Vermont Varsity Insider: Week 1 high school boys soccer power rankings
South Burlington has been tested in each of its three games, and came away victorious in each one, to maintain its preseason pole position in the first Varsity Insider boys soccer power rankings of the 2023 regular season.
Did the rest of the top 10 change? Read on below to find out.
(Editor's note: Updated boys soccer power rankings will be published Wednesday mornings).
This week's rankings (through 9/12):
Enjoy!
1. South Burlington High School
Record: 3-0
Preseason ranking: 1.
▶ The defending Division I champion Wolves have three one-goal victories, including the 1-0 OT triumph over Burr and Burton won in the final seconds on Hammad Ali's long-distance effort.
More: Vermont H.S. sports scores for Tuesday, Sept. 12: See how your favorite team fared
2. Mount Mansfield Union High School
Record: 2-0-1
Preseason ranking: 3.
▶The winners of the 2023 Jay Brady Kickoff Classic have yet to yield a goal this season.
3. Burlington High School
Record: 1-0
Preseason ranking: 4.
▶Max Ladner (hat trick) and the Seahorses pumped in six first-half goals in their 7-0 win over Winooski last week. The teams square off again on Wednesday.
Preview coverage: Everything to know about the 2023 Chittenden County boys soccer teams
4. Champlain Valley Union High School
Record: 2-1
Preseason ranking: 5.
▶CVU carved out back-to-back shutout victories (over Essex and Mount Anthony) following a 2-0 setback to MMU in the opener.
5. Burr and Burton Academy
Record: 2-1-1
Preseason ranking: 6.
▶The Bulldogs have had an eventful start to 2023: Had a scoreless draw at U-32, lost in overtime at South Burlington, and then served up shutout wins over Colchester and Essex.
6. Colchester High School
Record: 1-1
Preseason ranking: 2.
▶The 2022 Division I finalists rebounded from a 3-0 loss to BBA with a 2-1 home triumph over Rutland on Tuesday.
Watchlist: The top returning Vermont high school boys soccer players in 2023
7. Montpelier High School
Record: 1-0
Preseason ranking: 7.
▶The Division II reigning champions opened their title defense with a 3-0 shutout at BFA-St. Albans on Tuesday.
8. Harwood Union High School
Record: 0-1-1
Preseason ranking: 8.
▶Harwood started 2023 with a pair of Metro foes, falling to South Burlington 2-1 and forging a scoreless draw on the road at MMU.
9. Stowe High School
Record: 3-0
Preseason ranking: 9.
▶Stowe has outscored opponents 12-3 in its three wins, all with starting goalie Brock Roick working his way back from injury.
10. Essex High School
Record: 1-2
Preseason ranking: 10.
▶After opening with a 3-0 win at North Country, Essex fell to rival CVU (2-0) and Burr and Burton (1-0).
ON THE BUBBLE
North Country, Mount Anthony, Peoples, Rice, St. Johnsbury, U-32.
GAMES TO WATCH
Winooski at Twinfield/Cabot, 4:30 p.m. Friday: An early season Mountain Division showdown.
Colchester at Mount Abraham, 4:30 p.m.: A rare matchup between these two programs.
Rice at Burlington, 10 a.m. Saturday: Rice gave South Burlington a tough challenge on Tuesday. Can the Green Knights do the same at Burlington?
Become a member of the Vermont Varsity Insider Facebook group at https://bit.ly/2GSfvX.
Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @aabrami5.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont H.S. boys soccer: Week 1 Varsity Insider power rankings
