Everything to know about the 2023 Chittenden County boys soccer teams
Who's back and ready for another season? Who's joining varsity ranks for the first time? Read on below as we delve into our Chittenden County team outlooks for high school boys soccer.
The in-depth previews include a look at key returning players, newcomers and storylines for each of the nine Chittenden County programs.
The 2023 campaign opens Friday, Sept. 1, and wraps for regular-season play by Saturday, Oct. 21. First-round playoff games are slated for Oct. 24 and 25, and championship contests across the four divisions are scheduled for the Nov. 3-4-5 weekend at sites to be determined.
More: The top returning Vermont high school boys soccer players? Our 2023 watchlist.
Enjoy!
BURLINGTON
Coach: Mukhtar Abdulahi (second season)
Last season: 4-11; lost to Mount Mansfield in Division I playdowns.
Key returnees: Max Ladner, midfield, senior; Fields DeShaw, midfield, sophomore; Quin Moore, midfield, junior; Zen Nguyen, defense, junior; Quin Sessions, attack, junior; Ale Dietschi, defense, junior.
Key newcomer: Morgan Kenny, defense, senior.
Outlook: With 11 returnees, of which six players were starters a year ago, Abdulahi has a nice foundation to enter his second year in charge of the Seahorses. Motivated Burlington is also deep with a 22-player roster. "It's going to be hard to pick a starting 11," Abdulahi said, "because they have all improved and they all want to fight for each other. They are willing to do anything for each other." The offensive presence and production of Joey Manley, who graduated, will be tough to replace, but BHS has capable midfielders in Ladner, an All-Metro second-team selection, and Moore, who have the latitude to push forward and join Sessions on attack. Kenny, a transfer from Rice where he was a Lake Division all-league player, gives BHS another tough defender on the back line with Dietschi and Nguyen. Abdulahi said DeShaw is nursing an injury in preseason. "We are going to get a lot of guys to play," Abdulahi said.
More: Everything to know about the 2023 Chittenden County girls soccer teams
Champlain Valley Union High School
Coach: Rob Cole (seventh season)
Last season: 12-4; lost to Colchester in Division I semifinals.
Key returnees: Chandler Turner, forward, senior; Charlie Jennings, midfield, senior.
Key newcomer: Luke Sampson, midfield, senior.
Outlook: All-state players Eli Marden, Zach Spitznagle and Diego Robinson graduated, part of a 13-player senior class, nine of them starters, who've departed the Hinesburg program. That leaves this year's Redhawks squad with very little varsity experience. But Cole and Co. are ready for the challenge. "It was a really deep class in terms of talent," Cole said. "But we have a lot of good options and the struggle for me is to see how the puzzle is going to come together. It's all positive and a fun part of the process, figuring out a new team." Turner and Jennings' play and leadership will be crucial to CVU's development and integration of the newcomers as Cole spreads minutes out to find the right combinations. "They are two of our more important players," Cole said of Turner and Jennings. "They have an opportunity to take on leadership roles." Sampson returns to the fold following an knee injury. "I'm excited to see him play," Cole said of Sampson.
More: Everything to know about the 2023 Chittenden County boys soccer teams
Colchester High School
Coach: Ty Pratt (fifth season)
Last season: 12-3-2; lost to South Burlington in Division I championship.
Key returnees: Jacques Alfani, forward, senior; Demunga Alfani, forward, junior; Trace Roach, defense, senior; Caiden Cassidy, midfield, senior; Freddy Bacon, midfield/defense, sophomore; Jack Currie, defense, junior.
Key newcomers: Too early to tell.
Outlook: Of the 14 veterans, six were starters during the Lakers' run to the Division I title game. But Pratt isn't using last year's runner-up finish as fire to fuel the 2023 campaign. "I don't want the season to be wrapped up in the motivation piece. It's a completely different team despite the 14 returnees," Pratt said. "As good as we are, we want to keep a level head and for a senior-heavy team, enjoy what could be their final year playing competitive soccer." The talented Alfani brothers, All-Metro selections in 2022, will see more time in the midfield, and maybe one of them more than the other. Roach, as the center back, anchors the defense, and Bacon, a left fullback as a freshman, will likely get more run in the middle of the pitch. "We have more skill this year than we did last year, which is pretty exciting," Pratt said. "Just about everybody on the roster will find themselves in a different spot throughout the year." Pratt also exalted his team's depth and overall balance. "We might be a more well-rounded team than in years past," he said.
