After months of anticipation, the highschool soccer season is about to start out.
1000’s of gamers throughout the Bay Space have spent the previous a number of months grinding by agility exercises, early morning lifts and 7-on-7 tournaments to get to this second.
Now, it’s time to see if the work pays off.
Observe formally begins for colleges within the Central Coast Part on Monday whereas colleges within the North Coast Part will begin on Aug. 11.
All of them shall be preparing for Week 1 of the season, which for many of the 100-plus groups within the Bay Space Information Group’s protection space shall be Aug. 28-30.
Groups will play as much as 10 regular-season video games over 11 weekends, adopted by part playoffs in November. The season will finish in Southern California on Dec. 12-13, with a few dozen regional champions competing for state championships throughout quite a few divisions.
Beginning Aug. 11, the Bay Space Information Group will start rolling out league previews and all-BANG preseason participant lists in any respect positions.
Should you haven’t already, please join a digital subscription and unfold the phrase.
Your contributions maintain us going.
To get you on top of things, listed here are 10 storylines as practices get underway:
Is De La Salle nonetheless No. 1?
There isn’t a lot doubt who the Bay Space’s high staff is coming into the season.
After giving nationwide powerhouse Mater Dei-Santa Ana a brief scare within the Open Division state championship final yr, De La Salle returns a plethora of expertise from that staff.
Speedster Jaden Jefferson – a North Carolina commit and state document holder within the 100-meter sprint – would be the featured playmaker in De La Salle’s offense as a large receiver and operating again. Cal-bound offensive and defensive lineman Nemyah Telona will anchor the trenches whereas operating again Duece Jones-Drew, son of former NFL All-Professional Maurice Jones-Drew, will enter the yr as De La Salle’s major ballcarrier.
North Carolina-bound Jaden Jefferson is again for the Spartans after successful the 100-meter sprint on the California state championships, breaking information alongside the best way. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
Justin Alumbaugh, who’s coming into his thirteenth yr as De La Salle’s coach, stated that is his quickest staff he’s ever had.
As normal, De La Salle stacked its schedule because the Harmony heavyweight will open in opposition to Florida powerhouse Lakeland earlier than three straight highway video games in opposition to Serra, St. Francis and Grant-Sacramento.
It has been 33 years since De La Salle misplaced to a staff from its personal part. That NCS streak practically got here to an finish in 2023 in opposition to San Ramon Valley and final yr in opposition to Pittsburg, however don’t depend on it being damaged this yr.
The Spartans’ successful custom blended with Division I expertise at each key place makes De La Salle the staff to beat in Northern California.
Different groups would possibly disagree.
However till confirmed in any other case, the Spartans ought to be the favourite to signify NorCal within the Open Division state championship recreation once more this yr.
– Nathan Canilao
Riordan primed to complete job
For Archbishop Riordan, every part has been constructing towards 2025.
The Crusaders have a senior SEC-bound quarterback, a Massive Ten-bound offensive lineman and school expertise all around the subject. Now it’s time for them to win the West Catholic Athletic League.
There isn’t a cause why Riordan shouldn’t be the overwhelming favourite within the WCAL and Central Coast Part. Final season’s WCAL co-champions, St. Ignatius and St. Francis, each graduated their beginning quarterback and operating again.
Riordan, in the meantime, returns four-year beginning QB Michael Mitchell Jr., operating again Adonyae Brown and receivers Cynai Thomas, Choose Nash and Wesley Winn Jr. And for good measure, the Crusaders added senior switch Perrion Williams, St. Francis’ high go catcher in 2024.
The San Francisco college is hard within the trenches, too. Riordan brings again Oregon commit Tommy Tofi to anchor its offensive and defensive traces.
All the things is lining up for Riordan to romp to a WCAL title and win the CCS Open Division championship. One WCAL coach known as them “ridiculously stacked this yr.”
However can the Crusaders be one of the best staff within the Bay Space, and even win a NorCal or state title? These are the questions the San Francisco college should reply this fall.
– Christian Babcock
El Cerrito has a tricky highway again
The 2024 El Cerrito season was marred in controversy.
The East Bay college was anticipated to be one of many Bay Space’s high packages as a plethora of Division I school expertise stuffed its roster.
However after an NCS investigation discovered that El Cerrito used a number of ineligible gamers within the first half of its season, the Gauchos had been pressured to forfeit six video games, sit quite a few high gamers for the remainder of the yr and completed the season with a 1-8 document. The part’s ruling and the choice from the varsity’s administration to position then-coach Jacob Rincon on administrative depart led to protests from college students and group members.
Now, El Cerrito is making an attempt to show the web page.
New coach Tim Johnson, who was the affiliate head coach final season, will attempt to encourage a program that won’t be eligible for the postseason for the following two years.
A lot of key contributors from final season have transferred out of this system, together with three-star security Savion Bandy (Grant Union-Sacramento), Malikii Lavern (Grant Union) and Jamar Lincoln (Marin Catholic).
Regardless of the losses, the Gauchos nonetheless have sufficient playmakers to be aggressive.
