The Rhode Island boys high school soccer season is just days away. Here's who to keep an eye on this fall.
A rivalry grudge match, the completion of an upset run by a middle seed and a coronation marked the final boys soccer weekend of 2024.
Bishop Hendricken outlasted La Salle in Division I, Shea took advantage of what became an open Division II field and Scituate completed an unbeaten stroll through Division III while lifting trophies at Rhode Island College.
The Hawks lost a late two-goal lead before outlasting the Rams on penalty kicks, their first title since the late 1990s. The Raiders were slotted at No. 5 in the bracket and steamed through four playoff matches by a count of 13-1, including a closing victory over Lincoln. The Spartans scored 20 times in three games while ending a season-long quest to make it two championships in three years.
Who will emerge this fall? Mt. Hope’s upset defeat as the top seed in the Division II quarterfinals reminds us that anything can happen in sports. The Huskies could soothe any lingering ill feelings by dominating the opposition all the way to the finish line.
Let’s take a quick look at each division and some players to watch in the coming weeks and months.
Division I
Bishop Hendricken and La Salle were the top two teams in the regular season last year and wound up reaching the final. The Hawks flew past Cumberland in an impressive semifinal display while the Rams needed extra time to outlast perennial contender North Kingstown.
Moses Brown, Portsmouth and South Kingstown all finished above .500 — that’s a strong middle of the division, and any of those three teams could challenge for the top in a given year. Barrington, Cranston West, Central Falls, Tolman and North Smithfield rounded out the 12-team playoff field.
Brent Karpowich is among the key departures for Bishop Hendricken, the state Gatorade Player of the Year in 2024. Strike partner Jack Mefford and midfielder Tristan Boyns figure to be among the keys to the Hawks sustaining what was a powerful attack. Kairi Costa, Kieran McGlynn and goalkeeper Jake Raymond are among the projected returning starters who will help La Salle attempt to extend a title streak in odd-numbered years that began in 2011.
Alex Holland, Dylan Armstrong and Jack Kirkman give the Quakers a strong talent base after graduating some key contributors. Jack Casey is a returning All-Division pick with the Patriots and Cole McCall should step into a lead playmaker role with the Rebels.
Division II
Shea could offer some thanks to a Pawtucket rival for an assist on its way to a league title last fall.
The Raiders took care of Chariho in their quarterfinal and had an unexpected meeting with St. Raphael next. The Saints outlasted Mt. Hope in the same round on penalty kicks, upsetting the No. 1 seed in the field. Shea avoided the same fate by taking care of St. Raphael and blanking the Lions, 1-0.
East Greenwich, Chariho, North Providence and Smithfield were familiar programs in the top half of the table. The Avengers return senior attacking midfielder Wyatt Gelzhiser, who could emerge as the best individual player in the division. Adrian Diaz could have something to say about that as well after hitting for double-digit goals and assists with the Saints in a breakout sophomore season.
Division III
Scituate could have excelled at a higher level last season. The Spartans made light work of Division III while coasting to a title thanks to Austin Simas driving the action from the midfield. A host of talented teammates played their roles to perfection while surrounding the graduated All-Stater.
Is the door now open for another program to take the top spot? Johnston was a surprise runner-up after taking out Davies and Woonsocket in the playoffs. Blackstone Valley Prep, Middletown, Exeter-West Greenwich, Burrillville and Ponaganset all finished above .500 while pushing into the top half.
St. Raphael (2022-23) and Davies (2015-16) have both gone back-to-back in this division over the last decade. Classical is the only other team to win consecutive titles in this league in the 2000s, prevailing in 2010 and 2011.
Boys soccer players to watch this fall
Jack Mefford, Bishop Hendricken
Senior, forward
Mefford impressed last season, bagging goals by the handful while fronting the state’s most dangerous attack. The Hawks will need him to produce again if they hope to make it two straight titles.
Tristan Boyns, Bishop Hendricken
Senior, midfield
Any team with an attacking philosophy needs to know it must be solid in the middle and at the back. Boyns should continue in his role of helping the Hawks maintain possession and pick their way through opposing midfields.
Kairi Costa, La Salle
Senior, midfield
Costa is an experienced performer for the Rams and he's been on the pitch in each of their last two trips to the Division I final. It’s his turn to take on a starring role and drive La Salle back toward the top.
Jake Raymond, La Salle
Senior, goalkeeper
Raymond was one of the state’s premier performers between the posts last year. Expect that to continue. The Rams generally don’t need a key save all that often, but it will be his job to produce one when necessary.
Donovan Calle, Cumberland
Senior, midfield
The Clippers graduated all but one of their All-Division selections from last year’s semifinalists — Calle is the last man standing. How effectively Cumberland reloads could be up to the leadership of the veteran midfielder.
Ethan Ford, North Kingstown
Senior, goalkeeper
Ford was just a baby-faced freshman when he helped stop Bishop Hendricken on penalty kicks in the 2022 semifinals. Now he enters a fourth year as a starter in net with the Skippers and has grown into one of the state’s top goalkeepers.
Ryan Kanaczet, North Kingstown
Senior, midfield
Kanaczet is the son of a coach, and that tactical awareness comes through in the way he helps control the midfield for the Skippers. North Kingstown should be back among the Division I title contenders partly thanks to this veteran.
Alex Holland, Moses Brown
Junior, midfield
The Quakers have established themselves as a solid Division I program after running through Division II late in the 2010s. Holland should help lead them in a push to remain at least in the top half of the standings.
Jack Casey, Portsmouth
Senior, midfield
You can always count on the Patriots to produce an elite player or two. Casey could be that star this season, a multi-sport athlete who puts his physical gifts to use in the midfield.
Cole McCall, South Kingstown
Junior, midfield/forward
The top returning assist man for the Rebels this season? That would be McCall, who started to become an offensive factor as a sophomore. Look for him to grow into a larger attacking role in 2025.
Cristiano Rodrigues, North Smithfield
Senior, forward
The Northmen have featured some elite strikers in recent seasons and Rodrigues is the latest. He was a breakout star as a junior and should be the top priority for any opposing defense every time he steps foot on the pitch.
Jack Payne, Cranston West
Junior, goalkeeper
Payne won the job between the posts with the Falcons last fall and made it his own. Cranston West could climb the Division I table if he maintains that form into this season.
Diego Gonzalez, Mt. Hope
Senior, forward
Gonzalez should front the attack for the Huskies, who were the top Division II team in the standings over the last regular season. The next two months will be about building toward what they hope will be a different conclusion in November.
Adrian Diaz, St. Raphael
Junior, forward
Diaz broke out as a sophomore, posting double digits in both goals and assists for a team that reached the Division II semifinals. Similar improvement as a junior could make him one of the league’s best attackers.
Wyatt Gelzhiser, East Greenwich
Senior, midfield
The Avengers have finished above .500 in all but one of the last seven seasons and captured a Division II crown in 2020. Expect more success this fall behind Gelzhiser, a strong, technical factor in the attacking midfield.
Ethan McCann, Chariho
Senior, defender
The answer to how the Chargers move forward without a host of graduated attackers could be found at the back. McCann is a returning All-Division selection who could feature in defense and the deep midfield.
Bryant Amaral, Scituate
Senior, goalkeeper
Amaral could have a little more work to do this fall after graduation hit parts of the lineup fronting him in the field. That’s just extra opportunity for the veteran to flash his skillset and help the Spartans defend their Division III crown.
On X: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: The top RIIL boys soccer teams and players to watch in fall of 2025
Category: General Sports
