ECNL Boys Phoenix: Texas Forwards to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One week after the girls, it's now time for the Boys to appear in the fourth national event hosted by the ECNL League this season this weekend in Phoenix, Arizona, with teams from all over the country set to play from Friday to Sunday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Having the Reach 11 Sports Complex and the Reata Sports Complex as its venues, 230 teams in the U15, U16, U17 and U19 age groups will come from the entire country to play three matches each and showcase their skills against some of the top talent in the country.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Texas will send 36 teams to the event, with sides from Albion Hurricanes FC, BVB International Academy, Dallas Texans, El Paso Locomotive, FC Dallas, FC Westlake, HTX, Rise SC, San Antonio City SC, San Antonio FC and Solar SC representing the Lone Star State in Arizona.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we approach the start of the event, let's take a look at some of the top talent from Texas who will be heading to Arizona this weekend. The last position we're going to cover is forward:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["190990"],"_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-672e84020ed50"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Alvarado will be with BVB IA 09 against FC Tucson, Santa Clara Sporting and Seattle United this weekend. He joined the team this season, coming from the Dallas Texans, and has added a lot to the team's offense. Typically used on the left, he's very good at dribbling the ball and bringing it inside to finish. Alvarado is always chasing goals and has excellent shooting skills, being a threat from inside the penalty box and from a longer distance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16730921/6729635874039550a2190099' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-672e84020eec8"} /--> <!-- 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":"Braer LeBlanc","_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":"5'7u0022","_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":"Tyler Legacy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Dallas Texans","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-672e84020ef5f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">LeBlanc and the Dallas Texans 08 will meet Marin FC, Legends FC San Diego and PacNW SC in this weekend's event. He's a forward of great mobility, who roams around the penalty box looking for opportunities to finish. A lefty, LeBlanc is very calm in front of the goal and often finds the back of the net with well-placed shots. He does a very good job of dropping deeper between the lines to articulate plays, but he is also a threat with his ability to make runs behind the backline.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghgjl06MMF8","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=ghgjl06MMF8 </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":"Aiden Carreon","_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":"5'7u0022","_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":"Brandeis","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"San Antonio City SC","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-672e84020efe3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Carreon and his San Antonio City SC 08 team are set to face Santa Rosa United, XF and NM Rapids this week in Phoenix. Capable of playing as a forward or an attacking midfielder, Carreon is a dynamic playmaker, who uses his quality on the ball and his dribbling skills to create chances. He's excellent at creating space in crowded areas with smart moves and also thrives with his positioning in the final line of attack, often taking advantage of any space made available there. Carreon is also an excellent finisher, who has a wide variety of weapons to beat goalkeeper in 1v1 situations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17971802/664eaae74d1f5cac7923e36a' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-672e84020f007"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["90370"],"_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-672e84020f044"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Arana will be in action with Rise SC 08 in their matches against Davis Legacy, Legends FC and El Camino Futbol Club Salinas in the event. Expect him to be the focal point of his team's offense with his diverse skill set and his ability to make big plays. Arana can play a variety of roles offensively, but is always very dangerous. He's very smooth on the ball and uses his body to both shield the ball and make moves to beat opponents with tremendous efficiency. The forward is very aggressive on the ball and is a solid finisher, rarely missing opportunities to score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":170178,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/04/IMG_3475.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-170178" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rise SC B08 vs. Solar SC Academy B08</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":"Andres Riera","_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":"5'8u0022","_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":"Cinco Ranch","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Albion Hurricanes FC","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-672e84020f0be"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Riera and the Albion Hurricanes FC 07 will have Gretna Elite Academy, San Francisco Elite Academy and United PDX as opponents in the showcase. A winger for them, he's one of the most important pieces in their offensive system, being a constant threat to opposing backlines. Riera is very quick on the ball and is always ready to take advantage of any hesitation or lack of focus to create problems. He's always available to be fed with long balls behind the backline, but also has the quality on the ball to beat defenders off the dribble in wider positions. Riera can play on either side, but is probably more dangerous on the left, where he can bring the ball inside and finish with his preferred right foot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eams8EljeGI","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=eams8EljeGI </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->