Five Defenders to Know from the Updated Texas 2027 Girls Rankings

<p>After some months, the Prep Soccer 2027 Texas Girls State Ranking was updated earlier this week, with new players being added to the prestigious list that features only the best of the best in the Lone Star State and the existing ones having their positions adjusted.</p>   <p>The ranking will continue to be consistently updated so it accurately reflects the progress achieved by players over time and presents a clear picture of the Texas landscape, always having in mind each prospect's potential to make an impact at teh next level.</p>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/texas/rankings/girls/2027-rankings/">Texas 2027 Girls State Rankings</a></strong></li> </ul>   <p>The updated Texas 2027 Boys State Rankings now feature 285 players from every corner of the Lone Star State, and we're taking the week to present you with some of the most intriguing names that made the list.</p>   <p>Today, we look into the defenders:</p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Gilkey ranks fifth among the defenders and appears in 15th place overall in our updated Texas State Rankings. She's part of the Cedar Park High School varsity team and plays in the ECNL Club League with [program_tooltip program_id='283497' first='Sting' last='Austin'] U17. Recently reclassified as a 2027 prospect, Gilkey is a versatile defender who can play anywhere across the backline, but is more commonly used at the left back spot. Her defensive game is very strong, as she does very well in physical duels and has excellent instincts, picking the right moments to dispossess opponents. Gilkey also contributes at a high level on the ball, helping her build out of the back and engaging in combination plays in the attacking half. The defender is a threat in attacking set pieces, too, appearing in great spots in the penalty box to finish chances.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BlakeGilkey/status/1980974107517747662/ </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Tuzzolino is listed as the seventh-best defender in the state and made it to the top-20 overall, appearing in 19th place. She plays high school soccer for Prosper and is part of the strong Sting Royal U17 team that competes in the ECNL League. Primarily a left back, she has a very solid all-around game and can play on the right as well, and even in central defense. Much of Tuzzolino's complete and efficient game is due to her high soccer IQ, which allows her to make the right decisions on both sides of the ball and play the game with very few errors. She's solid in 1v1 duels and stands out for her positioning on the defensive side of the game, while distributing the ball wisely and delivering accurate crosses.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CharlieTuzzo4/status/1946642303004659983/ </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Albin got into the top ten of defenders, appearing in eighth place, and ranks 21st overall in the state of Texas in the Class of 2027. She leads the backline for Marcus at the high school level and features for [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas']' U17 team in the ECNL League. A center back, Albin is very strong defensively, going hard in every play and keeping opponents under pressure on the ball. A vocal leader who commands the defensive system with clear communication, she is also a competent passer who has great accuracy with long balls.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ryleighalbin/status/1941896560515706904 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Struyk is one of the highest-ranked outside backs in the new Rankings, appearing in 16th place among the defenders and 66th overall. She's a standout on the Lake Creek High School team and a day in day out starter in the [program_tooltip program_id='283243' first='Albion' last='Hurricanes FC'] U17 team in the ECNL League. Capable of playing on both outside backs, Struyk makes a big impact in the offensive side of the game, using her long legs to cover ground on and off teh ball and quickly get into the final third. She's skilled enough to beat opponents off the dribble and is very accurate with her crossing. Struyk also gets the job done defensively, playing with good energy and using her frame well to win duels and protect the space behind her back.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ryleens019/status/1897627297273774431/ </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Molina took 23rd place among the Texas defenders and ranked 83rd overall in the state. She is a key piece in Conroe High School's team and features for HTX U17 in the Girls Academy League. A center back, Molina stands out for her mobility and is at her best when deployed in the center of a back three, using it to cover her teammates in wider spots or higher up on the field. She also does well with her positioning, doing well when defending the penalty box both on the ground and in the air. Molina is also very comfortable on the ball and has the ability to support her team's offense with intelligent passing out of the back and some direct runs on the ball through the center of the field.</p>   <p><strong><a href="https://sportsrecruits.com/athlete/bryana_molina?video=6143450">Highlights</a></strong></p>

After some months, the Prep Soccer 2027 Texas Girls State Ranking was updated earlier this week, with new players being added to the prestigious list that features only the best of the best in the Lone Star State and the existing ones having their positions adjusted.