50 players named to the 34th Annual Free Press All-State Boys Soccer Team
Picking this year’s Free Press All-State Boys Soccer Team, as always, was no easy task.
But by taking into account feedback from coaches in every corner of the state, input from other media outlets and our own expertise, we laid out who we think are the very best and formed first and second teams plus an honorable-mention listing.
South Burlington senior Hammad Ali earns the distinction of the Free Press boys soccer player of the year (see below) and, in total, 50 players are honored — a tough list to crack but one that has stood for more than three decades as Vermont's true All-State team.
Related: 50 players named to the Free Press All-State Girls Soccer Team
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THE FIRST TEAM
HAMMAD ALI
South Burlington High School
Senior, midfield
► Player of the year
•The player: Clutch, composed and a clinical finisher and passer, Ali carved out a brilliant senior season, piling up 11 goals and 15 assists for the Division I state finalists. Ali took on double teams, dictated play in the middle and sparked quality chances for teammates and himself. "He grew a lot as a playmaker and he read the game very well," South Burlington coach Adolphe Lumumba said. "He was like another coach on the field. That is something we are going to miss a lot next year, that leadership." Ali, who played in three title games, winning it all in 2022, caps his career with 24 goals, 23 assists.
•Trophy case: BFP player of the year 2023; first team 2023; second team 2022. Vt. Coaches Association All-State 2023, 2022. Metro Division first team 2023, 2022.
DEMUNGA ALFANI
Colchester High School
Junior, forward
•The player: After a 10-goal, 10-assist sophomore campaign, Alfani battled through injury to record 11 goals, 4 assists for the Lakers, who reached the Division I semifinals before losing in double overtime. Lightning-quick with or without the ball, Alfani's speed, foot skills and unselfish play made him "the most dangerous kid in the state," according to Colchester coach Ty Pratt. "He has the ability to take over any game. He was fastest than anybody with the ball at his feet and you can’t teach that," Pratt said. "His biggest development was his off-the-field maturity. He started to become a complete player."
•Trophy case: BFP first team 2023; honorable mention 2022. Vt. Coaches Association All-State 2023. Metro Division first team 2023; second team 2022.
NICOLAS MENARD
Champlain Valley Union High School
Senior, forward
•The player: Also a hockey player, Menard invited shoulder-to-shoulder contact and thrived in crowded situations with the ball at his feet. And Menard's dribbling technique and finisher ability were second to none on the Redhawks' squad. After not scoring in the first six games of the season, Menard exploded for a dozen goals to go with 3 assists for the Division I state champions. "He made himself into a really tough matchup for defenders," CVU coach Rob Cole said. "He was the one we could really trust with the ball in tight areas and then do something to create and get a shot off."
•Trophy case: BFP first team 2023. Vt. Coaches Association All-State 2023. Metro Division first team 2023.
CHANDLER TURNER
Champlain Valley Union High School
Senior, forward
•The player: In a new system and position — a year after playing as a box-to-box midfielder — Turner thrived on the forward line with his tenacity and fearless approach to taking and keeping possession in the attacking third. "He made a lot of things happen. He's really different than other players I've coached — he has this raw desire to put his body in the way," CVU coach Rob Cole said. "It was these blue-collar plays that led to his teammates being successful. He was super-critical to us." Chandler scored 7 times and handed out a team-best 8 assists for the Division I state champions.
•Trophy case: BFP first team 2023. Vt. Coaches Association All-State 2023. Metro Division first team 2023.
EDDIE FALLIS
Middlebury Union High School
Senior, midfield
•The player: Given the freedom to roam in Middlebury's system, Fallis attacked at will, had an high understanding of field awareness and space and became a dangerous player within 25 yards because of his ability to finish and set up teammates. Fallis totaled 27 goals, 20 assists as Middlebury won 12 games and hosted a Division II semifinal. "He’s not just a dribbler, he’s not just a goal scorer, he’s a really great player," Middlebury coach Chris George said. "He’s an unbelievably refined player and he has such a great sense of the game, he’s almost always in the right spot." Fallis finishes with 32 goals, 30 assists.
•Trophy case: BFP first team 2023. Vt. Coaches Association All-State 2023. Lake Division player of the year 2023; first team 2023; honorable mention 2022.
MAX LADNER
Burlington High School
Senior, midfield
•The player: A two-year varsity player, Ladner excelled in an attacking midfield role and handled new leadership responsibilities with a great attitude and approach. Quick on the ball and unafraid to win the grimy battles in the midfield, Ladner racked up 13 goals, 8 assists this fall. His overtime header goal at Burr and Burton advanced BHS to the Division I semifinals. "He was a good role model and he was a coach's player," BHS coach Mukhtar Abdullahi said. "If you ask him to play a different position, he'll play it. He’s going to be a great leader no matter what he ends up doing after high school."
•Trophy case: BFP first team 2023. Vt. Coaches Association All-State 2023. Metro Division first team 2023; second team 2022.
LUKE SAMPSON
Champlain Valley Union High School
Senior, midfield
•The player: After missing all of the 2022 season due to knee surgery, Sampson returned and was voted a captain by teammates. As a defensive midfielder, Sampson controlled the tempo in most games and helped CVU pitch 11 shutouts and concede just 8 goals in a Division I championship run. Sampson also figured into the attack (10 goals, 4 assists) and scored four times from the penalty spot. "I thought he was our MVP. I was really impressed with him," CVU coach Rob Cole said. "He scored more goals and had more assists than any other defensive midfielder I've had before."
