Texas Shootout Defenders to Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The club soccer season has entered its final stretch, with league matches completed around the country and only a few events left before the playoffs for most of the leagues.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teams from Texas will have an excellent opportunity to fine-tune their games ahead of the most important moment of the season this weekend, when the traditional Texas Shootout tournament will be held.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 39th edition of the event that attracts teams from all over Texas and neighboring states will take place in Round Rock from Saturday to Monday and will have 107 teams getting on the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some of the top players in the state will be in action in Round Rock this weekend, and we'll feature some of them ahead of the start of the Texas Shootout. Today, we focus on the defenders:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["271522"],"_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-6a0c860f73c3f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jones plays for the [program_tooltip program_id='333974' first='Atletico' last='Dallas'] 08/07 team that will play [program_tooltip program_id='338628' first='Houstonians' last='FC'] RL STXCL G08, [program_tooltip program_id='342634' first='FC' last='Westlake'] RL G09 and [program_tooltip program_id='283397' first='[program_tooltip program_id='278668' first='Lonestar' last='']' last='SC'] STXCL G09 Black this week. She's a high-energy outside back who plays more often on the left and makes the most of her athleticism to impact the game on both sides of the ball. Jones is a relentless defender who fights hard to win possession and does a great job of recovering after being beaten. Jones also has solid passing, which allows her to support the team's buildup, and she uses her pace as an interesting weapon in the attacking half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1shseTO-Nhw","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=1shseTO-Nhw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["229570"],"_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-6a0c860f73ce9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Molina is part of the HTX G09 team that is set to meet [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] RL G09 and Sting Royal RL G10 at the Texas Shootout. A center back, she stands out for her positioning, consistently popping up in great spots to challenge opponents and win the ball. She's also very mobile, thriving when she needs to cover her teammates out wide, and timely with her tackles. Molina has a lot of quality on the ball and doesn't shy away when in possession, playing good passes out of the back and driving the ball forward when she has space in front of her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://sportsrecruits.com/athlete/bryana_molina?video=6143450">Highlights</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["348826"],"_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-6a0c860f73d61"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">George is with the SA City SC G09 team that will play against West Side Alliance RL G10, [program_tooltip program_id='283282' first='Challenge' last='SC'] G08 and NM Rapids G10 in Round Rock. Standing at 5'9", she appears mostly in central defense, offering her team a strong presence in the backline, but can also feature at right back. George makes the most of her physical tools, denying opponents service when they're around and inside the penalty box and keeping them under constant pressure when dragged to defend higher up on the field. She's also very good in the air, dominating the penalty box and stepping up to clear long passes with her head.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18016561/69efe231d050d5b182f16ce5' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a0c860f740b9"} /--> <!-- 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":"Mia Bartlett","_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":"Lake Travis","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='283497' first='Sting' last='Austin']","_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-6a0c860f7420e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Barlett and her [program_tooltip program_id='283497' first='Sting' last='Austin'] G11 teammates have a pair of matches in their schedule this weekend, facing [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] G11 and [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] RL G10. A Filipino youth international, she's extremely versatile, being capable of playing in central defense, as a right back and in midfield. Despite not being very tall or physical, Bartlett is very productive defensively, timing her tackles very well and being firm with her actions. She's excellent in possession, too, moving the ball intelligently and demonstrating the quality to step into the attacking half and support the offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX9aii-Bm3f/">Highlights</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["295328"],"_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-6a0c860f742a2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Auns plays for the [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] G11 team that is set to face [program_tooltip program_id='283497' first='Sting' last='Austin'] G11 and Louisiana TDP Elite G10 in the showcase. A center back, she's a tough matchup for any forward with her ability to control the space and dominate her zone. Auns uses her physical tools very well to win duels in the air and on the ground and has solid mobility to move across the backline or higher up on the field. The center back is very calm and composed on the ball and distributes the ball intelligently. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":350491,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/02/2J4A0264.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-350491" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->