High school boys soccer: Top teams, players in South Sound in 2025
The high school boys soccer season is in full swing in the South Sound this spring. Here’s what to watch for in the second half of the season and a watch list of some of the area’s top players.
4A NPSL
Tahoma, which has made three straight trips to the 4A state tournament, including a semifinal run and fourth-place finish in 2023, is the favorite and is off to a 5-0 start with a 3-0 mark in league play and non-league wins over Issaquah and Skyline. The Bears return senior captains: midfielder Zeth Lucero, defender Shaw Nishizawa and midfielder Giles Neel. Kennedy Catholic, Mount Rainier and newcomer Stadium could all factor into the playoff race. Kennedy Catholic returns all-league defender Conner O’Keefe, while Mount Rainier returns all-league defender Kai Wray. Stadium has a pair of wins over Auburn and Kentridge in league play and a recent draw with Kentwood. The Tigers return captain Nicholas Coope, a senior who routinely makes highlight-reel plays. Sophomore winger Fisher Jarzynka, junior center back Jace Lunistra and junior center mid Jack Luxenberg are other players to watch for Stadium.
4A SPSL
We think it’ll come down to Puyallup and Curtis later this season. There isn’t a more dangerous attacking team in the league than Puyallup, which returns TNT All-Area selection and Western Washington commit Zack Robertson (19 goals in 2024), a forward. At 6-foot-2, he’s a big target with a strong left foot. He’s complemented by attacking midfielder Curran Caufield, one of the state’s top sophomores. Holding midfielder Braylon Bowie ties the midfield together. Curtis, meanwhile, is built from the back with three-time all-league selection and last year’s 4A SPSL defensive MVP, center back Ethan Bell, a Whitworth commit and a TNT All-Area selection in 2024. He’s complemented by two-time all-league selection Landon Lee. Keep an eye, too, on sophomore Patrick Myers, who is having a breakout year as a goal scorer. Sumner, Olympia and Emerald Ridge should also be in the mix for playoff spots. Sumner returns junior center back Aiden Vannoy, a TNT All-Area selection last spring and the Spartans received a boost welcoming former Sounders Academy product and center back Lucas Morgan into the fold this spring. The Spartans also have one of the league’s best keepers in Kyle Goodrow. Olympia also has a strong defense, highlighted by second-team all-league defender Max Whitaker and honorable mention goalkeeper Miles Gould.
3A NPSL
Last year’s 3A NPSL went down to the wire, one of the South Sound’s most competitive leagues. The top four teams (Kent-Meridian, Todd Beamer, Auburn Mountainview, Auburn) were each separated by a single point, and now the league gets a refresh with Federal Way, Enumclaw, and White River joining and Auburn and Auburn Riverside exiting the 3A ranks. Auburn Mountainview is off to the hottest start, currently 5-0 in league play and powered by senior midfielder Sergio Mercado (six goals in four games). Enumclaw will contend for the title with sophomore forward Nery Ruiz, already with nine goals in seven games this season. Look for Federal Way to make a push with junior midfielder Joshua Ruiz-Perez, the team’s leader, first-year head coach Gordo Millan said. Defending-champion Kent-Meridian gets back all-league midfielder Keilor Garcia, recently selected to play for the Seattle Sounders FC Academy, and Kentlake returns George Fox commit Raiden Renggli.
3A PSL
The Narrows division is stacked — Bellarmine Prep, Gig Harbor, Central Kitsap and Silas should continue duking it out for playoff positioning in the second half of the season. Bellarmine Prep returns midfielder Dane Price, a TNT All-Area selection last spring who sees the field at a high level. Silas returns speedy midfielder Caden Grant, who can distribute and score goals for the Rams. He’s complemented by forwards Wyatt Stevens, Nathan Coyle and Isaac Kelly. Gig Harbor coach Joe Ross lost 12 players to graduation from last year’s team, and the Tides are still trying to find their identity, but there are some talented pieces, highlighted by defensive midfielder Henry Blake and forwards Jackson Powell and Jack Learned. In the Nisqually division, Timberline looks like the strongest of the bunch. The Blazers return all-league forward selections Landen Diaz and Noel Fernandez. Capital, North Thurston, Peninsula and Lakes should be competing for playoff spots. North Thurston returns talented goal-scorer Ameer Asmath (20 goals in 2024) and winger Damien Rodriguez. Capital returns senior central midfielder Dominic Moreno Gonzalez.
2A SPSL
Franklin Pierce’s dream 2024 season ended with the 2A state title — but the graduation of star siblings Preston and Marvin Soeum, SPSL co-MVP Logan Sams, and Goalkeeper of the Year Hunter Thompson leaves this year’s 2A SPSL wide open. The Cardinals should challenge for a title repeat, though Washington (6-0, 4-0) is the early leader with returning all-SPSL forward Jean Dadie. Fife (4-1-1, 3-0-1) remains undefeated in league play and will make noise with midfielders Kai Yinger and Hayden Wilbur, both SPSL first-team selections in 2024 and ECNL Club players. Clover Park owns three wins over Franklin Pierce, Eatonville and Foss; Timberwolves forward Jose Lopez scored four goals in the latter win over the Falcons on March 29.
2A EVCO
W.F. West and Tumwater duked it out for the Evergreen title a year ago, and we could be in for a similar story yet again. The Bearcats and T-Birds are the only remaining undefeated squads in EvCo play this spring and meet head-to-head on April 18 and for the regular-season finale on May 6. Tumwater returns senior striker Dylan Stevens, the Evergreen’s defending MVP, and W.F. West gets back 2A EvCo Offensive Player of the Year Adrian Jaimes. Centralia possesses one of the league’s best keepers in Alejandro Arevalo and opened their season with four straight non-league wins (three shutouts).
TOP 30 PLAYERS TO WATCH
F Ameer Asmath, North Thurston, sr.
D Ethan Bell, Curtis, sr.
M Henry Blake, Gig Harbor, jr.
M Curran Caufield, Puyallup, soph.
M Nicholas Coope, Stadium, sr.
F Jean Dadie, Washington, sr.
F Landen Diaz, Timberline, sr.
F Noel Fernandez, Timberline, jr.
M Keilor Garcia, Kent-Meridian, sr.
M Caden Grant, Silas, jr.
M Adrian Jaimes, W.F. West, sr.
D Landon Lee, Curtis, jr.
F Jose Lopez, Clover Park, jr.
M Zeth Lucero, Tahoma, sr.
D Jace Lunistra, Stadium, jr.
M Dominic Moreno Gonzalez, Capital, sr.
M Sergio Mercado, Auburn Mountainview, sr.
D Lucas Morgan, Sumner, jr.
D Shaw Nishizawa, Tahoma, sr.
M Dane Price, Bellarmine Prep, sr.
M Raiden Renggli, Kentlake, sr.
F Zack Robertson, Puyallup, sr.
F Nery Ruiz, Enumclaw, soph.
M Joshua Ruiz-Perez, Federal Way, jr.
ST Dylan Stevens, Tumwater, sr.
D Aiden Vannoy, Sumner, jr.
M Hayden Wilbur, Fife, jr.
D Max Whitaker, Olympia, sr.
D Kai Wray, Mount Rainier, sr.
M Kai Yinger, Fife, soph.
This story was originally published April 2, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
