Article Provided by: Top Draw Soccer
Article Written by: Sheldon ShealerThe fall season includes the following states: California (fall), Colorado, Connecticut, D.C., Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia (private), West Virginia, Wisconsin.
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1 St. Benedict's Prep Newark, NJTwo words come to mind when describing St. Benedict's in 2014: deep, talented. The squad returns seven starters from last year's 20-1 team, but it's the four transfers that add unrivaled quality to a star-studded lineup. St. Benedict's arrangement with PDA in the Development Academy allows for a number of PDA players to represent the high school team, which helps set St. Benedict's even further apart from other high school programs. This year's team features junior and former U.S. Soccer Youth National Team member Johnny Antunes, a midfielder who recently committed to Monmouth. Juan Parada, Anderson Asiedu, Victor Villagomez and Wilber Nunez are all starters with PDA in the DA. Newcomers include Jean Wisner Derival, a starter for the Haitian U17 National Team, and scored a goal against the U.S. in the last U17 World Cup, Cristian Martinez, who was in the U.S. Soccer Residency Program last school year, and Aurochit Patnaik, a member of the India's youth national team.
2 McDonogh School Owings Mills, MDLast year's Fall FAB 50 national champion saw George Campbell graduate to the University of Maryland and longtime head coach Steve Nichols accept a job as head coach at Loyola University (Maryland). However, the Eagles are still in good standing to make a run at No. 1. McDonogh returns eight starters from last year's 21-0-1 team, including Maryland commit Connor Smith, U.S. Youth National Team member Keegan Kelly and standout Michael DeShields, who scored a dramatic, last-second match-winning goal in last year's league championship match. Seven members of the Baltimore Celtic U16 club team that won the US Youth Soccer national title, will suit up for McDonogh this fall.
3 St. Ignatius Cleveland, OHSeventeen players return from last year's St. Ignatius team, including four NCAA Division I senior commits: Mikal Outcalt (Pittsburgh), Clark Gronek (George Mason), Bobby Barsic (Holy Cross) and David Sisson (Davidson). Junior Hunter Gordon was named to the US Youth Soccer Top 11 after helping the OP Eagles Green to a national runner-up performance during this summer's Under-16 national championships. During the regular season, St. Ignatius will face state-ranked St. Edward and make a first-ever visit to the Gateway City Soccer Classic, where it will take on one of the nation's top prep school programs in South Kent School (Conn.).
4 St. Anthony's Melville, NYSt. Anthony's returns seven started from last year's 22-1-1 team, including Boston University commit T.J. Butzke. Beau Hornberger, Jake Giuffrida, John Foley, Quentin Volpe, Ryan Healy and Costas Efstathiou are all being recruiting by college coaches. St. Anthony's figures to have a difficult test in repeating as league champion, as rival Chaminade is equally as solid this season.
5 Avon Avon, INAvon is the highest ranked public school to start the season, checking in at No. 5. Avon returns seven starters last year, which includes the early candidate for state player of the year in Indiana University commit Jordan Kleyn. Kleyn had 25 goals and 20 assists last season. Other key returners include senior defender Bryce Cirbo and junior midfielders Logan Hatter and Tyler Shanahan.
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