Copa Rayados: Rock-Solid Center Backs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the most traditional youth soccer tournaments annually held in Texas, the Copa Rayados took place over Thanksgiving weekend in the Houston area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 14th edition of the tournament organized by Mexican powerhouse Rayados de Monterrey reunited 358 teams from the U9 to the U19 age groups, representing Texas and other American states, such as Florida, California, Ohio, Colorado, Georgia, Washington, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Maryland, and international sides coming from Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico for five days of matches from Wednesday to Sunday in the region of The Woodlands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2025/11/copa-rayados-day-1-photos/">Copa Rayados : Day 1 Photos</a></strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Soccer Texas was in attendance on Wednesday, when we got to follow the debut of several teams from the Lone Star State that played at Bear Branch Sports Park, and shortlisted a few players in each position that demonstrated great potential to develop into top players for their clubs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're taking the week to share our findings, and this time we'll look into some of the most reliable center backs in the event:</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":"Michael Vasquez","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2030","_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_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo'] Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-6930576660306"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Vasquez was part of the [program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo'] team that finished second in the U14 Supergroup with a campaign of three wins and three ties. The team's defensive solidity, which resulted in only three goals conceded over the event, was one of their strengths, and the center back was a big factor in it. Vasquez typically plays as a right-sided center back for the Dynamo and uses his impressive ability to read the game to make defensive plays, standing out with his timely interceptions. He's very mobile and quick, too, and is excellent when defending higher up on the field. Vasquez is very confident on the ball and doesn't hesitate to step up on the ball and take the space in front of him to support the team's offense with solid distribution.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":"Maximiliano Leon","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2031","_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_program":"HTX","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-69305766603ae"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Leon's HTX team triumphed in the U14 Supergroup silver bracket, ending their campaign in the tournament with four wins, one loss and one tie. He has an interesting athletic profile, being strong enough to win physical duels and also extremely mobile, standing out when he has to step up and cover his teammates in wide spots. Leon, who also did well when using his head to clear crosses and long passes, is very confident on the ball, and plays a big role in the team's buildup with his ability to connect accurate passes out of the back with his skilled left foot. He also displayed good precision in his set-piece deliveries, creating chances with long crosses into the box.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":"Belema Kemuel","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2030","_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_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-693057666042e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kemuel was with the [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC'] team that was knocked out in the semifinals of the U14 Supergroup, completing their campaign at the Copa Rayados with three wins, one loss and one tie. His quickness is probably his most remarkable skill at this point, and it allows him to defend well in space and efficiently recover in transition plays. Kemuel also does well when defending in a lower block and shows good instincts to react quickly to intercept passes and tackle opponents. He moves the ball well in possession and has the confidence to make progressive passes out of the back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":342073,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0020_ed5068.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-342073" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["333367"],"_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-6930576660480"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Martinez and his [program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers'] team competed in the U15 Supergroup, going down in the silver bracket final with a campaign of one win, three losses and two ties. The center back anchored their backline, playing with great efficiency and intelligence in central defense. Martinez is a well-rounded defensive player who has a good mix of physical and technical tools and is very effective with his actions, timing and executing them very well. He's comfortable on the ball, supporting the team's offense with his passing, and also shows up in good spots in the penalty box in set pieces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["295596"],"_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-69305766604bf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Morrison and his HTX team advanced all the way to the U16 Blue division semifinals, leaving the tournament with four wins and one loss. Despite playing one age group up with them, he's one of the pillars of their defensive system, playing as a left-sided center back. Extremely mobile and intelligent, he does a great job of keeping opponents under pressure and forcing them away from the penalty box. Morrison is also very effective when he makes defensive actions, timing his tackles well and often coming out with the ball. He has good quality in possession and distributes the ball efficiently from the back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->