ECNL Boys Finals Texas Team Preview: Dallas Texans Academy 10

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After almost 11 months of action, the ECNL Boys season is set to end this weekend, when the four best teams in the age groups from U13 to U17 decide the national title in Richmond, Virginia.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After standing out in conference play and surviving the playoffs in San Diego a few weeks ago, teams now need to deliver against elite competition to return home with the trophy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The state of Texas will be represented in the event, with&nbsp;<a href="https://prepsoccer.com/program/fc-dallas-2/"><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas']</strong></a>&nbsp;Red 11 (U15),&nbsp;<a href="https://prepsoccer.com/program/dallas-texans-2/"><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='283311' first='Dallas' last='Texans']</strong></a>&nbsp;Academy 10 (U16) and Solar SC Academy 09 (U17) all making the trip to Virginia in the hopes of capping their seasons off with a pair more of wins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the days leading up to the event, Prep Soccer Texas will preview the teams that will represent the Lone Star State in the Finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='283311' first='Dallas' last='Texans'] Academy 10</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team from Dallas earned a spot in the playoffs after finishing seventh in the Texas Conference with a campaign of 11 wins, three losses and four ties. In the postseason, they overcame Connecticut's FSA FC, Alabama FC and California's West Coast FC, Davis Legacy and San Diego Surf.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Their Opponents</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Texans will meet Georgia's Concorde Fire Platinum in the national semifinals on Friday at 10:00 AM local time. The other two semifinalists are Washington's XF Academy and California's Pateadores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Their Squad</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alexander Gawel, [player_tooltip player_id='211227' first='Josiah' last='Alvarez'] and [player_tooltip player_id='280318' first='Braylon' last='Moss'] are the team's goalkeepers. In the backline, [player_tooltip player_id='190988' first='Braylon' last='Walker'], [player_tooltip player_id='190989' first='Ethan' last='Ortiz'] and Knox Longhofer take on the center back spots while Diego Espinoza, Collin McGrath, Kingston Gleason and [player_tooltip player_id='190990' first='Axel' last='Alvarado'] are the outside back options. The midfield depth features Chase Kugler, [player_tooltip player_id='349132' first='Ezra' last='Camacho'], Lucas Correia, [player_tooltip player_id='210667' first='Sammy' last='Guevara'], [player_tooltip player_id='288180' first='Anthony' last='Sanchez'], Sagan Pandey, Sebastian Maranon, Micah Flores and Josue Diaz. The forwards are [player_tooltip player_id='349169' first='Neo' last='Currie'], Veliye Sengsouriya, Hendrix Kindred, Aaron Rios, Lucas Martino, Sebastian Marquez and Noam Lipszyc</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":["280318"],"_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-6a56b007adcaa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Moss is one of the goalkeepers in the Texans squad. He's an elite shot-stopper who uses his six-foot frame and excellent reflexes to get in the way of opponents between the posts. One of the top high jump prospects in the country, Moss also plays football and is incredibly athletic. That comes in handy when he has to claim crosses in the box and makes of him a great penalty kick stopper. The goalkeeper has a strong and energetic attitude on the field nd keeps his teammates energized.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/moss_brayl97871/status/2072785081496637528?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/moss_brayl97871/status/2072785081496637528?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["190988"],"_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-6a56b007add13"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Capable of playing in central defense or as a right back, Walker anchors the Texans' backline with his strong and consistent game. He combines a high soccer IQ, which often puts him in good spots, and superior athleticism to be a tough challenge to attackers attempting to score on his team. Walker does a good job of keeping opponents under pressure, has excellent decision-making to determine when to step up to intercept a pass, and is very good at recovering thanks to his pace. The center back is calm and efficient on the ball and can also be a weapon in the attacking penalty box in set pieces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BraylonWalker_5/status/2048283111922733410?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BraylonWalker_5/status/2048283111922733410?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["210667"],"_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-6a56b007add6c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Guevara makes a big offensive impact for the Texans from the midfield. He's positionally versatile, being able to play as a true attacking midfielder or a little bit deeper, and from either spot, he'll pull the strings of their offensive plays. Guevara has what it takes to control the game from the center of the field, doing a good job of maintaining possession under pressure and picking the right passes to keep the game flowing. He's committed defensively, working hard off the ball, and also makes an impact in set pieces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->