Huge receiver Gary Youngblood, who led El Cerrito in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and interceptions, returns for his senior season. Operating again Joezon Broussard will look to make an impression at operating again as a second-year starter.
El Cerrito will open the season in opposition to East Bay powerhouse San Ramon Valley, however the schedule will get rather a lot simpler with video games in opposition to Lowell-San Francisco and Oakland Tech earlier than league play.
The Gauchos gained’t be the powerhouse they as soon as had been, however a profitable season might go a good distance into restabilizing this system.
– Nathan Canilao
SI encore will embody new coach
St. Ignatius celebrates after beating St. Francis within the CCS Open Division championship recreation final season at San Jose Metropolis School. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group)
St. Ignatius got here out of nowhere to win the CCS Open Division championship in 2024.
The Wildcats had been picked to complete fifth of eight groups within the WCAL by the Bay Space Information Group. The Cats had different plans.
The senior duo of QB Soren Hummel and RB Jarious Hogan, plus key contributors like WR/CB Zui Shelton, linemen John Mills and Manoah Faupusa and WR/DB Ty Hicks, led SI to an 8-2 regular-season document that included comeback wins over WCAL powers Serra, Riordan and Valley Christian. The staff that grew to become referred to as second-half SI made historical past, reaching a CIF NorCal regional below second-year coach Lenny Vandermade.
The Cats gained’t be sneaking up on anyone this time round.
They’ll even be working below new coach JaJaun Lawson, who took over this winter after Vandermade went dwelling to Southern California, becoming a member of former USC teammate Carson Palmer at Santa Margarita Excessive.
Can Lawson, who was Vandermade’s offensive coordinator, recapture the magic of final season? He faces lengthy odds to take action.
But when SI confirmed us something in 2024, the Cats proved you could by no means fairly foresee what’s to return within the fall.
– Christian Babcock
Will Pittsburg take a step again?
Final season, Pittsburg put arguably its greatest group on the sector because the 1991 staff that upset De La Salle within the NCS 3A remaining.
However provided that a lot of the Division I expertise from final yr’s roster has graduated, the Pirates will go into this season with a bunch that doesn’t have a ton of varsity expertise.
So … will this be a rebuilding yr for Pittsburg?
In all probability not.
Regardless of graduating quarterback and Bay Space Information Group participant of the yr Marley Alcantara and UCLA-bound defensive stars Juju Partitions and Jadyn Hudson, the Pirates nonetheless have a treasure chest of Division I gamers on either side of the ball.
Pittsburg’s Kenny Ward burst onto the highschool scene as a freshman final yr. He’s looking for one other very good season this fall. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
Arizona commit RJ Mosely figures to comply with up on his stellar 2024 postseason run that noticed him catch 18 balls for 285 yards and two touchdowns in 5 video games. Mosley will pair up with sophomore speedster Kenny Ward, who already holds a number of Division I affords after a monster yr as a freshman.
Whereas changing Alcantara shall be a tall process, Pittsburg will hand the QB keys to sophomore switch Javale Jones after he shined as a starter for Clayton Valley final season.
Third-year coach Charlie Ramirez should get his younger staff on top of things rapidly, however a rebuild doesn’t look possible for the Pirates.
– Nathan Canilao
Los Gatos, Wilcox nonetheless class of PAL Bay
Can anybody exterior of South Bay powerhouses Wilcox and Los Gatos rise as much as make noise within the Peninsula Athletic League’s Bay Division?
It’ll be one other uphill battle this yr.
Los Gatos misplaced quarterback Scotty Brennan however introduced again senior offensive stars in operating again Grayson Doslak and huge receiver Beau Musser. Callum Schweitzer, who break up time with Brennan in 2024, will take the reins absolutely for the primary time.
Wilcox should rebuild with out reigning BANG Santa Clara County participant of the yr and PAL Bay MVP Brayden Rosa, who moved on to UC Davis after ending his profession as among the finest gamers at school historical past. However the Chargers have one thing of a cheat code with their hard-to-stop veer offense, and junior QB Kai Imahara is the reigning PAL Bay offensive participant of the yr.
Wilcox’s Kai Imahara returns after receiving PAL Bay offensive participant of the yr honors final season. (Doug Duran/Bay Space Information Group)
Sacred Coronary heart Prep performed Wilcox robust early of their matchup final season and returns QB Nico Pollioni, RB/LB Maxime Morelle and WR/DB Sasha Bamdad. Menlo College brings again QB Jack Freehill and DE Palmer Riley, a Princeton commit who missed the Knights’ first 5 video games final yr with damage.
Palo Alto struggled in 2024, however junior quarterback Justin Fung gained helpful on-the-job expertise. The dynamic dual-sport athlete gained’t be capable to throw to his brother Jeremiah anymore, however he ought to be extra comfy working the offense in his second full yr on the helm.
Menlo-Atherton will run by senior QB Teddy Dacey, a dynamic dual-threat athlete who has performed important snaps the previous two seasons.
Wilcox and Los Gatos are as soon as once more the clear favorites. However there are gifted gamers who might stand up all around the league rated because the strongest within the CCS in 2023 and 2024.
