The News Tribune’s 2025 All-Area boys soccer team
First- and second-team selections for The News Tribune’s 2025 All-Area boys soccer team.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Zack Robertson, Puyallup, sr. — Longtime Puyallup coach Matt White said Robertson would make his all-time starting XI, and it’s easy to see why. The 4A SPSL offensive player of the year was the ultimate competitor this spring, a powerful, skilled attacking player who poured in single-season school records with 30 goals and 22 assists. Western Washington commit.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Rick Maloy, Tahoma — Coached the Bears to a 17-2-1 record, the 4A NPSL title, the 4A District 3/4 title, the No. 1 seed in the 4A state tournament and a state quarterfinal appearance.
FORWARDS
Landon Breidenbach, Enumclaw, sr. — 3A NPSL first-team selection scored 20 goals for the Hornets this spring.
Curran Caufield, Puyallup, soph. — Part of Puyallup’s dangerous attack, the quick, shifty attacking player scored 13 goals and had eight assists for the Vikings this spring.
Jake Murphy, Olympia, sr. — 4A SPSL first-team selection was one of the league’s dynamic players with a high-level combination of speed and footwork. Scored 16 goals and tallied 18 assists for the Bears.
Braulio Navarrete, Emerald Ridge, sr. — Missed the first half of the season but was a clear game-changer when on the field, tallying four goals and 10 assists in just eight games.
Bethel Ndugba, Fife, sr. — The 2A SPSL MVP was a constant threat in front of goal, scoring 21 goals and tallying 10 assists.
MIDFIELDERS
Henry Blake, Gig Harbor, jr. — A “total player” throughout their run to the 3A quarterfinals, Gig Harbor’s unanimously-selected captain and 3A PSL first-teamer tallied 20 goals and five assists with speed, size, and soccer IQ. Coach Joe Ross: “Extremely technical with the ball at his feet.”
Nico Coope, Stadium, sr. — The 4A NPSL’s Player of the Year and Stadium’s senior captain scored 16 goals with five assists this spring. California Baptist commit.
Caden Grant, Silas, jr. — This speedy midfielder delivered a dozen goals with 15 assists for Silas’ state-tournament team. 3A PSL Narrows first-team selection.
Zeth Lucero, Tahoma, sr. — A four-time 4A NPSL all-league selection, Lucero contributed five goals and nine assists for the South Sound’s strongest team this spring. Point Loma Nazarene commit.
Dane Price, Bellarmine Prep, sr. — 3A PSL Narrows Offensive Player of the Year scored nine goals with six assists for Bellarmine Prep’s state-tournament team. Chapman University commit and two-time TNT All-Area selection.
Aiden Vannoy, Sumner, jr. — 4A SPSL first-team selection constantly won 50-50 balls and anchored Sumner’s defensive midfield with six goals and two assists.
DEFENDERS
Ethan Bell, Curtis, sr. — 4A SPSL’s Defensive MVP was one of the area’s premier defenders this spring, a catalyst for eight Vikings shutouts. Whitworth University commit scored nine goals with two assists. Coach Eddie Na: “Calm on the ball and a defensive monster in the back.”
Zane Edmond, Silas, jr. — The anchor of Silas’ backline played a key role in eight Rams shutouts and the program’s fifth-straight league title. 3A PSL Narrows Defensive Player of the Year.
Sergio Mercado, Auburn Mountainview, sr. — The cornerstone of Auburn Mountainview’s third-place state squad delivered 14 goals this spring. Defensive midfielder was the 3A NPSL’s Offensive Player of the Year.
Lucas Morgan, Sumner, jr. — All season long, Morgan and Curtis’ Ethan Bell went toe-to-toe for the status of the 4A SPSL’s top defender. Sumner’s junior was “the rock of the team” in his first high school season after leaving the Sounders FC Academy. Spartans coach Craig Johnson: “His passing and technical ability as a center back was the best I’ve seen at high school.”
Shaw Nishizawa, Tahoma, sr. — Tahoma’s top defender took the Bears to the 4A quarterfinals as the state tournament’s No. 1 seed. Two-time 4A NPSL first-teamer tallied six goals and nine assists. Cal Lutheran commit.
GOALKEEPER
Tyler Adams, Central Kitsap, soph. — 3A PSL Narrows MVP posted nine shutouts that pushed Central Kitsap back to state for a fourth-straight year.
SECOND TEAM
Forwards — Ameer Asmath, North Thurston, sr.; Aaron Calvo Guillen, Franklin Pierce, sr.; Gavin Cuoio, Tumwater, sr.; Eli Hanson, Gig Harbor, jr.; Gavin Murphy, Bonney Lake, jr.; Jackson Powell, Gig Harbor, soph.; Damien Rodriguez, North Thurston, sr.; Nery Ruiz, Enumclaw, soph.; Dylan Stevens, Tumwater, sr.; Cody Stoner, Kentridge, sr.
Midfielders — Irving Baca-Silva, Kent-Meridian, sr.; Anthony Danylyuk, Bellarmine Prep, jr.; Landen Diaz, Timberline, sr.; Fisher Jarzynka, Stadium, soph.; Dominic Moreno-Gonzalez, Capital, sr.; Giles Neel, Tahoma, sr.; Uzoma Ohuka, Emerald Ridge, sr.; Fin Russ, Bellarmine Prep, jr.; Kai Yinger, Fife, soph.
Defenders — Chris Cosio, Lakes, sr.; Christian Herrera Alvarez, Franklin Pierce, sr.; Jack Merriam, Bellarmine Prep, sr.; Vinny Miles, Rogers, soph.; Conner O’Keefe, Kennedy Catholic, sr.; Jakob Patten, Fife, jr.; Alian Piza, Clover Park, sr.; Dylan Salapu, Tumwater, sr.; Stephen Tangney Jr., Kentridge, sr.; Tima Veremiy, Auburn Riverside, jr.
Goalkeepers — Kyle Goodrow, Sumner, sr.; Logan Luu, Kentwood, sr.
This story was originally published June 15, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
