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["167840"],"_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-687e963fa3a92"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McGowan was with GFI's U16 team last season. Developed in the [program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo'] academy, he has solid technical skills and seems to be ready for whatever is thrown at him during matches. McGowan uses his length extremely well between the posts, making difficult saves with a high efficiency level, and he seems to always be very calm in goal, which helps him to consistently make the right choices. The goalkeeper is also very comfortable with his feet and teammates do not hesitate in giving him the ball when they're under pressure. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["285551"],"_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-687e963fa3afc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jurado was the starting goalkeeper of the [program_tooltip program_id='283624' first='Capital' last='City SC'] U16 team during the season. A product of [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC']'s academy, the goalkeeper has superior technical skills and is very intelligent between the posts. Because of his excellent reflexes and his explosiveness, he performs well above average when it comes to stopping short-distance shots and getting saves in 1v1 situations. Jurado controls the penalty box very efficiently and is very good at turning defense into offense with accurate long throws that, at times, get to teammates far up on the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":285210,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/04/2J4A0098.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-285210" /></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":"Jack Salas","_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":"null","_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":"Great Heart Western Hills","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"AC River","_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-687e963fa3c05"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Salas played for the AC River U17 team out of San Antonio. His team had a difficult season, which could have been worse if their goalkeeper hadn't come up with strong performances on some occasions. Salas was constantly exposed by the team's defensive system, and that showed his ability to perform under pressure and to sustain long periods of action at a good level. He also displayed good vision to get his teammates the ball out of pressure with smart throws and initiate offensive plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":270406,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/10/IMG_0249.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-270406" /></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":"Reymundo Quiroga","_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":"6'2u0022","_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":"IDEA Toros College Preparatory","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"IDEA Toros","_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-687e963fa3ce4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Quiroga was in goal for the IDEA Toros U17 team during the season. An incredibly athletic goalkeeper, he made some spectacular saves during their campaign, relying on his ability to explode and get to the ball in no time and his great positioning between the posts. Quiroga seems to be very confident in his game and likes to engage in mental games with opponents, especially when he's set to defend a penalty kick, one of his strengths. The goalkeeper also does a great job of keeping his backline alert and organized with his non-stop talking from between the posts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":287144,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/05/2J4A0209.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-287144" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->