High school boys soccer preview: The top teams, players in the South Sound in 2021
The last time high school boys soccer was played in Washington in the spring of 2019, the South Sound was loaded with talent.
There were 17 high programs in the area that qualified for state tournaments that year. Seven teams advanced to the Class 4A tournament, four to the 3A tournament, four to the 2A tournament and one each to the 1A and 2B/1B tournaments — including the 1A title winner in Vashon Island.
Many of these programs were expected to contend at the state level again last spring, but the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the season.
In the two years that have passed since teams around the area last played, some have rebuilt and others have reloaded. Who are the contenders now?
Here is an overview of the top programs and players around the South Sound in 2021:
CLASS 4A
The 4A South Puget Sound League has turned into a super league across its spring sports, welcoming back both Olympia and South Kitsap, which played fall sports in Thurston and Kitsap counties per state health guidelines, added temporary members Gig Harbor and Peninsula — usually members of the 3A South Sound Conference — which have opted up to remain in Pierce County, and welcomed Bethel back to the 4A ranks after a stint in the 3A Pierce County League.
Roll in all of the usual 4A SPSL powers and this league has six teams that qualified for the state playoffs at the 4A and 3A levels two years ago. Or, put more simply, half of the teams in this league are returning from state tournament runs.
Puyallup won it all in 4A two seasons ago, and the Vikings, despite rebuilding with a group that doesn’t include any starters from that title-winning team, are still in the hunt for a league crown behind forward Holden Burchett, midfielder Francisco Gonzalez and goalkeeper Devin Dixon. Emerald Ridge is the front runner in that South Division, though — the 12-team league is split in two this season — after topping the Vikings in penalty kicks this week, and returns eight starters from its squad two seasons ago. Junior forward Zane May leads the Jaguars with nine goals, while senior attacking midfielder Christian Pineda and senior center back James Del Carmen also provide experience. Olympia, another state qualifier in 2019, is another contender in the South with a deep squad that includes 14 seniors and a solid back line. Rogers was the other state qualifier from this division in 2019, and accounts for Puyallup’s other loss.
The other half of the league might be a three-way race between Bellarmine Prep, Gig Harbor and Peninsula. The Lions were young two seasons ago, but have reestablished their depth, and are the current front runners in the North. Junior forward Peter Radovich leads the Lions up front. Both the Tides and Seahawks made the 3A tournament in 2019, and have proven early they can contend at the 4A level. Sumner is the other returning state qualifier in the North, but has missed out on four games early.
Auburn Mountainview, Tahoma and Federal Way were the three 4A North Puget Sound League teams to advance to the state tournament in 2019, but the Lions dropped to 3A during the state’s most recent reclassification cycle. The Bears are still physical, and a favorite to top the league, but Kentwood is the front runner after a season-opening win over Tahoma this week. The Conquerors have a dangerous attack and speed up front, and are led by four-year midfielder Diego Andrade, senior forwards Kamil Antoszewski and Dontae McIntyre and sophomore Armani Albert.
CLASS 3A
The 3A PCL should come down to Stadium and Wilson, which both advanced to the state quarterfinals in 2019. The two teams played to a scoreless tie in their first meeting this season, and are both undefeated otherwise. The Tigers have allowed only one goal so far this season, and have outscored opponents, 36-1. The Rams have allowed four goals, but also scored 52. Stadium returns a pair of players from its 2019 squad in senior goalkeeper Hayden Flynn and senior forward Alex Coope, who leads the team with 10 goals and six assists. Wilson also returns experience from its state-qualifying team two seasons ago, with an attack led by junior midfielder Connor Tollan (seven goals, 11 assists), who is back from the Sounders Academy, and senior forward Abdullah Mousa (seven goals, nine assists) — who both already have hat tricks this season — and a back line anchored by junior defender Silas Bruner, who was a first-team 3A PCL pick as a freshmane. … In the 3A North Puget Sound League, Auburn Mountainview was in the 4A tournament two seasons ago. The Lions are missing all-league senior forward Derek Burton with an injury, but return dynamic junior forward Ryan Rotter, and a defensive anchor in junior Daniel Tenner. … Newcomer River Ridge, which has made the jump to 3A following a stint in the 2A South Puget Sound League, is unbeaten early on and the favorite in the 3A SSC. The league lost both Gig Harbor and Peninsula to the 4A SPSL this season, Central Kitsap is playing in Kitsap County and Shelton has dropped to the 2A Evergreen Conference.
