New England Soccer Journal’s The Goal

In this episode, we delve into our newest Best of New England player rankings, exploring the criteria, standout players, and the evolving landscape of youth development. We ranked 150 players on the boys and girls sides, plus we created "watch list" players from the class of 2029.

Matt Doherty and Sam Robb O'Hagan explain how they arrived at these lists. 

In this episode, Matt Doherty welcomes his new co-host, New England Soccer Journal writer Sam Robb O'Hagan. The duo sits down for an early summer check-in to unpack the opening of the college recruiting window and break the news on a massive structural shift coming to the NEPSAC boys' soccer postseason.

Boys' Class of 2028 Insights: Sam shares his early takeaways from researching the local boys' talent pool. 

The High-Ed Trend (D1 vs. D3/NESCAC): The hosts debate why local boys' players are increasingly choosing high-academic Division 3 programs (like Tufts or Amherst) over mid-tier Division 1 schools due to the transfer portal and international roster squeeze.

The Girls' Talent Hotbed: Unlike the boys' side, where development timelines are more complex, local girls' commits are flying off the board to Power Four schools within the first 24 hours (including commits to Boston College and Utah). The hosts credit a highly consolidated ECNL/Girls Academy structure for better player continuity and visibility in New England.

Sam shares a major scoop regarding a postseason overhaul for NEPSAC boys' soccer starting this fall.

Why the Change? The NEPSAC aims for a 35% tournament representation threshold across sports. With only 32 teams making the postseason across four classes, soccer fell short, prompting a vote to add 8 more postseason spots.

The Tournament Format: Instead of introducing a fifth class, the NEPSAC is introducing an elite 8-team Open Tournament (similar to an "Elite Eight"). It will run as a single-elimination bracket alongside the existing class tournaments.

Selection Process: The field will be selected by a committee of coaches, aided by an RPI-style formula looking at strength of schedule. It is expected to heavily feature top Class A and a few Class B programs.

The Discourse: Matt and Sam debate the pros and cons—while it creates massive regular-season drama and an exciting playoff field, it could inadvertently dilute the prestige of the traditional Class A title.

"The soccer landscape in New England and just in general in the US at amateur levels is pretty freaking wild, as I've come to learn." – Sam Robb O'Hagan

"The quality of play of the NESCAC is at an all-time high... the biggest winners of what's going on at the D1 level are the D3s." – Matt Doherty

Host Matt Doherty welcomes Frank Dell’Apa (New England Soccer Journal/Boston Globe) to discuss the World Cup one month out, focusing on US expectations, injuries, and local ties. They say the US is highly talented but inconsistent under new coach Mauricio Pochettino, should advance from a group with Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey. Frank shifts his title favorites from Spain to France (seen up close in Foxborough) and Germany, flags Portugal and Norway as threats, and highlights Morocco’s depth; they discuss Italy missing another World Cup and compare Boston’s muted buzz to Philadelphia’s planning, preview Gillette games (Scotland-Haiti, France-Norway, England-Ghana), and in “Extra Time” cover Gillette’s pros/cons, vuvuzelas, and novelty merch.

Topics

01:18 USMNT Expectations and Group Outlook

03:11 Breakout Players and Goalkeeper Battle

06:01 Local Ties and Injury Concerns

07:38 Tournament Favorites France and Germany

10:13 Dark Horses Norway England Morocco

15:05 Boston Buzz and Foxborough Logistics

18:42 Must See Gillette Matches and Fanbases

22:11 Picking Extra Teams and Group of Death

23:45 Group of Death Breakdown

25:13 US Group Outlook

25:54 Bosnia Dark Horse Story

28:05 Italy Misses Again

30:17 Extra Time Kickoff

31:21 Gillette Matchday Pros Cons

35:49 Vuvuzelas and Crowd Noise

37:41 World Cup Merch Draft

40:54 Final Thanks and Wrap

Matt Doherty and Matt Langone discuss their “Best in New England” rankings for boys and girls in the classes of 2026 and 2027, explaining their evaluation process using in-person scouting, input from coaches, league honors, team success, and college commitments while acknowledging the difficulty of positional comparisons and “splitting hairs” within tiers. The hosts describe the 2026 boys list as MLS Next-heavy near the top and discuss balancing MLS Next, prep, and commitment context and explain why only 25 2027 boys were ranked due to slower recruiting. They call the 2027 girls class exceptionally deep, with many FC Stars commits, and discuss club and school representation across New England. In Extra Time, they answer questions about favorite New England soccer venues, unusual moments seen in games, and differences between men’s and women’s soccer and coaching approaches.

Topics

01:00 Podcast Intro and Rankings Recap

01:59 How the Rankings Were Built

03:56 2026 Boys Top Tier Breakdown

04:58 MLS Next vs Prep Weighting

08:29 Splitting Hairs and Tier Gaps

10:21 Positions and Goalkeeper Value

11:33 Owning Mistakes and Updates

17:10 2027 Boys List and Recruiting Trends

22:10 2027 Girls Loaded Class

25:51 New England Club Powerhouses

27:53 Girls Clubs and Commit Numbers

28:36 High Schools Producing Talent

30:49 Rankings Updates and Next Steps

31:32 Regional Gaps Beyond Mass and Conn

32:52 Extra Time Segment Begins

33:21 Best Soccer Venues in New England

36:42 Craziest Never Seen That Moment

40:01 Men vs Women Soccer Differences

43:32 Coaching Women vs Men

48:14 Wrap Up and July Tease

Matt Langone and Matt Doherty preview the boys club soccer spring season amid winter weather delays, focusing on MLS Next and ECNL boys postseason qualification for MLS Next Flex and the playoffs in a shortened calendar year. They discuss New England clubs in strong positions (IFA, Bolts, NEFC, Beachside) and highlight key players. The hosts note a surge in 2026 college commitments, a slow pace for 2027 commits, and how the transfer portal and potential Division 2 roster reductions impact recruiting, citing a UMass Boston coach prioritizing transfers. They mention upcoming events like Generation adidas Cup, Jefferson Cup and Florida showcases, including strong ECNL showings by FC Stars U-16 and AC Connecticut U-18/19. "Extra Time" debates player allegiance after transfers, memorable “loud silence” moments, and choosing Bruce Arena as a World Cup final coach.

