De La Cruz was instrumental in Capital City SC ‘s 3-1 victory over Bethesda SC in Group J. The right wingers assisted in the first goal, took the corner kick that led to the second and scored the third in a very active and impactful performance. De La Cruz was consistently dangerous in the first half, repeatedly beating his defender off the dribble and making strong runs off the ball in behind the backline. The left-footed winger took his production to another level in the final 45 minutes, assisting midfielder Marcelo Perez with an inch-perfect cross on the back post and scoring the goal that sealed Capital City’s victory with a calm and composed shot while facing Bethesda’s goalkeeper 1v1.

De La Cruz will lead Capital City SC U17 in their matches against Sacramento Republic FC, PA Classics and FC Bay Area Surf. A product of Austin FC ‘s academy, he’s the team’s most talented player and will have a big weight in their attacking efforts in Arizona. A lefty, De La Cruz typically plays as a right winger, tending to come inside to make plays from more of a central position. He uses his body well to absorb pressure and has excellent vision to find passes in tight spaces, operating well in more crowded areas of the field. The winger also does a great job with set pieces, firing dangerous shots on target and providing great service to teammates.