CLASS 2A
The 2A SPSL might be a three-way race between Fife, Franklin Pierce and White River. The always-competitive Trojans advanced to the state semifinals in 2019, while Franklin Pierce made a quarterfinals run. But, early on, the Hornets, are the team to beat with their upperclassmen leadership, some talented underclassmen and a key win over the Cardinals. Senior forward Kristian Latozke and senior midfielder Cristian Senestrari have five goals apiece, while freshman standout Elijah Wagner has four. Franklin Pierce lost nine seniors during the canceled 2020 season, but has some depth, and is led by senior midfielder Eduardo Sandoval, with a pair of freshman forwards in Marvin and Preston Soeum leading the attack. Fife brings back all-league senior forward Mason Gribble and junior defender Chester March. … Tumwater is unbeaten in 2A EvCo play, and looking to sweep the league behind leaders like four-year starting center back Jack Armour and junior forward Zack Schmidt.
SMALL SCHOOLS
Vashon Island is the defending 1A state champion, and has shut out three 1A Nisqually opponents by a combined score of 20-0 following a season-opening 3-2 loss to Bellevue Christian — and the Pirates were missing seven players for that match. Vashon should contend for the league title behind four-year starting midfielder Jakob Heuschert (six goals, five assists in three matches) and sophomore striker Nick Zuckerman (four goals in three matches) … Evergreen Lutheran was the third-place finisher in the 2B/1B ranks two seasons ago.
40 PLAYERS TO WATCH
F Armani Albert, Kentwood, soph.
M Diego Andrade, Kentwood, sr.
D Jack Armour, Tumwater, sr.
D Mason Ayles, Tahoma, sr.
D Connor Barnes, Olympia, jr.
M Braven Baxter, Olympia, sr.
M/F Eli Boatright, Olympia, sr.
D Silas Bruner, Wilson, jr.
F Holden Burchett, Puyallup, sr.
D James Del Carmen, Emerald Ridge, sr.
M Oliver Dickson, Olympia, sr.
F Alex Coope, Stadium, sr.
GK Devin Dixon, Puyallup, sr.
GK Hayden Flynn, Stadium, sr.
M Francisco Gonzalez, Puyallup, jr.
F Mason Gribble, Fife, sr.
M Jakob Heuschert, Vashon Island, sr.
M Dylan Korum, Rogers, sr.
F Kristian Latozke, White River, sr.
M Connor Louden, Gig Harbor, jr.
M John Lo, Bellarmine Prep, sr.
D Jett Manglona, Gig Harbor, jr.
D Chester March, Fife, jr.
F Abdullah Mousa, Wilson, sr.
F Triston Nelson, Bethel, sr.
F Zane May, Emerald Ridge, jr.
F Alonzo Ogaldez, North Thurston, jr.
M Christian Pineda, Emerald Ridge, sr.
F Peter Radovich, Bellarmine Prep, jr.
F Ryan Rotter, Auburn Mountainview, jr.
M Eduardo Sandoval, Franklin Pierce, sr.
F Zack Schmidt, Tumwater, jr.
M Cristian Senestrari, White River, sr.
F Marvin Soeum, Franklin Pierce, fr.
F Preston Soeum, Franklin Pierce, fr.
D Daniel Tenner, Auburn Mountainview, jr.
M Connor Tollan, Wilson, jr.
M Noe Villanueva, Tahoma, jr.
D Camron Watkins, Peninsula, sr.
F Nick Zuckerman, Vashon Island, soph.
This story was originally published April 22, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