Topics

01:50 Flex and Playoff Race

03:31 Top Prospects and IFA Rise

05:26 Commitments and Recruiting Trends

07:56 Transfer Portal Ripple Effect

10:53 Showcases and Key Events

12:48 ECNL Boys Florida Standouts

18:37 Next Wave of Talent

21:32 "Extra Time" Segment

23:42 Modern Fandom Debate

25:33 Fans Athletes Owe

27:10 Loudest Silence Moments

29:24 Tuck Rule Storytime

31:02 Pick World Cup Coach

33:53 Ted Lasso Wrap Up

Matt Langone and Matt Doherty welcome Tufts University men's soccer coach Kyle Dezotell. The coach shares his experience of winning the national championship and discusses the aftermath, the strength of NESCAC, and his vision for the future of the program. The conversation delves into how the team overcame challenges, built the championship roster, and maintained its competitive spirit. The podcast also explores broader themes in soccer, including the popularity of the sport in the U.S. and the significance of player attitudes and multi-sport athletes in building successful teams. In the "Extra Time" segment, the discussion includes philosophical insights into why people passionately support soccer clubs and a fun dive into the best goalkeepers in history.

Topics

Matt Langone and Matt Doherty welcome James Proctor, the director of boys soccer at Masters Academy International. The discussion centers around the launch of MAI, a soccer academy aiming to nurture student-athletes with a year-round program. Proctor shares insights on transitioning from Worcester Academy, the recruitment process, and the development of the program, including domestic and international travel plans. He also discusses the establishment of the coaching staff and how MAI will coexist with other New England prep schools. The episode concludes with Proctor's vision for an attacking and energetic soccer style at MAI.

00:36 Guest Introduction: James Proctor

01:10 Building Masters Academy International

02:51 Recruitment and Staffing

07:51 Program Structure and Schedule

10:17 Challenges and Excitement

12:31 League Participation and Competitions

18:20 Future Vision and Style of Play

19:21 Conclusion and Farewell

Matt Langone and Matt Doherty return to the studio after a holiday hiatus. They discuss Matt Doherty's recent trip to Florida for the ECNL Florida National Showcase, where he observed promising teams and standout players. The podcast delves into team performances, recruiting opportunities, and the strengths of various New England clubs, with a special focus on the 2010 age group. The hosts highlight key takeaways from the showcase, including the strong showing from Connecticut FC and the building excitement for the upcoming ECNL spring season. Additionally, the episode features a trivia segment on global soccer club names and concludes with light-hearted banter about the best meals in Florida.

Topics

00:41 Matt Doherty's Florida Trip Recap

01:39 ECNL Florida National Showcase Highlights

03:58 Standout Teams and Players

06:40 Recruiting Insights and Future Prospects

11:44 Connecticut FC and Select Club Analysis

13:22 Weather and Player Performance

14:53 College Coaches and Recruitment

16:18 Transfer Tracker and College Game Movement

16:39 Playoff Spots and League Emphasis

17:14 Key Matches and Team Aspirations

18:14 Food Adventures in Florida

19:46 Extra Time Trivia Challenge

27:11 Concluding Remarks and Farewell

Matt Langone and Matt Doherty provide an in-depth recap of the 2025 MIAA high school soccer season. The discussion covers key highlights from championship weekend, standout teams and players, and reflections on the season's surprises and anticipated outcomes. Additionally, the hosts offer early bold predictions for the 2026 season and engage in a light-hearted trivia segment on athletes with soccer connections.

Topics

00:34 Recap of Massachusetts High School Soccer Season

01:17 Championship Weekend Highlights

03:02 Surprising Results and Predictions

05:53 Reflections and Predictions Accuracy

09:40 Standout Players and Teams

14:55 State of Massachusetts High School Soccer

16:38 Spotlight on Girls' Soccer Teams

17:11 Natick's Impressive Run and Key Players

18:03 Medfield's Dominant Season

20:21 Other Notable Teams and Performances

21:03 Bold Predictions for Next Season

23:16 Extra Time: Sports Trivia

28:53 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts

Matt Doherty and Matt Langone discuss the conclusion of the 2025 scholastic soccer season, including key highlights from the NEPSAC boys and girls championships. The discussion covers the dominant performances of the Taft boys team and Mount St. Charles in Class B, key players and significant moments from the season. They also touch upon standout teams and upcoming predictions for the 2026 season. The episode concludes with a challenging soccer trivia segment, reflecting on various soccer-themed movies.

00:49 Recap of Scholastic and Prep Seasons

01:09 NEPSAC Boys Finals Highlights

02:05 Taft's Dominance in Class A

08:23 Nobles' Impressive Season

09:33 Surprises and Consistencies in Class A

12:22 Mount St. Charles' Remarkable Journey

15:30 NEPSAC Girls Champions

19:23 Challenges of NEPSAC Tournaments

22:24 2026 Preseason Predictions

23:25 Teams to Watch in Class B

24:10 ISL Teams on the Rise

24:47 Brewster's Soccer Journey

25:38 Season Recap and Future Coverage

26:18 Extra Time: Soccer Trivia

34:16 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts