Texas HS Girls Standouts – Houston Area – Forwards
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The high school soccer season has come to an end in the state of Texas, crowning six teams as the new state champions in Georgetown and closing another exciting period of competition reuniting most of the top prospects in the…
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Continue ReadingThe high school soccer season has come to an end in the state of Texas, crowning six teams as the new state champions in Georgetown and closing another exciting period of competition reuniting most of the top prospects in the Lone Star State.
I’ve attended several matches in the Houston area over the last few months, from pre-season tournaments to the playoffs, in order to provide the best coverage possible for Prep Soccer and compiled a list with several players that I got to see once or multiple times who left a very strong impression about their games.
Now, with the season concluded, it’s time we reveal their names, and in the last article of the series, we’ll list the forwards who did a great job with their teams:
Ghonda made a tremendous impact on Memorial’s offense with her diversified skills. She can play anywhere on the frontline and is extremely athletic, having a rare combination of physical strength and pace. The forward can hurt defenses in several different ways, operating as a target for her teammates to get on the end of long passes, using her pace to beat opponents on the flank or playing up top and finishing chances inside the penalty box. Ghonda also has good vision on the final third and can create for her teammates as well.
Robinson was one of the most impressive players in a strong Bridgeland team. She’s a handful for any defender and it’s very difficult for an opponent to stop her without the help of a teammate. Robinson is tall, fast and very skilled on the ball, a combination that allows her to do really anything in possession. She makes great runs with or without the ball through the middle and often moves past defenders with ease. Robinson is also an excellent finisher, who can shoot with power and precision, but, above anything, is very calm in front of the goal.
Steele’s dynamic movement up top was a big part of Lake Highlands’ playing system. The forward had all the freedom to roam around the penalty box and did it with great intelligence, looking for space to get on the ball and ways to hurt opposing backlines. Steele is really good at dribbling the ball, especially when she’s able to bring it from the left inside to her preferred right foot. The forward is also good at combining with her teammates and moving to get the ball back and can also finish from distance with great efficiency.
Dayo Tennison
Dayo Tennison
A very dynamic forward, Tennison was Ridge Point’s most advanced player on the field, playing the striker role for the team. Her pace and non-stop movement were her main weapons as she often made very good runs off the ball in order to get passes behind the opposing backline in position to score. Tennison is very direct and very strong at dribbling opponents, a combination that also allowed her to create dangerous chances when getting the ball on the wing and dribbling it inside. She’s also a lethal finisher, who knows how to put the ball in the back of the net regardless of the situation.
Zebold was a big part of the talented group of players that former Foster’s frontline during the season. She played in more of a second striker role, getting the ball around the penalty box to create chances while also making runs inside it to finish. Zebold is really good at dribbling in tight spaces and uses both feet very well, which gives her the ability to take the ball to either side. She’s calm and effective in front of the goal and also thrives by making herself available to get passes, be it with off-the-ball runs behind defenders or by moving to wider, less-crowded areas of the field.
A pacey and skilled player on the ball, Goodwin had great moments playing on the right side of Stratford’s attack. She’s at her best when she has space in front of her to explore as that’s when she can use her dribbling ability and her pace to beat defenders. The fact that Goodwin can always take the ball inside to finish or push it to the end line in order to create for a teammate often kept defenders out of balance when trying to stop her and the forward took full advantage of it, making quick and aggressive moves. She’s also really good at pressuring defenders when the Spartans don’t have the ball.
Highlights
Anneliese Switzer
Anneliese Switzer
Bellaire’s starting striker Switzer was her team’s main offensive player during the season. A forward with a very complete game, she had good presence inside the penalty box, being a target for crosses, but could also operate a little bit deeper, getting on the end of long passes and combining with her teammates. A lefty, Switzer also had the ability to create chances on his own, beating opponents off the dribble and going straight toward the goal.
Haydan Erck
Haydan Erck
One of the captains of her talented Seven Lakes team, Erck was the Spartans’ offensive reference. She played as a striker, but her movement wasn’t limited to the penalty box as she did great when drifting to the sides in order to get on the ball. From there, she could either combine with a teammate and bring the ball inside to finish or find a pass that would break the defense. Erck also held her own inside the penalty box as, despite often facing taller and more physical defenders, she could still find ways to get on the ball and score.