5A, 4A SIC boys soccer preview: The favorites, top contenders and sleepers this fall
The Treasure Valley once again proved itself as the epicenter of Idaho high school boys soccer last fall, bringing home the first- and second-place trophies from both the 5A and 4A state tournaments.
State returns to the Boise metro area in October, and the home region remains loaded with top-level talent and potential juggernauts looking to capture more hardware.
We broke down all 20 teams in the region’s top two leagues to see who are the teams to beat, who are the potential contenders and who looms as dark horses.
5A SIC
1. BOISE
Last season: 17-2-3, 11-0-1 5A SIC
Coach: Mike Darrow, 23rd season
Players to watch: Daniel Hirai, sr., M; Tucker Smith, jr., D; Baraka Dayi, jr., F; Eli Brockl, sr., GK
Outlook: The Brave fell to Timberline in last year’s state championship game. But Boise enters the year as the narrow favorite thanks to two returning first-team all-state selections and an explosive offensive third. Hirai (20 goals, 11 assists) returns for his senior year after leading the 5A SIC in scoring. The dynamic midfielder, who can create and finish goals, will pair with Dayi (six goals, eight assists), a threat going forward or with his back to goal. The duo will rely on Smith to anchor the defense and Brockl (0.60 goals against average) to deny the limited chances he’ll face. But with only five returning starters, Boise will need several role players to step up into key positions to knock off Timberline.
2. TIMBERLINE
Last season: 20-0-2, 11-0-1 5A SIC
Coach: Adrian Kane, third season
Players to watch: Quintin Boggs, sr., M; Zach Taylor, jr., M/F; Jeremiah Moreno, sr., F; Kyle Atkinson, sr., D
Outlook: Coming off an unbeaten season, back-to-back state titles and a district championship, the Wolves return loaded. Only five starters are back, and Timberline lost all-class Gatorade Player of the Year Kai Hatten to graduation — but they still field a litany of offensive weapons. Boggs (one goal, 10 assists), a first-team all-state midfielder, has a pair of returning double-digit goal scorers to look for in Taylor (14 goals, five assists) and Moreno (11 goals, two assists). Timberline also brings back both of its center backs, Atkinson and Cole Stoddard, from a suffocating defense that gave up only 12 goals in 22 games last fall.
3. ROCKY MOUNTAIN
Last season: 10-6-1, 9-3-0 5A SIC
Coach: Bill Taylor, seventh season
Players to watch: Tommy Hammons, sr., D; Myles Cromar, sr., GK; Rylan McPhearson, jr., M
Outlook: A young Grizzlies team started 8-0-1 last fall before losing six of its final eight games, including a state play-in game. But with eight returning starters, the Grizzlies look to capitalize on all those hard-earned lessons and make some noise. Hammons returns to lead the defense as a second-team all-state center back and captain. McPhearson (seven goals) headlines a strong midfield as a dangerous and creative force that is still only a junior. But Rocky Mountain will need to find new strikers after graduating the top two options.
4. MOUNTAIN VIEW
Last season: 12-8-0, 7-5-0 5A SIC
Coach: Steven Brent, eighth season
Players to watch: Zach Brown, sr., D; Ryan Fugal, jr., D/F; Comac Murray, sr., M
Outlook: The Mavericks fell a play-in game victory shy of making the state tournament last year. They return eight starters looking to get back to state for the first time since 2019. Charlie Leeds (19 goals) graduated, leaving a production hole at the top of the formation. But Fugal, a three-year starter, can change the game offensively and defensively, and Brent said his young group grew by leaps and bounds in the offseason.
5. EAGLE
Last season: 12-8-1, 7-4-1 5A SIC
Coach: Chris Siegenthaler, third season
Players to watch: Ethan Juarez, sr., M; Ashton Smith, sr., D; Juan Carrillo, so., F
Outlook: The Mustangs lost 13 seniors after qualifying for state. Eagle brings back six starters, and Siegenthaler said this year’s Mustangs might be even deeper than last year’s. Juarez (eight goals, eight assists) leads a loaded midfield as a lethal distributor and weapon from long range. His vision and Smith’s speed to join the attack as an outside back ought to make Eagle a more consistent threat offensively. If not, they can turn to Carrillo, a new front-line weapon who joined the team from Colombia.
