Texas State Tournament Top Performers: 5A Boys

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The University Interscholastic League (UIL) high school soccer season came to an end this past weekend, with the four best teams in each division clashing for the state title at the Birkelbach Field, in Georgetown, between Wednesday and Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some of the most promising players of the Lone Star State were in action in Georgetown, playing big roles for their teams as they battled for the state title and we'll take the next few days to recognize some of them who stood out with strong performances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Midlothian Panthers made history in Division 5A Boys, claiming the state title in their first appearance thanks to a 3-1 win over Wakeland in the Championship Game. They ended the season with 25 wins, two losses and three ties.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/uiltexas/status/1779248681373323360","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/uiltexas/status/1779248681373323360 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These are some of the players who showed a strong game in the division:</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":"Ayden Hildreth","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_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":"103","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Midlothian","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Solar SC","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The junior forward was productive on both matches in Georgetown, ending the weekend with two goals and one assist. The left-footed Hildreth was a constant threat in the final third with his ability to dribble and pass the ball with precision. Hildreth scored the team's third goal in a 3-0 win over Goose Creek Memorial with a close-range finish, sealing the team's win in the semifinals. He stepped up even more in the Championship Game, scoring the team's go-ahead goal with a header off of a corner kick and assisting to the last goal in their 3-1 victory over Wakeland. The production made of him the MVP of the game.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-661dc90852c7a"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/elcastidelsur/status/1779912584033951783","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/elcastidelsur/status/1779912584033951783 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- 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":"Caden Naizer","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_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":"Midlothian","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"DKSC","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Naizer was instrumental in Midlothian's victory by providing consistent production and leadership from his midfield spot. The left-footed midfielder was very active on both sides of the game and emerged as a difference-maker on offense, getting two goals and two assists in as many matches. In the semifinals, against Goose Creek Memorial, Naizer assisted to the team's first goal and scored the second with a shot from outside the penalty box. In the final, the midfielder leveled the score burying a penalty kick one minute after Wakeland's opening goal and took the corner kick that found Hildreth's head to score the second goal of the team.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-661dc90852d77"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/elcastidelsur/status/1779959091244216365","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/elcastidelsur/status/1779959091244216365 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- 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":"Kyle Allen","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"100","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Midlothian","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Mansfield Revolution","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"With six goals scored in two matches, Midlothian's offense was a big reason for their victory, but their defensive solidness was also remarkable in Georgetown, with just one goal allowed in 160 minutes of action. Allen took every minute available in goal and had to work hard to keep the ball away from it, being highly demanded in both matches. The goalkeeper had a solid appearance in the semifinals, registering five saves in a 3-0 win over Goose Creek Memorial and stepped up to the challenge in the Championship Game, getting eight stops against Wakeland.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-661dc90852e55"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["16741"],"_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_0_evaluation":"Playing in midfield, Hayes was heavily influential in Wakeland's march to the Championship Game in Georgetown. The senior played a major role for them, working with energy on both sides of the ball and leading the team on the field. Hayes had a quiet performance in the semifinals against Glenn, but found his best game in the Championship Game, scoring after a corner kick and firing two shots during the match and earning an All-Tournament Team selection.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-661dc90852ed6"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["16247"],"_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_0_evaluation":"Minsky was the main offensive weapon of Wakeland in the tournament and also made it to the All-Tournament Team in Georgetown. The junior forward was very active in both matches, creating problems for opponents with his game. In the semifinals against Glenn, he used his chest to score his team's second goal in the second half, putting them in a position to confirm their 2-0 victory. Minsky didn't find the back of the net against Midlothian in the Championship Game, but it wasn't for a lack of trying as he fired a team-high three shots, including two on target.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-661dc90852f52"} /-->