GA Playoffs Texas Team Preview: Atletico Dallas 09

<p>After almost ten months of action, the Girls Academy League season is entering its final stretch, with only the best teams from each conference still alive in the battle to win the national title.</p>   <p>A critical moment of the season will unfold from June 18-23, in Norco, California, where the league playoffs will be held. 36 teams will compete in the U15, U16, and U17 age groups, with eight advancing to the League Finals, which will be held in Richmond, Virginia, from July 9-12. The U19 age group has only 12 teams in contention and will have the national champions crowned in Norco.</p>   <p>Six teams from Texas qualified to compete in the playoffs and will be in action in California over the next few days. In the days leading up to the event, we'll preview them:</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='333974' first='Atletico' last='Dallas'] 09</h2>   <p>The team from Dallas earned a spot in the playoffs after producing the second-best campaign in the Frontier Conference. Atletico played 18 matches and earned 11 wins, a loss and six ties, accumulating 39 points.</p>   <p><strong>Their Opponents</strong></p>   <p>In Norco, [program_tooltip program_id='333974' first='Atletico' last='Dallas'] will start their campaign in Group D. Their first opponents will be Washington's Spokane Shadow, Pennsylvania's Beadling SC and Florida United.</p>   <p><strong>Their Squad</strong></p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='280874' first='Laura' last='Rogers'] and [player_tooltip player_id='349185' first='Madeline' last='Dagnan'] are the goalkeepers in [program_tooltip program_id='333974' first='Atletico' last='Dallas']' squad. Options for the backline include [player_tooltip player_id='288546' first='Isabelle' last='Ford'], Kylie Cloutier, Bianca Cruz, Charlotte Lee, [player_tooltip player_id='340565' first='Abi' last='Key'] and [player_tooltip player_id='164989' first='Olivia' last='Leddy']. The team's midfield has [player_tooltip player_id='317035' first='Lia' last='Lopez'], [player_tooltip player_id='344163' first='Yaretzi' last='Munoz'], Dani Corriea, [player_tooltip player_id='344161' first='Jackie' last='Alcaraz'] and Devon Schumacher. The attacking line is formed by Makenna McNitt, [player_tooltip player_id='340574' first='Lily' last='Nelson'], Josslyn Castaneda, Ay'riel McGhee, Brynna Lohmann and Reese Espinoza.</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/DZIYoKZOcAZ/ </div></figure>   <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Key is a center back and a team captain for [program_tooltip program_id='333974' first='Atletico' last='Dallas']. She's one of the pillars of their defensive system and does a great job of dominating the penalty box by making firm actions to stop opponents. Key also has remarkable sprint speed, which allows her to press opponents high up on the field and recover extremely well in transition. The center back has good quality on the ball, too, and is capable of providing excellent service in set pieces.</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=FnOoNiXo5P8 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Lopez plays as a midfielder for [program_tooltip program_id='333974' first='Atletico' last='Dallas']. She's a creative force in the center of the field for them, using her quality on the ball to make plays and unlock defenses. Lopez has the ability to drop deeper and set the pace with her intelligence on the ball and passing vision, while also being very difficult to dispossess because of how well she uses her 5'10" frame in possession. She fires powerful shots from distance and also likes to step into the box to be a target for crosses or follow up on plays, often scoring goals with her feet and head.</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=mnW5xlFouQk </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Nelson is one of the forwards in [program_tooltip program_id='333974' first='Atletico' last='Dallas']' squad. Dynamic and skilled on the ball, she thrives at exploring gaps of space in the opposing backline and is always looking for paths to make runs behind the backline. When used as a winger, Nelson stands out for playing very directly and using her pace and dribbling skills to beat opponents out wide. Also capable of playing more centrally, she finishes chances efficiently and reads the game very well, consistently drifting wide into open spaces.</p>

After almost ten months of action, the Girls Academy League season is entering its final stretch, with only the best teams from each conference still alive in the battle to win the national title.