CLASS 5A BOYS SOCCER PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2025
 

ALDO ACOSTA, MAIZE SOUTH
 
Acosta stepped up last season to fill some of the offensive void left by former Mavericks standout Vitor Geromel, the state’s career scoring leader. The junior forward/wing tallied 17 goals for Maize South – third most on the team – and added 5 assists to help the Mavs return to the Class 5A championship game. Acosta’s technical gifts and smooth play on the ball produced flashes of Geromel and earned him All-5A first-team and All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I second-team recognition.
 

ALEX ALONZO, GREAT BEND

Alonzo is entering his third year as a starter for the Panthers. He delivered seven goals and three assists last season and has tallied 16 career goals. Great Bend coach Chuy Loera says Alonso has set up himself for a strong senior season. “We definitely will look for him to lead the way for us when it comes to getting on the scoreboard,” Loera said. Alonzo was a first-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection as a junior. He’ll look to help the Panthers bounce back from last year’s 2-14 season.
 

HUSSAIN AL-AMOOD, ANDOVER
 
Al-Amood enters his senior season as the reigning Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II player of the year after scoring 15 goals and adding 8 assists last season. Al-Amood took over the striker position for the Trojans after tallying 9 goals and 13 assists as a sophomore attacking midfielder. A two-time, first-team All-AVCTL II selection, Al-Amood has contributed since his freshman campaign, when Andover advanced to the Class 5A quarterfinals.
 

TY BROWN, ANDOVER
 
After earning all-league second-team honors as a sophomore, Brown climbed to the All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II first team last fall after scoring 13 goals and adding 13 assists for the Trojans, who finished 8-10 after a 3-1 loss to Valley Center in the regional finals. Brown, a regular in Andover’s lineup since his freshman season, gives the Trojans valuable experience on the front line along with classmate Hussain Al-Amood.
 

AIDAN BUCKNEBURG, BLUE VALLEY SOUTHWEST

While much of the spotlight during Blue Valley Southwest’s undefeated state championship run last season was on its high-powered offense, the foundation of the Timberwolves’ success was built on a solid defense, which included Buckneburg. Now entering his senior year, Buckneburg returns as the leader of the backline, a centerback who played a vital role in Southwest’s title-winning campaign. His efforts earned him a first team all-state selection and a spot on the All-Eastern Kansas League second team.
 

ALAN CALDERON, BONNER SPRINGS

After a breakout sophomore season, Calderon has established himself as one of the top attacking threats in the Frontier League — and the centerpiece of the Braves' offense heading into 2025. Calderon led the Braves in every major offensive category last season, finishing with seven goals and seven assists. His efforts didn’t go unnoticed, earning him first team All-Frontier League honors as a forward and attacking midfielder.
 

BRAEDEN CARLTON, ANDOVER CENTRAL
 
Carlton battled through an injury-riddled junior season in 2024 to earn All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II first-team honors at forward. Carlton’s runs into space and intelligent movement made him dangerous on attacks for the Jaguars, who reached the Class 5A regional finals. He finished with 2 goals and 3 assists, giving him 8 and 9 respectively for his career as he enters his senior campaign. Also a center mid, Carlton earned all-league honorable mention as a sophomore.
 

BRECKIN CARMAN, ANDOVER CENTRAL
 
Carman’s technique and physical abilities are exactly what Central coach Steven Huskey likes in a defensive midfielder. The senior has proven dangerous on Jaguar set pieces and from long range, scoring 5 goals to go with 2 assists last season. Carman, who has 6 career goals and 5 assists, earned All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I first team as a midfielder while also playing center back last season. He was an all-league second-team selection as a sophomore. 
 

DANE CHRISTENSEN, BLUE VALLEY SOUTHWEST
 
In just one season, Christensen made a name for himself in Kansas high school soccer and helped lead Blue Valley Southwest to the ultimate prize. After transferring from California ahead of his junior year, Christensen wasted no time making an impact. The midfielder quickly became a key figure in the Timberwolves’ lineup, finishing the 2024 season with six goals and six assists while helping Southwest capture a state championship. His standout play earned him first team All-Eastern Kansas League honors as well as a spot on the all-state first team.
 

