Dallas Cup Reliable Boys Center Backs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the highlights of the club soccer season in Texas, the Dallas Cup wrapped up earlier this month, ending the 2026 edition of the tournament after eight days of high-level matches across North Texas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the most prestigious and traditional tournaments in the country, the Dallas Cup reunited teams from all over the country and other nations, such as Canada, Mexico, England, the Netherlands and Brazil in its 20 divisions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Soccer Texas was in Dallas following the action earlier in the week, and we'll now report on the players who caught our attention while we were there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2026/03/dallas-cup-day-2-boys-photos/">Dallas Cup - Boys Photos</a></strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/DWjZ9TAjrSc/","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/DWjZ9TAjrSc/ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This week, we're featuring the standouts on the boys' side, and these center backs were in top form:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"Max Sauceda","_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":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"101","_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_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='283624' first='Capital' last='City SC']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-69dea3a1ad935"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sauceda was with the [program_tooltip program_id='283624' first='Capital' last='City SC'] team that was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the tournament's U19 Division. He had an important role in their 3-2 victory over Legends FC during the event's group phase. Capital City trailed 2-1 at the start of the second half and pushed forward to try to get a result, leaving their backline exposed. Sauceda was excellent at shutting down the opponents' transition plays, using his size and positioning to intercept long passes and thriving on 1v1 duels on the ground. The center back also supported the team's offense with his accurate passing, often finding their striker with pinpoint long balls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":353831,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/03/2J4A0041_6d8603.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-353831" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["295656"],"_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-69dea3a1ad9d7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hoerner was part of the GFI team that made it to the semifinals in the U15 Division. He was one of their top players in their 6-0 debut win over SPSA 2011 Red Elite Boys in the group phase. Hoerner played in the center of GFI's back three and had a major role in the team's buildup. With his team strongly dominating possession, Hoerner got on the ball a lot, and his ability to quickly get it to the team's wide players and forwards was extremely valuable as GFI looked to create chances. He didn't have any hiccups on the defensive part of the game either, efficiently stepping up to intercept passes and win duels in the center of the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":353823,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/03/2J4A0013_f1c3ef.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-353823" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["148179"],"_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-69dea3a1ada44"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Grimm helped [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] Academy triumph in the tournament's U17 Division. The left-footed center back had a big influence on the team's 1-0 win over North Toronto Nitros B2009 OPDL in their first match in the tournament, leading their defense to a clean sheet. The Nitros tried to play long for most of the match and Grimm was always well-positioned to clear their long balls, while also doing a good job of intercepting passes and winning duels when they tried to attack through the middle. The center back also delivered on the ball, playing safe and efficient passes out of the back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":353854,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/03/2J4A0165_cda53e.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-353854" /></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":"Joseph Longoria","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"101","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Arlington","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Solar SC","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-69dea3a1adb11"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Longoria's Solar SC Academy ECNL B11 team couldn't make it past the group phase in the event's U15 Division. With a solid performance, he helped them keep a clean sheet in their debut, tying 0-0 with Mexico's Angeles Soccer Elite 11X. Playing on the right side of their back three, Longoria was very good at reading plays and intercepting passes, but also did well when passes were played in the space behind his back, showing good pace and the ability to recover. The center back also contributed in possession, playing an active role in the team's buildup and showing quality in his distribution out of the back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":353862,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/03/2J4A0201_97f6ae.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-353862" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->