Houston area dynamic midfielders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Texas continues its tradition of developing elite soccer talent on the girls' side, with prospects emerging from every corner of the Lone Star State to display tremendous potential and, at times, even make it to the US Youth National Teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Every now and then, we'll have a weekly series highlighting a few of those talented players, but as they say, everything is bigger in Texas, so we'll need to do it in part, focusing on one region at a time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We start with the Houston area and in this article, we'll feature some prolific midfielders:</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":"Ava Ramos","_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":"5'5u0022","_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":"Dawson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Rise 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":"Ramos is a staple on midfield for both her high school team Dawson and her club team Rise SC 07 in the Girls Academy league. She plays as a defensive midfielder and is excellent at shielding the backline with physicality and intensity in the center of the field. Ramos also does a very good job in possession, operating well in tight spaces and creating separation from opponents with moves and quick turns. She has excellent vision and tremendous precision in her passing, being able to get out of pressure with quick passes, support the team's buildup and connect vertical passes when further up in the field.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-663a5533099bc"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCktQM2BTfA","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=wCktQM2BTfA </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":"Hazel Rivas","_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":"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":"Foster","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Imperial 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":"Rivas plays as a defensive midfielder for her high school team Foster and for Imperial SC 07 Black in the ECNL Regional League. She was awarded as her district's Defensive MVP this past season, which shows how much of an impact she makes on games without the ball. Rivas, who can also play on the backline, covers a lot of ground defensively and never lacks in intensity when she tries to win the ball back. When in possession, she typically operates with short, safe passes, but can at times catch opponents off guard with quick runs off the ball through the middle or the right side.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-663a553309ae0"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":157212,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/IMG_7482.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-157212" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">George Ranch vs. Foster</figcaption></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":"Amy Romero","_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":"5'2u0022","_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":"Pasadena Memorial","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Houstonians FC","_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 crafty Romero features for Pasadena Memorial at the high school level after transferring from Deer Park last season and for Houstonians FC 07 in the ECNL Regional League. She's a dynamic and creative offensive player, who can play anywhere in the frontline and also as a No. 10. Romero is at her best in a more central role, where her dribbling and vision make more of a difference. She's really smooth on the ball and can use either foot to dribble in tight spaces and finish. The midfielder is very good at dribbling the ball forward and never hesitates before attempting long-distance shots.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-663a553309be6"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17211824/65d5b4f94210870a2cffa462' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-663a553309e67"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["88963"],"_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":"Aras is a key player in both her high school team Clements and her club team Albion Hurricanes FC 08, which competes in the ECNL league. Also capable of playing as a center back, she has established herself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the Houston area for her quality on both sides of the ball. Aras is very active defensively, protecting the backline efficiently and using her ability to read the game to anticipate plays and win possession. She's probably even more valuable when in possession because of her passing and her ability to control the flow of the game - she's particularly good at connecting long passes. Aras hits the ball with power and precision and is also a threat in set pieces, either making crosses or taking them straight to the goal.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-663a553309f1b"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqsDC4Vkn_I","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=eqsDC4Vkn_I </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["155523"],"_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":"Byrd-Figueroa is one of the standouts in her club team HTX 09 which plays in the Girls Academy league. Her ability to contribute on both sides of the ball with so much quality at such a young age is truly impressive and makes her thrive in her box-to-box role. Byrd-Figueroa is very physical and intense when playing defense, covering a lot of ground and winning duels in the center of the field. She also has great quality on the ball and is capable of contributing to the team's offense with more of a methodical buildup or key passes that find teammates in good spots in the final third.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-663a553309fc4"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":153356,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/11/IMG_5793.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-153356" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">HTX 09G GA vs. Lou Fusz 09G GA</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->