 
VALENTIN DEL REAL, TOPEKA WEST

Topeka West enjoyed one of its best seasons in recent years and the arrival of Del Real played no small role in the Chargers’ turnaround. West finished 13-3-1, a six-win improvement over the 2023 season behind an improved offense boosted by Del Real, Diego Gonzalez-Talavera and Morris Blick. While Gonzalez-Talavera led the team in scoring, Del Real was right behind with 13 goals and 6 assists as a freshman midfielder, earning him first-team All-United Kansas Conference honors. With all three leading scorers back this year, West could improve on its fourth-place finish in the UKC and make a deeper postseason run.
 

JUAN DIAZ, VALLEY CENTER
 
Diaz has produced two solid seasons at forward for the Hornets, earning All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II second-team honors as a freshman and sophomore. His 13 goals and 7 assists last fall helped Valley Center capture a regional title and produced a 13-4-1 season that ended with a 4-3 loss to Salina South in the Class 5A quarterfinals. Diaz and all-league first-team performer Micah Martin give the Hornets a talented junior duo up front. 
 

COLE EBERT, NEWTON
 
Ebert’s speed and strength as a defender have been assets for the Railers since his freshman year, when he helped Newton advance to Class 5A’s final four as the team’s rookie of the year. Last fall, Ebert’s play helped Newton post a 10-6-1 record with an unbeaten run to the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II title. The Railers will look for ways for Ebert to help generate more offense this season after he earned All-5A honorable mention and all-league first team last fall. He has 3 career goals and 6 assists.
 

JUAN ESCOBEDO, SALINA SOUTH
 
Escobedo helped Salina South earn its second straight trip to the Class 5A final four last fall with his play in the midfield. The senior scored just one goal for the 17-4 Cougars, but was part of a suffocating defense that posted shutouts or yielded just one goal in 16 of their first 18 matches. Escobedo earned All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I second-team honors and All-5A honorable mention.
 

 WILL FULGHUM, KAPAUN MT. CARMEL

Fulghum, a three-year starter at center back, earned All-Greater Wichita Athletic League first- team and All-Class 5A second-team for the Crusaders last year in their 9-7-2 season. His defensive play helped Kapaun limit both regional opponents, Newton and Salina South, to one goal apiece. The senior defender had 2 assists last season, and has 2 goals and 4 assists for his career.
 

 
GRIFFIN GALYON, HUTCHINSON
 
Galyon played a major role in Hutchinson’s 11-4-2 season last fall that ended with a penalty-kick shootout loss to Andover in the regional semifinals. An All-Class 5A second-team and All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I first-team forward, Galyon scored 20 goals and added 6 assists as a sophomore. A U15 All-American for his FC Wichita club team, Galyon enters his junior campaign with 25 career goals and 13 assists for the Salthawks.
 

 
ESNAYDER GARCIA TORREZ, NEWTON
 
Garcia Torrez was one of the Railers’ biggest surprises in their run to the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League II title last season. The senior center back not only solidified Newton’s back line, but scored 12 goals and added an assist. Coach Scott Jantzi says he can play anywhere on the field. That versatility helped Garcia Torrez earn All-Class 5A second-team and All-AVCTL II first-team honors at defender.
 

 
JUAN GARCIA, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS
 
A three-year starter as a midfielder, Garcia played more of a distributor role for the T-Birds last year as a junior after being one of the T-Birds’ top goal scorers as a sophomore when he scored 13 goals. Last year, he found the back of the net just twice, but saw his assists total take a nice jump as he went from eight to 12. Garcia helped Heights to a regional final and a 10-7-1 overall record. He earned honorable mention All-United Kansas Conference and honorable mention All-Class 5A honors.
 

 
DIEGO GONZALEZ-TALAVERA, TOPEKA WEST

After missing much of his freshman season with an injury, Gonzalez-Talavera came back with a vengeance last year and keyed the best season West has enjoyed in many years as the Chargers posted a 13-4-1 record and reached the regional finals before falling to Hays. Gonzalez-Talavera was West’s leader in goals scored (16) and assists (14) last year from his forward position and earned first-team All-United Kansas Conference honors. With Gonzalez-Talavera, a forward, teaming with sophomore midfielder Valentin Del Real, who scored 13 goals, West has its most dynamic scoring duo in decades and will look to make a deeper run in the playoffs and challenge for the UKC title.
 

 
CAMDEN GRANADO, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS
 
Granado doubles as Heights’ placekicker in football and it’s tough to say which sport he thrived in more last year. Granado was a second-team United Kansas Conference kicker for the T-Birds, hitting 30 of 34 PATs and 2 of 3 fields. As a three-year starting forward for the soccer team, Granado was the leading goal scorer for the T-Birds last year with 18 goals, more than triple his career total going into the season. He also added 10 assists, giving him 28 in his career, on his way to earning first-team all-league and honorable mention All-Class 5A honors.
 

