Texas Shootout: Five Outside Backs to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>College Station will be the destination of several club teams from the Lone Star State this week as the city hosts the 37th edition of the Texas Shootout, one of the most traditional showcases held in the state every summer, organized by Challenge SC.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Besides being an opportunity for players to showcase their skills, the tournament held at Veteran's Park from Saturday to Monday will also provide the many sides from the ECNL and GA leagues that will be present among the 129 entered teams with a great opportunity to finalize their preparations for the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Soccer Texas will be in attendance over the weekend, but before we get there, let's take a look at some promising prospects who will be in action, now focusing on the outside backs:</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":"Sloane Guion","_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":"101","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Round Rock","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Lonestar 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":"Guion plays left back for the Lonestar SC 07 Red team in the GA league and is one of the team's most consistent and productive players - they will face DKSC RL NTX and FC Dallas ECNL this weekend. She does a very good job of defending her side of the field and doesn't allow opponents to find space to operate there. Guion uses her body extremely well to fight for space in 1v1 situations and has a good pace and reading of the game, knowing how to put pressure on opponents and how to cover her teammates, coming from the left to the center to disrupt plays. Guion also hits the ball extremely well, being an asset in attacking set pieces and connecting good passes out of the back.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-664bd5a016b9d"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16974546/65482462b3d2120f28356799' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-664bd5a016d0a"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["88981"],"_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":"Baity is a solid option at right back for the talented FC Dallas 07 team that competes in the ECNL league and will have tough opponents this weekend, facing Challenge SC ECNL and Lonestar SC Red GA. She's versatile enough to also contribute at center back because of her ability to win duels and cover space. Baity uses her athleticism to the best of her abilities, putting pressure on opposing attackers and closing out the space in her area of the field. She's also a productive offensive player, who combines a good pace and smart movement off the ball to explore the space in the attacking third, while also passing with efficiency.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-664bd5a016d6f"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Rhjng5fmj0","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=9Rhjng5fmj0 </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":"[player_tooltip player_id='226561' first='Jenia' last='Garcia']","_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":"101","_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":"Dynamos 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":"Capable of playing as a forward or a right back, Garcia will appear with the Dynamos SC 08 team that competes in the ECNL Regional League and has matches scheduled against Dallas Surf RL NTX, NTX Celtic and FC Dallas RL NTX Red. She plays with great energy defensively and matches up well even with the most dangerous wingers. Garcia is very intelligent with her defensive choices, knowing when it's better to step up and put pressure on opponents and when to stay back and wait for the moment to react to their actions. She also moves up the field well, offering an interesting passing option to her teammates.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-664bd5a016e00"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":157207,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/IMG_7461.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-157207" /><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_player":["26521"],"_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":"Scruggs will appear with the Dallas Texans 08 team that plays in the ECNL league - they're set to face Team Boca and West Side Alliance RL. She's an offensive-minded right back, who constantly offers her teammates a solid passing option on the flank with her runs. Scruggs does a very good job of controlling the ball in tight spaces and she uses that to beat opponents and progress on the field. Because of her pace, she's also very effective when tracking back to help stop transition plays. The outside back reads the game extremely well and is excellent at identifying situations in which she would step up and put pressure on opponents to slow down transition plays, buying more time for her team's backline to get organized.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-664bd5a016e56"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wZUsGihbYo","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wZUsGihbYo </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["149326"],"_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":"Gilkey switched clubs during the season and now features for Sting Austin 09 in the ECNL league - their three-match schedule in College Station has duels against Vegas United SC, Albion Hurricanes FC ECNL and FC Dallas ECNL. Her arrival boosted the team's offense as she's capable of contributing both with assists and goals. Gilkey is very quick when operating in the attacking half and does a very good job of picking the right options to make things happen offensively. She's also very solid defensively, working hard to dispossess opponents and being very difficult to beat in 1v1 situations.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-664bd5a016ea4"} /-->