Texas Center Backs to Watch at ECNL Phoenix

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The ECNL Girls League is set to host a national event this week, with the city of Phoenix welcoming U16, U17 and U19 teams from all over the country for three days of action between Friday and Sunday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As many as 206 teams will make the trip to Arizona, and each of them will play three times at the Reach 11 Sports Complex, getting strong competition to assess where they are as the spring season comes to an end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The state of Texas will account for about 20% of the participating teams, having 21 representatives, with [program_tooltip program_id='283243' first='Albion' last='Hurricanes FC'], [program_tooltip program_id='283282' first='Challenge' last='SC'], [program_tooltip program_id='283296' first='Classics' last='Elite'], [program_tooltip program_id='283311' first='Dallas' last='Texans'], [program_tooltip program_id='283317' first='[program_tooltip program_id='280767' first='DKSC' last='']' last=''], [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'], [program_tooltip program_id='283397' first='[program_tooltip program_id='278668' first='Lonestar' last='']' last='SC'], Solar SC, [program_tooltip program_id='283497' first='Sting' last='Austin'] and Sting Black all making the trip West.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some promising prospects from the Lone Star State will get on the field over the weekend, and we're introducing them to you in the days leading up to the event. This time we'll focus on the center backs:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["214131"],"_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-69137d06cf250"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Compian is part of the backline of the DKSC G10 team that will be tested against Boise Thorns FC, West Coast Soccer RL and LAFC SoCal in this week's event. A right-sided center back, she can also play in midfield, shielding the team's backline. Compian is very strong at winning duels and has excellent movement, showing great quickness to defend in space and recover when an opposing forward runs behind the backline. She's also very comfortable on the ball, connecting great passes out of the back and displaying confidence to step into the attacking half to help her team circulate the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/DOyg1DaDTs-/","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/DOyg1DaDTs-/ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["112582"],"_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-69137d06cf2c6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Morrow will lead the backline of [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] G09 in Arizona in their matches against MVLA, Slammers FC HB Koge and San Diego Surf. One of the top center backs in the state in her age group, she's excellent at dominating the defensive penalty box, winning duels in the air and blocking shots. Morrow uses her physical tools extremely well, but is also very mobile and intelligent with her positioning in open space. The center back also had a big role in possession, stepping up to help her team move the ball and displaying great precision to send long passes into the final third.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":286349,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/04/2J4A0255.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-286349" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["283043"],"_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-69137d06cf31c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sockwell and her [program_tooltip program_id='283311' first='Dallas' last='Texans'] G09 team are set to play Sporting Iowa, San Francisco Elite Academy RL and COSC in Phoenix. A new player with the team this season, she has been a great addition for them, taking on the captain's armband and elevating their defensive solidity. Sockwell stands out for her excellent positioning, which allows her to clear crosses and make decisive stops inside the penalty box. She played as an outside back for many years and has good quality on the ball and an above-average ability to connect direct passes in the attacking half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/DPSqrn-jrgU/","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/DPSqrn-jrgU/ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["227859"],"_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-69137d06cf36f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Axson will be in action with DKSC G08/07 in their matches against Beach FC, Slammers FC and Charlotte SA in Arizona. An athletic and physically-imposing center back, she dominates the penalty box, playing with tremendous energy at the heart of her team's defense. Axson is very difficult to get by because of her ability to make strong moves and get in the way of opposing forwards. She also does well when dribbling the ball forward because of how well she gets to shield it while on the move.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":151075,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/10/IMG_4289.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-151075" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->