Essex High School
Coach: Jake Orr (ninth season)
Last season: 10-6-1; lost to South Burlington in Division I semifinals.
Key returnees: Connor Nick, forward, senior; Henry Kinney, midfield, senior; Cam Stoltz, goalie, junior; Ethan Pringle, midfield, sophomore; Owen Leo, midfield, junior;
Key newcomers: Too early to tell.
Outlook: One goal away from reaching its third straight Division I final, the Hornets face a rebuild following graduation losses and prep-school defections. BFP all-state first-team defender Rowan Jensen was among those who departed. While Essex returns nine veterans and a handful of starters, Orr brought on four freshmen and a pair of sophomores to round out a 20-player roster. Essex is also battling a couple key injuries during preseason. "We definitely have a lot of new players and our returning players didn't get a ton of minutes," Orr said. "We are nowhere close to where we need to be right now. We talked about once the tournament comes around, we want to be in a position to make a run." Kinney will likely lead from a central midfield position as Essex develops a back line that includes four new players, two of whom are freshmen. Nick, who broke his ankle in last year's quarterfinals, is working his way back into playing form, Orr said. "We are going to be scratching and clawing in every game," Orr said.
Milton High School
Coach: Jack Hubbard (second season)
Last season: 3-12; lost to Harwood in Division II playdowns.
Key returnees: Tyler Larocque, defense, senior; Jacob Deuso, midfield, senior; Luke Bushey, forward, junior; Andrew Preuss, midfield, sophomore.
Key newcomer: Finn Kascha-Hare, midfield, senior.
Outlook: Milton finished 2022 on a three-game winning streak and only lost three seniors to graduation. That gives Hubbard expectations of growth and better play in his second year at the helm of the Yellowjackets. "This year we are going to be really competitive and improve on our three-win season from last year," Hubbard said. "We are going to be a tough team to play against and be right in the mix in every single game. I think the kids are buying in early." Larocque is Milton's lone returning all-league player in the Lake Division, Deuso is a gritty midfielder, Bushey appears ready to bulk up his scoring production, and Preuss' role in the midfield has increased. Overall, Milton has 19 returners and Hubbard expects to bring back a JV squad with numbers slightly up. "A lot of players are pushing for playing time," Hubbard said. "Everybody wants to play and there are minutes to be won."
Mount Mansfield Union High School
Coach: Dustin Hess (seventh season)
Last season: 9-6-1; lost to Colchester in Division I quarterfinals.
Key returnees: Avery Gilbert, defense, junior; Raphael Campanile, forward, junior; Oscar Howard, forward, senior; Owen Jones, forward, senior; Joss Clegg, midfield, senior; Liam Goslin; Evan Chicoine, defense, senior.
Key newcomers: Finn Heney, defense, junior; Andres Miguez, defense, junior; Cameron Brinegar, goalie, junior; Gunther Hitt, goalie, junior.
Outlook: In their first couple preseason scrimmages, the Cougars looked very sharp, especially offensively, according to Hess. "Team chemistry is really good, we were really composed. I've never seen us look that good that early," Hess said. "Most of the guys played in a men's league this spring and it was really good for us, very humbling." MMU returns seven players, including outside back Chicoine, a coaches' D-I all-state selection, and Clegg, a second-team Metro honoree. Heney and Miguez join varsity as the team's center backs and fellow newcomers Brinegar and Hitt will both get time in net as the Cougars replace BFP all-state first-teamer Eric Bissell, who graduated. "We are going to be really hard to score on. I think we have seven really good defenders," said Hess, who expects his side to build an attack out of the back. "I love to have a balanced attack and not rely on one guy." Hess also raved about his team's depth. Twenty-five juniors tried out for varsity. "This is the first time in a while we are 2-3 deep at positions," Hess said.
Rice Memorial High School
Coach: Rich DeGraff-Murphy (first season)
Last season: 7-9; lost to Montpelier in Division II quarterfinals.
