By Daniel Robertson
Local soccer powerhouse Dallas Texans join the Super Group in 2010 for the first time since their famous Super Group victory in 2006. The Dallas Texans U18 Development Academy team has the honor of being the only American club team to win the Dallas Cup super group since 1986 when in 2006 they beat Santos Laguna of Mexico 4-2 to win the Championship in a Super Group that featured the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid. The Texans U18 Academy team also boasts the Under-19 division championship from Dallas Cup last season.
The Texans, always a compact and smart side, have been in the midst of a fairly disappointing season in the US Soccer Development Academy sitting 7th out of 9 teams in the Texas division, though they do have a couple of games in hand on most teams. They cannot be taken lightly in the Super Group, however, as the side features seven players who have signed 2010 letters of intent to play at major universities around the country according to ESPN RISE.
Dallas Texans are led by midfield maestro and Flower Mound Marcus senior Zach Barnes. Barnes, who was named an NSCAA/Adidas high school All-American for his 2009 high school season at Marcus where he registered 20 goals and 5 assists and was named District 6-5A offensive MVP. Barnes also has 2 goals in 10 Development Academy games this season and will be spending his college career at SMU where he has signed a letter of intent. Barnes is joined in the midfield by fellow Marcus senior Gino DePaoli. DePaoli, who has been with Texans since 2006, won a state championship with Marcus in 2008 and is committed to play at Xaver in the fall of 2010.
The Texans defense features three 2010 college recruits in goalkeeper Ryan Aubrey(University of Buffalo), defender Aaron Reifschneider(UNC Greensboro) and defender Mark Daus(Santa Clara). They're also quick and talented up top with 2010 SMU recruit Christopher Sendejas leading the way. Sendejas and Blake Wise have teamed up for 6 goals in 11 Development Academy games for the Texans.
The Texans join fellow Texas Division Development Academy team FC Dallas Juniors and CZ Elite of California as the three American club teams in the Dallas Cup and will face a truly international group from all corners of the globe. Dallas Texans will face Tigres of Mexico, the Japanese U-20 National Team and Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League in their three group stage games and while getting to the semi-finals will be a tough task, the Texans and coach Hassan Nazari know what it takes to move on in the tournament.
Stay tuned to the Dallas Cup Blog for more team previews and other Dallas Cup news as we count down to Dallas Cup XXI coming to the metroplex March 28-April 4
Past Super Group previews
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