High school boys soccer preview: Top teams, players in South Sound in 2022
The high school boys soccer season is underway in Washington and as usual, there’s plenty of talent in the South Sound. Here’s what to watch for this season, some teams to keep an eye on before the postseason approaches and some of the area’s top players.
3A/4A NPSL
In 4A, it looks like a race between Tahoma (3-2) and Kennedy Catholic (4-2-2). Tahoma returns first-team all-league defender Carter Welch, who commands the Bears’ back line. It’s an experienced defensive unit for the Bears, also including senior Mason Tomich and Jaden Briere. Noe Villanueva, a playmaker who is smooth on the ball, makes things go in the central midfield for Tahoma. Kennedy Catholic returns all-league first-team midfielder Jose Pineda-Aguiano and defender Nicholas Mariani. The 3A side of the league is up for grabs, with Auburn Riverside, Auburn Mountainview and Kent Meridian all in contention. Auburn Riverside returns seven starters and fields a senior-heavy lineup, led by center mid Christian Hernandez, goalkeeper Gabe Wagner and wing back Colin Tew. Auburn Mountainview returns the reigning co-MVP of the league in midfielder Ryan Rotter, a Western Washington commit who was a first-team selection to The News Tribune’s 2021 All-Area team. The Lions also return all-league defender Collin Lane. Kent-Meridian returns first-team all-league selection Shoo Shee.
4A SPSL
As with baseball, you’d be hard pressed to find a deeper league in the state. There’s no clear-cut favorite this year, with Bellarmine Prep, Olympia, Puyallup, Curtis and Sumner all in the mix for a league title. Throw defending league champion Emerald Ridge into that mix, as well, though the Jaguars lost Christian Pineda — The News Tribune’s 2021 All-Area player of the year — to graduation. Bellarmine, which returns nine starters from last spring, might be the best bet, led by 4A SPSL reigning co-MVP and TNT All-Area first-teamer Peter Radovich, who scored eight goals and tallied six assists last spring for the Lions. Jack Radovich, Peter’s brother, is a high-level defender and Cael Tackett controls the central midfield for the Lions. Olympia boasts perhaps the league’s top defender in senior center back Connor Barnes, a TNT All-Area first-team selection from last spring. Olympia coach Ty Johnson calls Barnes one of the best center backs in the past two decades at Olympia, praising his natural instincts and positioning. The Bears also return second-team all-league selection and sophomore forward Micah Wilhelm and honorable mention outside back Ryan Merchant, a junior. Curtis returns seven starters, including highly-touted freshman newcomer Ethan Bell, equally talented on the ball and in the air. Bell gives the Vikings a versatile back line piece who is comfortable with the ball at his feet, has the physicality of a center back and the speed and quickness of an outside back. Puyallup has a lot of new faces this year, including senior goalkeeper Nathan Vitzthum, who hasn’t played for the Vikings since his freshman year. His sophomore season was canceled because of the pandemic and he opted to play for his club team during his junior season, rather than come out for the pandemic-shortened league-only season last spring. He’s been an immediate impact player for Puyallup, which has conceded just two goals through five games. Puyallup defensive midfielder Ryan Cunningham, holding mid Josh Job, center back Brady Anderson are also players to watch. In the attack, Dean Williams shot up about five inches and 55 pounds between his sophomore and junior seasons, and is the team’s top attacking option.
3A PCL
Reigning league champion Silas (formerly Wilson) is the favorite, and might be the best team in the entire area, regardless of classification. The Rams have raced out to a 6-0 start, including wins over Curtis, Bellarmine Prep, Bonney Lake and Stadium. Silas is led by senior midfielder Connor Tollan, a first-team selection to The News Tribune’s 2021 All-Area team. Even during a shortened spring season last year, he still racked up nine goals and 15 assists. Aside from the obvious talent, what jumps out to opposing coaches is Tollan’s workrate and activeness on the field. Silas Bruner, a center back, is the team’s other captain, commanding the back line for the Rams. Bonney Lake and Stadium will be in the picture as well as potential playoff teams.
