GA Cup: Key Players in the FC Dallas U16 team

<p>One of the most anticipated tournaments in the boys club soccer season is coming up shortly, as the MLS Next Generation Adidas Cup is set to take place at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, from April 12-20.</p>   <p>The tournament will feature 80 teams from 14 countries across the U16 and U18 age groups, including the MLS academies and some international heavyweights, such as Italy's Inter Milan, Germany's FC Bayern, the Netherlands' PSV, Brazil's Palmeiras and Mexico's Club America.</p>   <p>The three MLS teams from Texas will send their teams down to Florida and we'll preview each of them in the days leading up to the event.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] U16</h2>   <p>[program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] will meet three other MLS academies in Group H as they were paired with Nashville SC, New York Red Bulls and Vancouver Whitecaps. The North Texas side has 17 wins, three losses and three ties during the current MLS Next season.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='114875' first='Zach' last='Wells'] and [player_tooltip player_id='148177' first='Saul' last='Rios'] are the team's most-used options in goal. Center back [player_tooltip player_id='148810' first='Mark' last='Drygas'] anchors the backline, which also has outside back [player_tooltip player_id='148179' first='Anderson' last='Grimm'] and center back Ninor Olu as important pieces. Midfield is one of the team's strongest areas, with Kyle Velazquez, [player_tooltip player_id='148187' first='Christian' last='Wygant'], Pedro Dias and [player_tooltip player_id='148000' first='Christopher' last='Cook'] all bringing interesting skills to the mix. In the attack, [player_tooltip player_id='148224' first='Trey' last='Glosson'] and Diego Echevarria offer pace and dribbling out wide, while Albin Angelo-Williams and Diego Cruz operate inside the box.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Players</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Wells is one of the many options [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] has between the posts. A shot-stopper with impressive reflexes and athleticism, he's prone to making acrobatic saves, making explosive moves to get to the ball. Wells also controls the box extremely well when dealing with crosses and corner kicks, navigating it well and getting to anything near his zone. The goalkeeper has solid skills with his feet as well and is comfortable controlling the ball and getting it back into action with accurate passes.</p>    <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=8Dam4lLhsL4 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Drygas is one of [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas']' most important defensive players, offering the team great stability from his center back position. He does a great job of protecting the team's penalty box and his ability to control the peace in the center makes it very difficult for opponents who want to break into their defense through the middle. Drygas also stands out for his positioning and displays impressive mobility when he has to step out of his original position and make defensive plays in wider spots or further up in the field. The defender also has tremendous quality on the ball and is calm and confident when initiating the team's buildup with intelligent passes.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/09/IMG_8257.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-264397" /></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">A versatile and hard-working player, Wygant can perform different roles for [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] at a high level. He's originally a box-to-box midfielder and plays the position with great intensity and quality. Wygant covers a lot of ground defensively, helping the team win possession with intelligent defensive plays and well-timed tackles, and doesn't hesitate in pushing forward to support the attack when he sees an opportunity. He can also play out wide on the right, either as an outside back or a midfielder, and is very intelligent with his positioning, helping the team stretch the field and sending dangerous crosses into the penalty box. </p>    <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=HqQO5x6V9rs </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Despite playing one age group up, Cook is one of the standouts for this [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] team. An extremely skilled and intelligent attacking midfielder, he's a constant threat in the final third with his ability to move into great spots and his impressive intelligence. Cook, nicknamed Steel, is not very physical, but the task of dispossessing him is an incredibly difficult one as he is extremely quick with his dribbling and keeps the ball very close to his feet at all times. He creates many chances with his decisive passes in the final third, as an elite No. 10 would, but also does a great job of getting into the penalty box to finish chances - he's also very dangerous in set pieces.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHPeXq2pZm8/ </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Angelo-Williams joined [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] this season after spending some time in Europe and immediately became the focal point of their offense. He gets to the GA Cup in great form after receiving the MLS Next Player of the Month award in March, when he scored eight goals, one of which in a bicycle kick off the rebound of a free kick that went viral. Angelo-Williams is an elite goalscorer and a physical player, but he also does great work outside the penalty box, connecting with his teammates to help create chances. His excellent movement off the ball consistently gets him in great spots to score and, thanks to his skilled left foot, he typically doesn't need more than a single touch on the ball to send it into the back of the net.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/DHPTfreJ4G1/ </div></figure>

One of the most anticipated tournaments in the boys club soccer season is coming up shortly, as the MLS Next Generation Adidas Cup is set to take place at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, from April 12-20.

The tournament will feature 80 teams from 14 countries across the U16 and U18 age groups, including the MLS academies and some international heavyweights, such as Italy's Inter Milan, Germany's FC Bayern, the Netherlands' PSV, Brazil's Palmeiras and Mexico's Club America.

The three MLS teams from Texas will send their teams down to Florida and we'll preview each of them in the days leading up to the event.

FC Dallas U16

FC Dallas will meet three other MLS academies in Group H as they were paired with Nashville SC, New York Red Bulls and Vancouver Whitecaps. The North Texas side has 17 wins, three losses and three ties during the current MLS Next season.

Zach Wells Zach Wells 6'1" | GK Frisco Lone Star | 2027 State TX and Saul Rios Saul Rios GK State #43 Nation TX are the team's most-used options in goal. Center back Mark Drygas Mark Drygas 6'1" | D TX anchors the backline, which also has outside back Anderson Grimm Anderson Grimm 6'0" | D/M Southlake Carroll | 2027 State #92 Nation TX and center back Ninor Olu as important pieces. Midfield is one of the team's strongest areas, with Kyle Velazquez, Christian Wygant Christian Wygant D/M Lone Star | 2027 State #94 Nation TX , Pedro Dias and Christopher Cook Christopher Cook M State #7 Nation TX all bringing interesting skills to the mix. In the attack, Trey Glosson Trey Glosson 5'10" | F Lone Star | 2027 State #178 Nation TX and Diego Echevarria offer pace and dribbling out wide, while Albin Angelo-Williams and Diego Cruz operate inside the box.

Key Players

Zach Wells

TX #22

GK #3

HEIGHT 6'1"

POS GK

CLASS 2027

View Player

Zach Wells

State: Texas

School: Frisco Lone Star

Club: FC Dallas Academy

Wells is one of the many options FC Dallas has between the posts. A shot-stopper with impressive reflexes and athleticism, he's prone to making acrobatic saves, making explosive moves to get to the ball. Wells also controls the box extremely well when dealing with crosses and corner kicks, navigating it well and getting to anything near his zone. The goalkeeper has solid skills with his feet as well and is comfortable controlling the ball and getting it back into action with accurate passes.