Texas HS: Forwards Who Made an Impact in the I-10 Shootout

Last weekend was a busy one in the Texas High School soccer scene, with multiple tournaments taking place across the state as teams prepare for the start of district play.   Arguably the biggest of them, the I-10 Shootout was held in Katy, a Houston suburb, reuniting 72 girls' varsity teams from different parts of the state in its 20th edition, which ran from Thursday to Saturday in ten high school campuses and two Katy ISD stadiums. Prep Soccer Texas attended the tournament, covering six matches in the first two days of the event and getting to watch as many as 12 participating teams in four different brackets.   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2026/01/i-10-shootout-day-1-photos/">I-10 Shootout - Day 1 Photos</a></li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2026/01/texas-hs-i-10-shootout-day-2-photos/">I-10 Shootout - Day 2 Photos</a></li> </ul>   We were able to watch some impressive performances across the two days and are now taking the week to list the players who seem poised to make a big impact in their teams as the high school season enters its most important stage. Last but not least, we bring the forwards who were real threats in the final third:    Martinez was with the Atascocita team that triumphed in the Cougar Bracket with three wins and nine goals scored. I got to watch them in a 3-0 first-round victory over Friendswood in which she came off the bench and contributed a goal. Martinez played on the left side of their attack and was very active with her ability to cover ground and ball control, which helped her beat opponents off the dribble while on the go. The sophomore was also very good at bringing the ball inside from the wing to finish, registering five shots, and scored her goal by timing well a run behind the backline and showing calm in front of the goal to beat the opposing goalkeeper.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/01/2J4A0040_3d1d28.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-347713" /></figure>    Miller was part of the Friendswood team that competed in the Cougar Bracket. I attended their 3-0 first-round loss to Atascocita and thought the sophomore did a good job up top for the Lady Mustangs. Tall and physical, Miller was particularly important for them in the first half, when her team insisted in playing long, as she consistently got on the end of their passes and held the ball up to combine with her teammates. She dropped to midfield in the second half and continued to get involved in her team's attacking plays, showing good ability to dribble in crowded areas, solid vision with her passing and efficiency in her playmaking.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/01/2J4A0008_c4af09.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-347704" /></figure>    Carr was in action with the Lake Travis team that got to play in the event's Warrior Bracket. She was very active in a 1-1 first-round tie with A&M Consolidated that resulted in a defeat in the PK shootout for her team. The sophomore was her team's striker, but moved everywhere in the final third, getting involved in the team's playmaking and helping create chances for herself and her teammates. Carr worked very well with her back to the goal and also showed excellent timing and acceleration to make runs behind the backline, keeping opponents under pressure. She had some dangerous shots in goal and also did well in set pieces. The forward was very energetic at pressing opposing defenders, pushing them to force long passes out of the back.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/01/2J4A0079.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-347723" /></figure>    Medeiros plays for the Tompkins team that ended up in first place in the Falcon Bracket. She ended the event with two goals and one of them was scored in a 6-0 first-round win over O'Connor in a play in which she showed excellent footwork to operate in a tight space inside the box. The junior showed good presence inside the box and was always very involved with her team's attacking plays. Medeiros, however, didn't limit herself to working inside the box, dropping back to make nice holdup play and getting wide to combine with her teammates.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/01/2J4A0174_c89a46.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-347745" /></figure>    Schultz's Fort Bent Austin team was one of the contenders in the tournament's Spartan Bracket. She had her best performance in the event in a Consolation Bracket match against Cypress Ranch in which she registered a hat-trick - the match ended in a 3-3 tie, and the Lady Bulldogs went down in PKs. Pretty much everything Austin did offensively was through their junior forward, who did a great job of chasing long balls and using her pace and quality to make plays, even when surrounded by multiple defenders. Schultz also dropped deeper to get on the ball and make runs, making things happen in the attacking half. She scored her first goal with a header on a corner kick, the second by winning a duel in the final third and taking the ball inside the box, and the third by getting on the end of a cross and showing calm to control the ball and quality to bury it.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/01/2J4A0014_481efb.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-347786" /></figure>    Portillo's Lamar team played in the I-10 Shootout's Warrior Bracket. I was there when they defeated Ridge Point 2-0 in the Consolation Bracket and she delivered an excellent performance. Known for her goalscoring ability, the senior was more of a playmaker in that match, dropping deeper to get on the ball and make plays in the attacking half. Portillo was very efficient with her game, making plays in the central zone while also drifting wide, and assisted in both her team's goals - the second in a corner kick. She was also very disciplined and intense in pressing opposing defenders.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/01/2J4A0106.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-347812" /></figure>    Marchitello was with the Seven Lakes team that got on the field in the Spartan Bracket. She was very active on the right side of their attack in a 2-1 second-round loss to Stratford and scored their only goal in the match. Combining pace, athleticism and solid decision-making, the junior was consistently dangerous on the wings, beating opponents to create chances for her teammates or finish in the goal. Marchitello scored a beautiful goal for the Spartans, dribbling the same opponent twice in the box and showing calm to finish in the lower corner.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/01/2J4A0147.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-347819" /></figure>

Last weekend was a busy one in the Texas High School soccer scene, with multiple tournaments taking place across the state as teams prepare for the start of district play.