 
MASON HAAS, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS
 
Haas went from being a role player as a freshman in 2023 when he scored five goals and had seven assists to becoming more of a focal point of Heights’ attack last year as a sophomore. He more than doubled his goals scored total, netting 11 goals, while also being a key distributor as well with 14 assists. The midfielder was one of two sophomores on the All-United Kansas Conference first team and he also was an honorable mention All-Class 5A pick after helping Heights to the regional finals.
 

TANNER HERRINGTON, MAIZE SOUTH
 
Calling him “the very best center midfielder we have,” Maize South coach Rey Ramirez lauds Herrington’s versatility from box to box. The senior scored 5 goals and added 3 assists last season as the Mavericks finished 18-3 and reached the Class 5A title match before falling to Blue Valley Southwest. Herrington, who has 9 career goals and 5 assists, earned all-league honorable mention at midfielder during Maize South’s 2023 state title run. 
 

PAYTON HER, TURNER

Her enters his fourth year as a varsity starter for Turner, and after a breakout junior season that saw the Bears finish with an impressive 14-4 record. Operating as an attacking midfielder, Her was the catalyst behind Turner’s high-octane offense in 2024, racking up a team-best 16 assists and also added three goals. That impact was recognized throughout the United Kansas Conference, as Her earned first team all-league honors and returns as the one of the league top midfielders heading into 2025.
 

NATHAN HINDS, VALLEY CENTER
 
Hinds, a senior, was a valuable stopper in goal last season for the Hornets, registering 11 shutouts during Valley Center’s 13-4-1 season. He was one of six Hornet underclassmen who earned All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II recognition last fall, landing on the second team. Hinds and the Hornets reached the Class 5A quarterfinals, falling to Salina South.

 

 
ADRIAN LARA, SALINA SOUTH

Lara, a junior, scored Salina South’s first goal of the season against Class 4-1A finalist Rose Hill and went on to have a productive 2024, finishing with 10 goals and 4 assists to boost the Cougars to a fourth-place finish in Class 5A. An All-5A and All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I second-team selection, Lara, who has 12 career goals, returns to the midfield for South, which has made two consecutive state semifinal appearances since winning the program’s lone state title in 2015.
 

IVAN MALDONADO, HAYS

Maldonado helped Hays capture its third regional title in program history last year. He has been starting on the wing for the Indians the past two seasons and recorded 5 goals and 8 assists in 2024. With Maldonado only halfway through his career, Hays coach Daniel Kelly envisions him climbing up the program’s record list for goals and assists. He was honorable mention All-5A  last year as a sophomore. Maldonado notched a goal and two assists during the Indians’ run to the quarterfinals last season.
 

MICAH MARTIN, VALLEY CENTER
 
Martin, a junior, was one of three Hornets selected to the All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I first team last season after helping Valley Center reach the Class 5A quarterfinals for the second straight year. The midfielder scored 8 goals and added 7 assists in Valley Center’s 13-4-1 season. Martin should be a good complementary threat for returning leading scorer Juan Diaz.
 

DAMON MCDONALD, SALINA SOUTH
 
McDonald, a senior, spearheaded a stout Cougar defense last season from the center-back position. He was part of a back line that recorded 10 shutouts and allowed just one goal in six other games during South’s 17-4 season. A two-year captain, McDonald was an All-Class 5A second-team and All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I first-team selection last season. McDonald, who has one career goal, earned all-league honorable mention as a freshman and sophomore. 
 

ELI MICK, BLUE VALLEY SOUTHWEST

Mick was instrumental in Blue Valley Southwest’s undefeated state championship run last fall, as the Timberwolf forward finished with 14 goals and broke the school record for assists in a single season with 19, Many of those assists went toward the team’s leading scorer, Crew Alvarez, who is now playing at Drake. Mick’s consistency has been just as impressive as his highlight-reel moments. The Southwest senior is a two-time first team All-Eastern Kansas League and all-state selection, and he’s been a fixture in the Timberwolves' attack since his underclassman years. Mick will try and lead a Southwest team that will go for its sixth state championship in the last nine years.
 