Key returnees: Wilfred St. Francis, forward, senior; Luke Broussard, midfield, senior; Sharmarke Hassan, midfield, junior; Finn Kelleher, midfield, junior; Colin Banks, defense, senior; Hunter Bowen, defense, junior.
Key newcomer: Evan Bretton, defense, sophomore.
Outlook: Previously the team's JV coach and varsity assistant, DeGraff-Murphy takes over the program with a sunny outlook and high expectations: Of the Green Knights' 15 returnees, seven were starters a year ago when they lost 1-0 to eventual D-II champion Montpelier in the quarterfinal round. "I totally believe we'll be a contender in D-II," DeGraff-Murphy said. "Our experience is going to lead to a competitive season. We are ready to play." Broussard and Hassan will link up and take charge in the midfield and St. Francis, the team's leading goalscorer from 2022, will command attention from the striker spot. Bowen and Bretton are the team's center backs. "There are no major differences," said DeGraff-Murphy of the coaching change. "We just moved some players around. We are still going to play possession soccer. The majority of the players, it's the fittest I've seen them over the last four years." Rice opens the season vs. Metro foes Colchester, South Burlington and Burlington, and also plays reigning D-IV champion Winooski before starting Lake Division play.
South Burlington High School
Coach: Adolphe Lumumba (third season)
Last season: 14-1-2; defeated Colchester in Division I championship.
Key returnees: Hammad Ali, midfield/forward, senior; Oliver Clifford, midfield/defense, senior; Connor Watson, midfield, junior; Milo Schmidt, forward, sophomore; Jackson Adams, midfield/attack, senior; Gabriel Gelfenbein, defense, senior; Henry Barnes, defense/midfield, junior; Oliver Payson, goalie, sophomore.
Key newcomers: Omar Daoudi, defense/midfield, senior; Parker Daily, defense, sophomore; Conor Maxwell, midfield, sophomore; Ian Henderson, defense, freshman; Sebastian Bertmann, midfield, sophomore.
Outlook: The defending D-I champs return five starters and 13 players overall, while welcoming several impactful newcomers. "Our strength will be our experience," said Lumumba, last year's large schools coach of the year. "It might take some time for everything to click, but the experience will be our strength this year, kids knowing what it takes to get us to finals or play at that level." Ali's move to forward last season was a "game-changer" for the Wolves, Lumumba said. Expect Ali, an all-state player, to fuel an attack that includes Adams, Schmidt and Watson. South Burlington's midfield will also be strong and Clifford returns to anchor a veteran back line with Gelfenbein. The arrival of Daoudi, who played for Essex as a freshman before two seasons at Barca Residency Academy in Arizona, is a major boost for the Wolves. "We are lucky to have him," Lumumba said of Daoudi. Lumumba said the team goal is to defend their title. "It's not an easy thing to do. But, for now, we are focused on one game at a time," the coach said.
Winooski High School
Coach: Brad Agoos (first season)
Last season: 15-2; defeated Rivendell in Division IV championship.
Key returnees: Abdoul Lailati, midfield, senior.
Emmanuel Omar, forward, senior; Ahmad Abdilah, goalie, senior; Hussein Abdulaziz, defense/midfield, senior; Nuru Mami, defense/midfield, senior.
Key newcomer: Too early to tell.
Outlook: After 11 seasons and the school's first boys soccer title, Stephen Feiss stepped down earlier this summer. Winooski, though, is in good hands with Agoos, a former professional player who has previous soccer ties to Vermont with coaching stops at Vermont Voltage, the former semiprofessional outfit, Norwich University and Burlington Football Club. "I saw the listing and took the opportunity," said Agoos, who lives in Williston. Agoos said he's impressed with this year's squad. About half of the team's 17 players are returnees. "It's a good group of players and they are responding well to a new system," Agoos said. "They are smart, really positive and open to new ideas. I've been really encouraged." Lailati, a Mountain Division all-league player, will likely park in a central midfielder's role for a Winooski side that did lose a core group of its championship team, all-state player Emmanuel Omar among them. Winooski's focus will be on structure and defense. "They have been really understanding and buying in," Agoos said. "It will be an interesting year. It sounds cliche, but we are going to get better every game."
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Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @aabrami5.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont high school boys soccer: Team outlooks for Chittenden County
