Area boys' soccer teams saw a lot of success last year, and a number of records fell. Coming
into this year, however, the teams look a little different with the loss of so many impactful
seniors. Here's how preps coordinator Zach Piatt views the local scene ahead of 2025 season:
1. St. Joseph-Ogden2024 record:22-3-1Quick hit: This spot was never going to go to any other team. The Spartans broke the IHSA single-season goals record last season by netting 172 of them en route to winning a Class 1A regional title. And they return Zach Harper, the area's second-leading scorer a year ago, along with shutdown goalie Jaxson Colvin, promising talent Yadi Acosta and lockdown defender Steven Newman.
2. Centennial2024 record:13-8-2Quick hit: As coach Thair Al-Saqri put it last fall after seeing his Chargers' season end against Springfield in the Class 2A sectional semifinals, "We're here to stay." Centennial's 13 wins were its most in a season since 2009, and it won a regional championship for the first time since 2011. The Chargers lost a lot of seniors, but that just means it's junior Isaac Ramos' time to shine.
3. Mahomet-Seymour2024 record:16-8-2Quick hit: Like Centennial, M-S lost in the Class 2A sectional semifinals last year. Also like the Chargers, the Bulldogs lost a large chunk of their production from the 2024 season. But there's no need to worry for Bulldog fans. Colin Jackson is poised to score a ton of goals up top, and Preston Sriver and Noah Craneare set to control the middle of the field for another successful campaign.
4. Urbana2024 record:11-9-1Quick hit: If you have a playmaker at the top of your formation and a goalie capable of shutting down opposing playmakers, you'll always have a chance, and the Tigers have both. Winner Nana was on the brink of breaking out as one of the area's most dangerous goal-scorers last season, and Jevan Judayshowed plenty of promise in the net. Together, they could lead Urbana to success.
5. Oakwood/Salt Fork2024 record:22-4Quick hit: You don't get a duo like Macen Phillips and Ethan Merritt very often. They were key factors in O/SF turning into one of the area's most consistently successful programs. Losing them, along with a handful of other seniors, will hurt, but Eric Fenton's teams have found a way to win in recent years. That in itself should be good enough to keep O/SF in the mix for another year.6. Fisher/Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley2024 record:20-4-1Quick hit: If you thought Centennial, Mahomet-Seymour and Oakwood/Salt Fork lost a lot of seniors, hear this. The Bunnies landed a total of eight players on last year's All-Area teams, three of them on the first team, and seven of them were seniors. Talk about putting a brand new team on the field. It'll be interesting to see how new coach Caleb Aldridgenavigates this challenge.
7. St. Thomas More2024 record:9-7-4Quick hit: The Sabers showed glimpses of what they could be last season, especially at the very end, taking Uni High to penalty kicks in the Class 1A regional semifinals. Owen Yeager is one of the most versatile players around, Riley Hogan is one of the better midfielders and William Grissomshowcased a lot of potential. STM could be a dark horse for some hardware this year.
8. Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin2024 record:11-8-1Quick hit: Anytime you can bring back your three best players, you're in a good spot, and that's exactly where the Blue Devils are. Bryson Lithgow, Irving Jesus Paramo Juarez and Noah Riceaccounted for a combined 52 goals and 34 assists last season, and they each earned All-Vermilion Valley Conference honors. Simply put, opponents should watch out for BHRA this fall.
9. Watseka/Milford2024 record:17-5-1Quick hit: The Warriors lost the two best offensive players in program history in Narciso Solorzano and Owen Avelar, but they also have some impressive talent coming back. Jose Tobar scored 16 goals and provided 12 assists last season, and Santiago Solorzano and Brian Morales-Maciasplayed their roles well. They'll all take on a larger role this year to lead the charge.
10. Uni High2024 record:17-7Quick hit: Probably the biggest question of the preseason: What do the Illineks look like without 2024 All-Area Player of the Year Shabi Prasanth? On the field, that's yet to be seen. On paper, the short answer is different. Uni High lost more than just Prasanth, but Robert Tu, Yuto Inoue and Muhammad Iftikhar are set to return. It'll be a tall task to improve on last year's success.