MLS Next Cup Texas Team Preview: Houston Rangers U15

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The culminating event of the 2025-2026 MLS Next season is coming up shortly, as the MLS Next Cup is set to take place at the Regional Athletics Complex in Salt Lake City, Utah from May 23-31.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The playoffs will reunite the best teams from the regular season, with 32 sides that qualified either via the MLS Next Flex event or league play in the Homegrown Division competing in a single elimination format in Utah.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fifteen teams from the state of Texas will be in contention for the titles after achieving significant results in their seasons. We're now previewing each of them:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers'] U15</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>How did they qualify?</strong> The [program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers'] qualified for MLS Next Cup thanks to their campaign in the Frontier Division. The team from Houston produced an undefeated campaign of seven victories, defeating the [program_tooltip program_id='283639' first='Dallas' last='Hornets'] 2-1, Tulsa Greenwood SC 9-1, IDEA Toros 10-0, GFI Academy 3-0, [program_tooltip program_id='321473' first='AC' last='River'] 3-1, Albion SC Colorado 3-0 and [program_tooltip program_id='283624' first='Capital' last='City SC'] 3-0.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What is their squad like?</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='333390' first='Emiliano' last='Elizondo-Lopez'] and Miheer Parasnis are the goalkeepers in the roster. Jesse Davila and [player_tooltip player_id='350314' first='Noah' last='Treadwell'] are the outside backs in the team, while [player_tooltip player_id='333367' first='Roberto' last='Martinez'], Grant Kuban and Owen Lockerd split the minutes in central defense. The Rangers' midfield has [player_tooltip player_id='295858' first='Christopher' last='Zaragoza'], Jeyko Fuenmayor, Kar Nyi, Mouiz Sabit and Nolawi Teshome. The forward options in the squad include Alexander Hernandez, Aaron Hurtado, [player_tooltip player_id='285937' first='Abdullah' last='Wadi'], Garrett Brain, Luis Bustos, Joshua Cupid and Idrissa Djimde.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["350314"],"_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-6a023a0e1f8c0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Treadwell plays as a left back for the Rangers. He has a lot of quality on the ball and is a constant attacking option for them. Treadwell does a good job of overlapping out wide and is very good at dribbling in tight spaces. The outside back hits the ball with power and precision, which allows him to fire good shots from outside the box and to deliver accurate crosses from the wing or in set pieces. Treadwell also works hard on defense and plays with great determination to control his zone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":333215,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/10/2J4A0046.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-333215" /></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":"Nolawi Teshome","_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":"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":"Crossbar Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers']","_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-6a023a0e1f9da"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Teshome can play a few different positions for the Rangers, but is more commonly used in the attacking midfielder role. He's very aggressive and creative on the ball and uses his unpredictable dribbling to make it past defenders and get into the final third. Teshome can be dangerous when combining with his teammates, but is probably even better when making runs on the ball because of his ability to cover ground and keep going even after absorbing contact. The midfielder also finishes his chances very well, showing power and precision from mid-range and being calm and composed to convert penalty kicks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":333233,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/10/2J4A0106.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-333233" /></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":"Alexander Hernandez","_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":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"103","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Gene Tomas","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers']","_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-6a023a0e1fadb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hernandez plays as a forward for the Rangers, spending time on both wings for them. Very quick and technical, he's a constant threat to opposing defenders with his ability to both make runs off the ball behind the backline and beat defenders 1v1 out wide. Hernandez is very direct on the ball, making quick decisions when in possession and delivering excellent final passes and crosses. He likes to step into the penalty box and is a consistent scorer for the team, showing excellent finishing skills and calm in front of the goal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC82mZgXN8E","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC82mZgXN8E </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->