3A SSC
Peninsula (4-0-1) currently sits in first place, with Timberline (4-1), Central Kitsap (4-1) and Gig Harbor (3-2) not far behind. Peninsula is led by attacking midfielder Cory Burbridge, a quick player who creates plenty of goal scoring chances for the Seahawks. Striker Justin Bodnar has a natural goal-scoring instinct and high workrate for first-year coach Ozer Kocdemir, while teammate Reilly Leahy is always in the right spot at the right time and has a knack for finding the back of the net. Central Kitsap is led by junior center mid Hunter Milbrot, junior center mid Kolby Juarez and junior striker Jake McKenzie, who had six goals in the team’s first three games. Timberline returns seven starters, including first-team all-league right wing selection Romeo Brown and all-league senior forward Luke Degon. Gig Harbor returns the 2021 SPSL North defender of the year in Jett Manglona, a center back, and all-league first-teamer in attacking midfielder Conner Louden. The talent is there for the Tides to make a run if coach Joe Ross can make the puzzle pieces fit together.
2A SPSL
Look out for Franklin Pierce this season. The Cardinals have raced out to a 5-0-1 start this spring and are outscoring opponents 18 to 1, led by sophomore forwards Marvin and Preston Soeum, both all-league selections as freshmen last spring. The only goal conceded so far came in a 1-1 draw against White River on March 18. Clover Park has been a nice surprise this spring with a 5-1 record, collecting wins over Fife, White River, Orting, Foss and Washington. The team’s lone loss came to Franklin Pierce, 1-0 on March 23. Fife (4-2) and White River (4-2-1) are also in the picture. Fife returns the reigning league defensive player of the year in Chester March, as well as a strong midfield that includes Joel Garcia and Lance Nelson. Junior forward Edgar De La Cruz leads the attack. White River (4-2-1) is also in the hunt, led by sophomore forward Elijah Wagner, a first-team all-league selection as a freshman. Wagner tied for the team’s goal-scoring lead in his freshman year. Senior defender Josh Mackie has started almost every game since his freshman year.
2A EvCo
In the 2A EvCo, it’s Tumwater’s title to lose. Tumwater (5-4 overall, 4-0 EvCo 2A) return senior forward Zack Schmidt — a spring selection to The Olympian’s All-Area team — who scored 15 goals and had five assists in 12 games for the T-Birds last season. Tumwater coach Brett Bartlett calls Schmidt a “swiss army knife,” capable of making an impact at any position on the field with his quickness, craftiness and soccer IQ. Tumwater returns a bevy of other all-league selections, as well: Junior defender Pierce Yates, senior forward Sam Southworth, senior midfielder Will Lower, senior defender Adam El-Mobdy and junior goalkeepers AJ Heichelbech and Lukas Stuart.
30 PLAYERS TO WATCH
Connor Barnes, Olympia, sr.
Ethan Bell, Curtis, fr.
Justin Bodnar, Peninsula, sr.
Romeo Brown, Timberline, soph.
Silas Bruner, Silas, sr.
Cory Burbridge, Peninsula, sr.
Ryan Cunningham, Puyallup, sr.
Christian Hernandez, Auburn Riverside, sr.
Jacob Immel, Sumner, sr.
Conner Louder, Gig Harbor, sr.
Josh Mackie, White River, sr.
Jett Manglona, Gig Harbor, sr.
Chester March, Fife, sr.
Zane May, Emerald Ridge, sr.
Jake McKenzie, Central Kitsap, jr.
Jose Pineda-Aguiano, Kennedy Catholic, sr.
Jack Radovich, Bellarmine Prep, sr.
Peter Radovich, Bellarmine Prep, sr.
Nathan Rainey, Decatur, jr.
Ryan Rotter, Auburn Mountainview, sr.
Zack Schmidt, Tumwater, sr.
Marvin Soeum, Franklin Pierce, soph.
Cael Tackett, Bellarmine Prep, sr.
Connor Tollan, Silas, sr.
Nathan Vitzthum, Puyallup, sr.
Elijah Wagner, White River, soph.
Carter Welch, Tahoma, sr.
Micah Wilhelm, Olympia, soph.
Dean Williams, Puyallup, jr.
Pierce Yates, Tumwater, jr.
This story was originally published April 1, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
