The soccer season has officially passed the halfway point in Palm Beach County, and as we exit the winter break, the field – pun intended – is starting to take shape.

The Palm Beach Post takes a look at which programs and players have impressed, as well as which remaining games are must-watch contests in advance of the postseason in our 2023-24 midseason soccer special.

Teams that have impressed

Benjamin girls 

The Bucs have started off the season with an undefeated 8-0 record, averaging four goals per game while allowing just a total of three goals all season. Benjamin’s season highlight thus far has been an impressive 1-0 victory over previously-undefeated North Broward Prep. Taking a look at the schedule ahead, it’s not a longshot to suggest this team could end undefeated.

Palm Beach Central boys

The Broncos carry an undefeated 5-0-3 record into the final week before the break, and while they’ve displayed some high-quality play on the pitch in games that have seen them end in the win column, ties against teams like Royal Palm Beach and John I. Leonard have provided soccer fans with some spectacularly tense matchups between great programs.

Olympic Heights girls 

The Lions have started the season on fire, winning all but one game to bring their season record to 16-1 amid a grueling schedule with the sheer volume of competition. Heights has dealt with injuries during a season in which they’re fielding a much younger squad than last year – but so far, so good. Their current 10-game win streak is a head-turner.

Royal Palm Beach boys

The Wildcats have already scored 50 goals across an 11-1-1 season, giving up just one goal, on average, per game. Their top win has come against Wellington, but ironically, their two most impressive showings may have come in a tie against undefeated Palm Beach Central and a 2-1 loss to Boca Raton, both of which field incredible rosters.

American Heritage girls

The Stallions are undefeated, sitting comfortably at 6-0-2 and having allowed just three total goals across eight games played. A near-flawless defensive season highlights Heritage's season thus far, which has seen impressive victories over the likes of Boca Raton and Vero Beach.

Boca Raton boys

If Boca has any weaknesses, opposing teams have been hard-pressed to find them. Apart from a lone scoreless tie against Coral Glades, the Bobcats are suffocating opponents, having allowed more than one goal only once in a 4-2 win over Spanish River. Most of Boca’s toughest opponents are behind them on the schedule, leaving little doubt that an undefeated season could be on tap.

Boca Raton girls

The 9-2-1 Bobcats girls squad has gotten off to a roaring start. Despite giving up two goals against West Boca, a formidable opponent, Boca has given up just six goals all season long. The Bobcats’ lone losses against the Heritage schools don’t diminish the success that Boca has had thus far – they remain a threat to be reckoned with on the pitch.

Looking back at our soccer preview: Top local teams and games to watch heading into regular season

Players that have impressed

Lily White, Benjamin girls

White scored the solo goal in the Bucs’ victory over North Broward Prep, demonstrating her propensity for big moments in big games. She leads Benjamin with 17 goals so far, as the senior is scoring at a clip of more than two goals per game.

Christian Gonzalez, Boca Raton boys

It’s difficult to pinpoint any one particular star on Boca’s roster – but if we’re tasked with selecting one, Gonzalez is leading the way with a team-high 24 points, and is a big reason why the Bobcats remain undefeated.

Sarah Coelho, Boca girls

Coelho has tallied a team-leading 13 goals this season, accounting for nearly one third of the offensive production for Boca. Having added six assists, Coelo has proven why she is the primary threat in attack for the Bobcats.

Boca girls soccer coverage: High school soccer: Boca, West Boca girls brave the elements in tight rivalry affair

Danny Rodriguez, Royal Palm Beach boys

Roddriguez is leading the way for an impressive Wildcats squad, having scored a team-high 15 goals, representing nearly one third of the times Royal Palm has put the ball in the opposing net. He’s doing it against tough defenses, too.

Sofia Averalo, Olympic Heights girls 

Olympic Heights is scoring just as fast as they can in the county’s busiest team schedule. Having played in all but two contests, the senior has already scored 21 goals and added 18 assists, both team highs.

Zack Schneider, American Heritage-Delray

Schneider might lack the raw stats that other members of this list have – and his team’s win percentage might be a tough lower, but the senior has scored six goals in just four games played. His 12 points are a team-high and the Stallions’ schedule can’t get much tougher.

Amia Ocanas, Glades Day girls

Ocanas is leading the way for the Gators as a freshman, having scored 11 goals, which is over forty percent of Glades Day’s scoring. Her 23 points are also a team-high and it isn’t all that close. Hard to imagine there’s so much room to grow for a freshman putting up numbers like this.

Isabella Larriu, American Heritage

Larriu boasts a team-high 13 points on a team-leading six goals for the Stallions, a huge reason why Heritage is undefeated as they enter the final stretch of the regular season. Larriu's senior leadership has the Stallions flirting with an undefeated season.

Games to watch

Jan. 11: Boca @ Wellington girls, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 16: Palm Beach Central vs. Park Vista boys, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 16: Benjamin @ Jupiter boys, 6 p.m.

Jan. 18: American Heritage vs. Oxbridge Academy boys, 7 p.m.

Jan. 19: Olympic Heights vs. John I. Leonard girls, 6 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County soccer: Impressive teams, noteworthy players