DYLAN NARAYAN, DE SOTO

Narayan played a pivotal role as a junior for De Soto, helping the team achieve a third-place finish in the United Kansas Conference and secure the status of regional runner-up. The Wildcat forward tallied 11 goals and six assists, anchoring the team’s offensive effort and is the team’s leading returning scorer. That helped him earn a spot on the All-UKC first team and an honorable mention all-state selection.
 

AIDAN ODELL, SPRING HILL

Odell was a driving force behind the Broncos’ 12-3-1 campaign in 2024, helping the team capture a regional championship and emerge as a contender in the Frontier League. As the team’s central attacking midfielder, he finished the season with 10 goals and 12 assists. For his efforts, Odell earned first team All-Frontier League honors and was named to the second team all-state.
 

RODRIGO PALACIOS, SALINA SOUTH
 
Palacios brings proven firepower to a Cougar team that finished third in Class 5A in 2023 and fourth a year ago. The senior forward scored 17 goals and added 10 assists last fall to help South post a 17-4 record. Palacios enters his final season with 32 career goals and 18 assists. He earned second-team all-state and Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I honors last season after receiving honorable mention for both as a sophomore.
 

EASTON REITER, KAPAUN MT. CARMEL
 
Reiter earned All-Class 5A second-team recognition last season after recording 7 shutouts for the Crusaders in their 9-7-2 season. A three-year starter, Reiter enters his senior season with 13 career clean sheets. Reiter also received All-Greater Wichita Athletic League honorable mention last fall. 
 

GREYSON RUTTER, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

A familiar face is back as the heart of the Saints’ defense, as Rutter returns after a breakout junior season that saw Aquinas win a regional championship and punch its ticket to the state tournament. Rutter will the lead the Saints’ back line after graduating several players last year. He earned honorable mention All-EKL and All-State honors last fall in his first year on the varsity level after recovering from an hip injury.
 

CRUZ SANCHEZ, ANDOVER CENTRAL
 
Sanchez, a three-year starter, moved to center back last season after initially playing left back for the Jaguars. The senior has strong aerial skills, reads the game well and has provided leadership for Central. Sanchez, who scored 2 goals last season and has 2 career assists, earned All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II first-team honors at defender last year after receiving honorable mention as a sophomore.
 

ROMAN SCOGNAMILLO, KAPAUN MT. CARMEL
 
Scognamillo has been a productive offensive weapon for the Crusaders, registering 20 career goals and 23 assists. The senior midfielder scored 9 goals and had a team-high 9 assists last season as Kapaun finished as a regional runner-up. A three-year starter, Scognamillo earned All-Greater Wichita Athletic League first-team and All-Class 5A second-team honors last season after receiving all-league honorable mention as a sophomore. 
 

BRODY SIEBERT, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

Siebert is the Saints’ top goal scorer from last year’s regional championship squad and returns for his senior season with high expectations. After netting 10 goals and tallying four assists in 2024, Siebert earned second team All-EKL honors. The Saints finished the 2024 campaign with an 11-7-1 record and a trip to the state tournament before falling to eventual state champion Blue Valley Southwest in the quarterfinals. In addition to his goal-scoring, Siebert created 35 corner attacks throughout the season.
 

SKYLUR STALEY, MAIZE SOUTH
 
Staley displayed his talents as a quality striker with top-tier finishing ability last season for the Mavericks, scoring a team-high 26 goals with 10 assists for the Class 5A runner-up. The senior’s goal total was seventh best in Maize South program history. Staley, who has 45 career goals and 13 assists, was the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I co-MVP and an All-5A first-team forward. He was all-league honorable mention as a sophomore after helping Maize South win its second straight state title. 
 

IVES TROCHEZ, HARMON

With 40 career goals already to his name, Trochez enters his senior season at Harmon as one of the top returning soccer players in the region. The left wing player led Harmon in scoring last fall with 23 goals, helping the Hawks to a solid 10-7 finish. His breakout campaign earned him Meadowlark Conference Player of the Year honors and a spot on the all-state second team.
 

JAXON WRIGHT, ST. JAMES ACADEMY
 
St. James put together its best season (record-wise) in school history and Wright, a senior defender, was a big part of that. Wright helped the Thunder to a 14-7 record as one of the leaders of the backline and they ended up with a third-place finish at the state tournament with a win over Salina South. Wright also earned second-team All-EKL honors and an honorable mention all-state selection.

NOTE: Classifications for the 2025-26 school year had not been released at the time of publication. Players featured could potentially fall into a different classification once those have been determined.