6. BORAH
Last season: 12-7-2, 7-4-1 5A SIC
Coach: Brian Shields, first season
Players to watch: Rayle Juarez, jr., F; Christian Griffith, so., GK; Magnus Bell, jr., D; Isaac Alford, so., D
Outlook: The reigning district runner-up starts the season looking for a new source of goals after Carter Griffith, a first-team all-state forward, and Thamini Echasa graduated. The two combined for 31 of Borah’s 54 goals last season. But the Lions will remain stout defensively with Christian Griffith back in net and Alford leading the defense. Both took the league by storm as freshmen last fall, and the sky is the limit.
7. CENTENNIAL
Last season: 8-8-1, 6-6-0 5A SIC
Coach: Kevin Mayhugh, second season
Players to watch: Austin Carmack, sr., F
Outlook: Carmack returns as the Patriots’ leading scorer (10 goals, five assists) and senior captain. But familiar names remain in short supply after him with just four returning starters. Mayhugh said Centennial will have a young but deadly attack with plenty of club players. But the Patriots must replace their entire back line and both of their co-starting goalkeepers. Expect growing pains early in the season before Centennial tries to mount a late run.
8. OWYHEE
Last season: 8-9-0, 6-6-0 5A SIC
Coach: Austin Rogerson, third season
Players to watch: Nathan Gamette, sr., F; Jordan Shupe, so., M; Owen Selby, jr., M; Marcus Nicholls, sr., D
Outlook: The Storm took a leap forward last fall, going from one win in their inaugural season to eight in Year 2. Eight starters return looking to continue that upward trend and put Owyhee in contention for its first state tournament berth. Gamette (four goals, five assists) and Selby (five goals) provide a pair of familiar goal scorers, and Shupe keeps everything running from the midfield. But no one knows what it takes to climb the mountain until they’ve done it.
9. CAPITAL
Last season: 4-9-1, 4-8-0 5A SIC
Coach: Alex Erazo, third season
Players to watch: Eire McCabe, sr., M; Angel Ayala-Mejia, jr., M; Canyon Buschbacher, sr., D;
Outlook: The Eagles missed out on the district tournament last fall, but with five returning starters, they’ve set their sights on making it back to the eight-team field. Buschbacher leads the group as a three-year starter who brings discipline and leadership to the back line. McCabe and Ayala-Mejia form a solid midfield to build around. But youth remains at many key positions.
T-10. KUNA
Last season: 4-9-2, 3-8-1 5A SIC
Coach: Leroy Neal, first season
Players to watch: Zane Severe, sr., M; Christian Logan, jr., M; Jose Rangel, jr., W/F; Sawyer Lee, jr., D
Outlook: The Kavemen doubled their win total a year ago despite having little time together before Neal’s first season. Graduation losses left Kuna with just four returning starters, but after a full offseason together, the Kavemen have better chemistry as they eye another move up the standings. Severe stands as the nonstop engine in midfield, and Rangel provides dangerous pace on the wings. Depth remains limited because of low turnout.
T-10. MERIDIAN
Last season: 1-13-1, 1-11-0 5A SIC
Coach: Ryan Finney, third season
Players to watch: Nate Lynch, so., W; Tanner Hislop, so., M; Davido Okito, sr., F; Isaac Jorgensen, sr., D
Outlook: The Warriors haven’t won three or more games since 2015. But they are already 3-0-0 with 10 returning starters, including a pair of second-team all-conference picks. Okito (seven goals) is one of those all-conference honorees, and he returns alongside Lynch and Hislop as Meridian’s attacking trio returns intact. But varsity experience and depth still remains in short supply, leaving the Warriors with a tall mountain to climb.
12. MIDDLETON
Last season: 2-12-1, 2-9-1 5A SIC
Coach: Ben McCallister, first season
Players to watch: Garrett Nye, sr., M; Tyler Robinson, jr., F; Evan Sumsion, jr., D; Dawson Vidrio, so., F
Outlook: The Vikings received a rude welcome to 5A last fall. Then they graduated 10 players and replaced their entire coaching staff. McCallister inherits a squad full of young and unproven players, but he said the Vikings have shown they are hungry and anxious to prove themselves in the state’s toughest league. Vidrio (four goals) and Robinson (two goals) are two of the limited group of returning players, but both provide a creative goal-scoring option up top.
13. NAMPA
Last season: 1-14-0, 1-11-0 5A SIC
Coach: Clifton Thomas, first season
Outlook: The Bulldogs did not respond to the Statesman’s preseason survey.
