Texas Prospects Called Up for USYNT Training Camp

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>U.S. Soccer starts on Friday an eight-day training camp for the U15 and U16 Boys National Teams at McCurry Park in Fayetteville, Georgia.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As many as 24 players were selected in each age group, with head coach Ross Brady working with the U15 group and head coach Paul Simpson leading the U16 squad during the activities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seven players from Texas made the list - five in the U15 age group and another two in the U16. Here's what you need to know about each of them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">U15</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["295563"],"_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-68c2e57724fd0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Martinez is the starting goalkeeper for the [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] U15 team. He has been in other youth national team call-ups before, is the top goalkeeper in the age group in Texas according to our Prep Soccer State Rankings and is vastly considered to be among the best in the entire country. Standing at well over six feet, Martinez uses his length very well to take up space in goal and also demonstrates excellent reflexes and technical skills between the posts.</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":"Chris Gonzalez","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2030","_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo'] Academy","_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-68c2e577250a0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gonzalez is a center midfielder for the [program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo'] U15 team and has been wearing the captain's armband for them this season. He's extremely intense and dynamic, and often takes games over with his ability to get involved in plays in the center of the field. Gonzalez is extremely technical and creative and makes excellent decisions in split seconds, which allows him to succeed at a high rate when he has to improvise. He's confident at dribbling the ball forward and is always dangerous inside and around the penalty box, but can also operate a little deeper thanks to his vision and distribution.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DF0msPPOCVk/","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/reel/DF0msPPOCVk/ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["295566"],"_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-68c2e577250f9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gomez is an attacking midfielder for the [program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo'] U15 team. His unbelievable ball control makes of him a real threat in the final third as he's capable of making plays that opposing defenders just can't anticipate or prepare for. Gomez has an incredible variety of moves on the ball, and he uses them to make it past defenders and make up for his lack of size. He's also a goal-scoring threat with his ability to finish from distance and has excellent vision to deliver final passes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/DN0i8Xb4isz/","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/DN0i8Xb4isz/ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["295568"],"_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-68c2e57725149"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Flowers is a forward for the [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] U15 team. He's coming from two huge seasons, having registered over 100 goal contributions in the past two years. Besides being a lethal finisher, he's also very difficult to stop because of how fast he is and how well he uses his body to shield the ball and endure physical duels. Flowers is very skilled on the ball too, and gets heavily involved in his team's playmaking by dropping deeper to get on the ball and beat defenders off the dribble and combine with his teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLB-xnyudRY/">Highlights</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["295569"],"_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-68c2e57725194"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pierre is a forward who plays with the [program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo'] U15 team. A futsal standout, he has excellent close control and is capable of using both feet very well to dribble, pass and shoot, which opens up a lot of possibilities for him. Pierre also stands out with his excellent positioning on the final third as he's always ready to take advantage of open spaces and make runs behind the backline. Very intelligent with his first touch, he does a great job of creating space with body moves and can also operate as an attacking midfielder, having a more active role in the team's chance creation. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ66w8Fuwan/","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/reel/DJ66w8Fuwan/ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">U16</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- 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":"Matt Shannon","_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo'] Academy","_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-68c2e5772522b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Shannon plays for the [program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo'] U16 team, as a central midfielder. He was the team captain last season and used to lead by example, setting the tone with a high work rate and impressive efficiency in his game. Shannon has solid all-around skills and may be a little bit overlooked at times because his game is not necessarily flashy, but he's one of those players who makes everyone around him better. His ability to provide defensive coverage and win possession in midfield is impressive and he also does great work on the ball, distributing it intelligently and supporting the offense with great efficiency by finding good final passes, firing shots from distance, and infiltrating the penalty box.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":285961,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/04/2J4A0053.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-285961" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["280130"],"_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-68c2e5772527c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Soria is a central midfielder for the [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] U16 team. He's not an attacking midfielder, playing more of a box-to-box role for them, but is still one of their most creative players, having a big influence on their offensive system. He operates as a deep-lying playmaker, getting on the ball a lot and dictating the team's pace with his passing and distribution. Even though not always near the penalty box, the left-footed Soria still makes game-changing plays, finding intelligent passes behind the backline and making excellent shifts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":285249,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/04/2J4A0235.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-285249" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->