– Christian Babcock
Depth makes Mack harmful once more
McClymonds patchworked its manner by final season.
The Oakland powerhouse opened the yr with simply over 20 gamers on its roster. After a brawl ensued in a league recreation in opposition to Fremont-Oakland, McClymonds misplaced much more gamers to suspension and needed to pull a number of gamers up from junior varsity to place a staff on the sector.
Regardless of all of that, the West Oakland college managed to win its fifteenth consecutive Oakland Part championship and practically upset Amador Valley within the NorCal Division 3-AA title recreation.
McClymonds huge receiver Rahsjon Duncan (7), proven right here operating in final season’s Silver Bowl, has dedicated to Washington. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Space Information Group)
This yr, not solely does McClymonds return Division I commits Rahsjon Duncan (Washington), Koi Taiese (San Diego State) and Berell Staples (Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo), however the Warriors are slated to have simply over 30 gamers on their roster.
In earlier seasons, McClymonds has discovered success with small rosters. Now, by including extra depth, the Warriors shouldn’t have to fret an excessive amount of in regards to the year-long attrition.
McClymonds clearly will not be backing down from any challengers. The Warriors will open the season in opposition to WCAL favourite Riordan earlier than enjoying St. Francis, Santa Cruz and California of their non-league portion of the schedule.
– Nathan Canilao
What can we learn about Serra?
There are extra questions than solutions for Serra heading into the 2025 season.
The Padres, who rampaged by Northern California highschool soccer with a 25-0 document in opposition to regional opponents in 2022 and 2023, took a step again in 2024. Serra posted a 5-6 total mark, went 4-3 within the WCAL and misplaced to Los Gatos within the first spherical of the CCS Open/ Division I playoffs.
Some regression was anticipated after the Padres graduated 18 of twenty-two starters from the 2023 staff. However Serra will as soon as once more have to exchange various key gamers this yr.
Longtime coach Patrick Walsh stated his staff graduated 11 gamers on offense from a staff that had “11 inexperienced senior starters” final yr. Offense ought to be a piece in progress as senior QB Andrew Heneghan and RB Nano Latu have moved on.
4-star security Malakai Taufoou, who has a proposal from Ohio State, will anchor the protection. Lineman Lemani Fehoko, who began on O-line as a freshman and D-line as a sophomore, will play each methods for Serra this yr.
As at all times, the Padres have potential. However this can be one other rebuilding yr earlier than the following nice Serra staff rounds into kind.
– Christian Babcock
In 12 months 2, is MacDonald able to win its league?
The thought was that MacDonald must go from worst to first within the PAL’s Lake Division.
The fledgling Condors, of their third yr as a highschool, performed varsity soccer for the primary time final season and struggled out of the gate, dropping their first recreation 40-0 to Santa Clara and falling of their first 4 video games by a mixed rating line of 144-20.
However one thing modified down the stretch. MacDonald gained 4 of its remaining six video games and completed fifth within the nine-team PAL Lake.
May the Condors now contend within the Lake division? There are causes to consider this season.
MacDonald returns senior QB Moussa Fall, the reigning offensive participant of the yr, and has a full complement of 4 highschool courses for the primary time at school historical past.
Associated Articles
Former South Bay star Allen set for Corridor of Fame after years of lassoing NFL quarterbacks
Las Vegas man who killed 4 in Manhattan was a highschool soccer participant in Southern California
Common prep soccer knowledge supply goes non-public, placing Central Coast Part on clock
Bay Space’s high offensive lineman commits to Oregon, flipping from Cal
Hilding “Tex” Ronning, 1936-2025: Santa Cruz mourns lack of inspirational coach, instructor
The Condors dressed 22 gamers for his or her first varsity recreation in 2024. Coach Burt Codera instructed the Bay Space Information Group that MacDonald now has 30-35 gamers on its roster and returns practically each starter from final season.
Plus, Gunn, which dominated the Lake final season, has moved as much as the El Camino division, leaving room on the high for a brand new champion. May the Condors stand up and be that staff?
– Christian Babcock
Is Cardinal Newman about to turn out to be one other DLS?
Santa Rosa powerhouse Cardinal Newman was already one of many Bay Space’s strongest packages earlier than this season.
However after hiring former Mater Dei coach Frank McManus, the trajectory for the Cardinals has skyrocketed.
In his lone season at Mater Dei in 2023, McManus led the nationwide powerhouse to a 13-1 document and a 35-0 Open Division state championship win over Serra. He was subsequently fired from this system simply months later, although no cause was given for the dismissal.
McManus spent final season as an assistant coach at Mission Viejo earlier than he moved north to take the vacant teaching job at Cardinal Newman this previous spring.
Whereas some have labeled McManus as a brash determine, he indisputably brings a brand new degree of juice to the Santa Rosa college, perhaps a degree that would deal with the likes of De La Salle. Cardinal Newman is a 13-time NCS champion – principally in small-school divisions – however has not gained a piece title since 2019.
– Nathan Canilao
