<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>The MLS Next 2025-2026 season kicked off last month, with matches involving teams in the newly-renamed Homegrown and Academy divisions taking place all over the country after a two-month break following the 2024-2025 season.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Like we did last season, Prep Soccer Texas will continue to follow the teams from the Lone Star State throughout the season, covering matches and producing photos, articles and social media posts of the duels involving the most talented players from the state.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>On Saturday, October 4, we attended the U15 duel between the [program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers'] and the IDEA Toros at the Blue Ridge Park, in Houston. Things changed after only one goal was scored in the first half, and six balls went into the net during the second half, determining the Rangers' 6-1 victory.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:list -->
<ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item -->
<li><strong><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2025/10/mls-next-u15-houston-rangers-vs-idea-toros-photos/">[program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers'] U15 vs. IDEA Toros U15 - Photos</a></strong></li>
<!-- /wp:list-item --></ul>
<!-- /wp:list -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Forward Alex Hernandez got the Rangers on the board right before the second minute of action. The home team continued to control the game, but couldn't improve their lead in the next several minutes, going into the halftime break with a 1-0 advantage.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>They found their second goal in the 19th minute of the second half, with forward [player_tooltip player_id='285937' first='Abdullah' last='Wadi'], and then many others followed, with midfielder Nolawi Teshome scoring the third, Wadi getting two more and Hernandez adding another one. The Toros got one back with forward Abelardo Gutierrez.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>With the victory, the Rangers continue undefeated in the MLS Next Flex division, ranking second with six points (two wins) - they will now visit the [program_tooltip program_id='283639' first='Dallas' last='Hornets'] on October 25. The Toros dropped their third straight match in the season and are at the bottom of the standings with no points - they will host Tulsa Greenwood SC on October 18.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:heading -->
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players of the Match</h2>
<!-- /wp:heading -->
<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["285937"],"_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-68e270fdec337"} -->
<!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} -->
<p class="text-gray-700">The forward was very active in the first half, working with his back to the goal and facilitating many offensive plays for the Rangers, but took his game to another level in the second half, registering the hat-trick that paved the way for his team's comfortable victory. Wadi's movement in the final third was always very good, giving his teammates passing options up top and getting him into good spots. He also demonstrated great ability to finish chances, converting from difficult spots or with multiple defenders around him. Wadi connected very well with the other Rangers' attacking players, dropping back to feed the wingers with through balls and engaging in combination plays.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->
<!-- wp:image {"id":333241,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/10/2J4A0154.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-333241" /></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":"Alexander Hernandez","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_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":"103","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers']","_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-68e270fdec400"} -->
<!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} -->
<p class="text-gray-700">The winger was consistently dangerous in the final third and had a key role in his team's victory, scoring their first and last goals in the match. Hernandez spent most of the match on the right and used his dribbling ability to take on defenders and his pace to make runs behind the backline. He was nearly unstoppable in 1v1 duels out wide and did a good job of getting to the end line and crossing the ball into the box. Hernandez also stood out for consistently getting into the box himself to finish chances and his second goal was a great example of it, as he made a run inside the outside back and scored with a well-placed cross shot.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->
<!-- wp:image {"id":333218,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/10/2J4A0057.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-333218" /></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":"Nolawi Teshome","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers']","_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-68e270fdec491"} -->
<!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} -->
<p class="text-gray-700">Teshome was the engine of the Rangers' midfield, playing with tremendous intensity and dynamism. He covered a lot of ground and was very energetic when playing defense, and also succeeded at taking the ball into the attacking half. Teshome displayed great ability to dribble in tight spaces and was very difficult to dispossess when driving the ball forward because of his ability to change directions and handle physical contact. He also had a good presence in the final third, scoring the team's third goal with a beautiful shot from the edge of the penalty box and firing other great shots that went near the goal.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->
<!-- wp:image {"id":333233,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/10/2J4A0106.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-333233" /></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->
<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["295858"],"_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-68e270fdec4e0"} -->
<!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} -->
<p class="text-gray-700">Zaragoza was very active and efficient at the defensive midfielder role, getting very involved in the Rangers' game. He covered a lot of ground in front of the team's penalty box and was excellent at being the first to get to the second ball, recovering possession numerous times throughout the match. The midfielder also saw the ball a lot and was always very intelligent and efficient with his distribution, picking the right options to connect passes and making his time move the ball upfield. He also demonstrated good ability to support the Rangers' offense, getting into the final third on some occasions and assisting Hernandez with an inch-perfect through ball in the team's last goal.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->
<!-- wp:image {"id":333206,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/10/2J4A0015.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-333206" /></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":"Roberto Martinez","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers']","_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-68e270fdec56a"} -->
<!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} -->
<p class="text-gray-700">Martinez led the Rangers' backline alongside fellow center back Grant Cuban, and the two managed to keep the Toros scoreless for most of the match. Playing as a right-sided center back, he was very firm in winning duels and did a good job of containing opposing attackers inside and around the penalty box. Martinez also did well when he had to defend in space, showing great mobility to keep opponents under pressure and timing his sliding tackles extremely well to make stops. With the Rangers heavily dominating possession, he had the ball a lot and did good things with it, intelligently distributing the game out of the back and finding some nice long passes.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->
<!-- wp:image {"id":333224,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/10/2J4A0079.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-333224" /></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":"Ivan Gutierrez","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"IDEA Toros","_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-68e270fdec5f3"} -->
<!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} -->
<p class="text-gray-700">Gutierrez was the best player on the field for the Toros. A central midfielder, he took good care of the ball every time he had it, and was very difficult to dispossess. A lefty, he showed great quality and vision with his passing and orchestrated most of his team's attacking plays during the match. Gutierrez moved very well off the ball and stood out with his ability to slow things down and organize the team's game when needed, while also starting quick transition plays when needed.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->
<!-- wp:image {"id":333221,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/10/2J4A0067.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-333221" /></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->
The MLS Next 2025-2026 season kicked off last month, with matches involving teams in the newly-renamed Homegrown and Academy divisions taking place all over the country after a two-month break following the 2024-2025 season.
HEIGHT
5'8"
POS
F/D
CLASS
2029
State:
Texas
School:
Cy Fair
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
HEIGHT
5'3"
POS
M/D
CLASS
2029
State:
Texas
School:
Summer Creek
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue Reading
Already a subscriber?
Log in