4A SIC
1. CALDWELL
Last season: 19-0-2, 11-0-1 4A SIC
Coach: Rhys Yeakley, 11th season
Players to watch: Fabian Arguello, jr., M; David Galvan, sr., W; Jose Escutia, sr., D; Xavier Cuevas, sr., D
Outlook: The Cougars didn’t just sweep the conference, district and state titles last fall. They put together a season for the ages, going undefeated, never trailing and outscoring opponents 97-9. Graduation cost Caldwell what amounts to an all-star team and there are only four returning starters, but the Cougars still have plenty of weapons to build around. Arguello scored 15 goals last year before moving into a defensive role and making the all-state second team. He returns to a more creative role in the midfield because the defense remains stout, with Escutia, a first-team all-state pick, and Cuevas providing veteran hands on the back line. Caldwell will need to find a new source of goals after graduating two players who accounted for 48 goals. But the perennial power remains the team to beat until someone knocks them off.
2. BISHOP KELLY
Last season: 12-5-5, 7-2-3 4A SIC
Coach: Eneko Bereziartua, second season
Players to watch: Allan Huerta, sr., M; Andrew Nguyen, sr., W/F; Elijah Klaas, sr., D; Justin McGrew, jr., GK
Outlook: The Knights made an underdog run as the No. 8 seed at state last season, falling in penalty kicks to Caldwell in the state championship game. But Bishop Kelly returns eight starters looking to become the favorite this year. That wealth of talent includes the Knights’ entire starting back line and McGrew (0.68 goals against), a three-year starter in net. Bishop Kelly will need to create goals more consistently to climb back to the top. But Huerta and Nguyen (11 goals, nine assists) provide the Knights with two all-state selections to build around.
3. VALLIVUE
Last season: 12-7-2, 7-3-2 4A SIC
Coach: Christian Adamson, seventh season
Players to watch: Reese Hyer, sr., M; Elijah Grimaldo, so., M; Leopoldo Ayala, so., D
Outlook: The Falcons fell a penalty kick shootout shy of making it to state last fall. But they return five starters, including Ayala, who proved to be a revelation as a first-team all-conference freshman center back. Graduation robbed Vallivue of its top two scorers and left it with five just returning starters. Adamson said the team will need to find the cohesion to replace all that production. But Hyer (seven goals, two assists) steps up into a featured role, and Vallivue ought to remain dangerous on set pieces.
4. SKYVIEW
Last season: 4-10-1, 4-7-1 4A SIC
Coach: Manny Reynoso, sixth season
Players to watch: Alec Bingham, sr., D; Noah Grimm, sr., D; Rigo Rojas, sr., F
Outlook: The Hawks enter a rebuilding season with just two returning starters. Julian Correa stands as the biggest loss after making the all-state second team as a goalkeeper. But Bingham and Grimm provide a pair of steady hands on defense to help Skyview make the transition to a new keeper. Reynoso said the Hawks have impressed him with their teamwork thus far, but youth remains the theme up and down the roster.
5. RIDGEVUE
Last season: 9-9-1, 6-5-1 4A SIC
Coach: Rene Gutierrez, second season
Players to watch: Angel Escutia, so., M; Darey Negrete, so., M; Gerardo Rodriguez Jr., sr., GK
Outlook: The Warhawks’ youth movement continues with just three returning starters. But Escutia and Negrete proved themselves as explosive midfielders as freshmen last fall, and they remain the key to Ridgevue’s success. The Warhawks must replace their top two strikers, but Rodriguez provides a security blanket in goal after second-team all-conference honors last season.
6. COLUMBIA
Last season: 3-15-0, 3-9-0 4A SIC
Coach: Juan David Duran-Arredondo, second season
Players to watch: Jaime Gaona, jr., M/F; Diego Arredondo, so., GK; Lorenzo Padilla, jr., D
Outlook: Gaona headlines the Wildcats as a two-time, second-team all-conference striker and one of the league’s most dangerous players. But after graduating 10 seniors, he’ll have little varsity experience around him with just three returning starters. Duran-Arredondo said Columbia should still remain dangerous going forward by mixing in new faces around Gaona. But an entirely new midfield remains a work in progress.
7. EMMETT
Last season: 0-14-0, 0-12-0 4A SIC
Coach: Carlos Alvarado, first season
Players to watch: Gavin Brown, sr., M; Steven Dubowsky, sr., M; Raily Napoles, sr., M/F
Outlook: Alvarado inherits a team that has lost every game the past two seasons. He starts the season with nine returning starters as the Huskies try to bounce back into contention. He said Emmett showed more discipline and chemistry in preseason workouts. But the Huskies are still looking for a way to score after burying only seven goals last season.
This story was originally published August 24, 2023 at 5:54 PM.