•Trophy case: BFP first team 2023. Vt. Coaches Association All-State 2023. Metro Division first team 2023.
OLIVER CLIFFORD
South Burlington High School
Senior, defense
•The player: Overcoming a midseason injury, Clifford served as a dependable, tough and prototypical center back for the Wolves. Clifford, who had 5 goals, 2 assists in his career, used his size, speed and physicality to elevate his game and remain a calming force on the back line for the Wolves (15-3), who pitched six shutouts in their return to the Division I title game. "He just doesn't get fazed by anything," South Burlington coach Adolphe Lumumba said. "His leadership and toughness were big for us in the back. He will be a tough one to replace."
•Trophy case: BFP first team 2023; second team 2022. Vt. Coaches Association All-State 2023, 2022. Metro Division first team 2023, 2022.
HENRY KINNEY
Essex High School
Senior, defense
•The player: Listed as an "all-positions" player on the official All-Metro coaches' first team, Kinney truly did a bit of everything for a young Hornets squad. The senior led Essex in points (3 goals, 1 assist), was a constant winner on 50-50 balls, served as the vocal point on restarts — as the target or free-kick taker — and provided a calming presence on defense who "could clean up any mess," Essex coach Jake Orr said. "He was our unquestioned team leader and kept everyone positive," Orr said. "He did a terrific job as a leader navigating a challenging season."
•Trophy case: BFP first team 2023. Vt. Coaches Association All-State 2023. Metro Division first team 2023; second team 2022.
AARON LEPIKKO
Stowe High School
Senior, defense
•The player: After starting the season at forward, Leppiko returned to his more familiar position at center back to solidify and lead one of the state's most inexperienced back lines. The results were immediate: Once Leppiko made the full-time switch to defense, Stowe conceded just three times and pitched 9 shutouts as the Raiders claimed the Division III title. "Aaron was the most versatile player that we had. His main contributions completely shifted our season," Stowe coach Shane Bufano said. "He was really a catalyst and had the ability to shut down everybody’s top forward." Leppiko also added 8 goals, 9 assists.
•Trophy case: BFP first team 2023. Vt. Coaches Association All-State 2023. Capital Division first team 2023, 2022.
BRIO LEVITT
Montpelier High School
Senior, goalie
•The player: After back-stopping Montpelier's Division II title defense last fall, Levitt was just as stingy as a senior, compiling 10 clean sheets and only conceding 8 goals in 15 games for the top-seeded Solons. "One of the big parts of his game, he was incredibly good at preventing shots before they were able to happen," Montpelier coach Eric Bagley said. "He was very vocal in games and practices. He really set the example for the team in how everybody should play." For his career, Levitt had 33 shutouts and yielded just 23 goals in 51 games.
•Trophy case: BFP first team 2023; honorable mention 2022. Vt. Coaches Association All-State 2023. Capital Division player of the year 2023; first team 2023, 2022; honorable mention 2021.
THE SECOND TEAM
CODY MAGNANT
School: Twin Valley
Position: Forward
Class year: Senior
LANDON PAULSON
School: Enosburg
Position: Forward
Class year: Senior
OZZIE VANHENDRICK
School: Brattleboro
Position: Forward
Class year: Senior
BEN CLARK
School: U-32
Position: Midfield
Class year: Senior
OMAR DAOUDI
School: South Burlington
Position: Midfield
Class year: Senior
ABDOUL LAILATI
School: Winooski
Position: Midfield
Class year: Senior
EAMON LANGLAIS
School: Harwood
Position: Midfield
Class year: Junior
EVAN CHICOINE
School: Mount Mansfield
Position: Defense
Class year: Senior
AUSTIN COX
School: Burr and Burton
Position: Defense
Class year: Senior
OAKLEY FRANCIS
School: Vergennes
Position: Defense
Class year: Senior
BROCK ROICK
School: Stowe
Position: Goalie
Class year: Senior
THE HONORABLE MENTION TEAM
Forward
Jackson Adams, South Burlington, senior
Jacques Alfani, Colchester, senior
Meles Gouge, Twinfield/Cabot, senior
Oscar Howard, Mount Mansfield, senior
Judah Jackson, Mount Abraham, senior
Matt Nop, Proctor, senior
Josiah Phillips, Montpelier, senor
Gus Yerkes, St. Johnsbury, senior
Midfield
Luke Broussard, Rice, senior
Alex Carter, BFA-St. Albans, junior
Ben Cerreta, Rutland, senior
James Graziadei, Mount Abraham, sophomore
Leo Jercinovic, Stowe, senior
Charlie Kinnersley, Brattleboro, junior
Cody Lilly, Stowe, junior
Ezra Lockhart, Woodstock, senior
Kelly Moran, Burr and Burton, junior
Bodie Smith, Burr and Burton, sophomore
Connor Watson, South Burlington, junior
Defense
Hunter Bowen, Rice, junior
Ajak Dau, Champlain Valley, junior
Matthew Fiaschetti, Harwood, junior
Clayton Foster, Montpelier, junior
Liam Goslin, Mount Mansfield, senior
Daniel Manning, Peoples, senior
Milo Rees, Middlebury, senior
Goalie
Ziggy Babbott, Champlain Valley, junior
Matt Redmond, Spaulding, senior
Recent BFP all-state teams
2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014
Recent coaches' all-league teams
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014
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Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @aabrami5.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: VT high school boys soccer: Free Press All-State Boys Soccer Team
