The high school boys’ soccer season kicks on Tuesday, Sept. 2. Here are 20 players to watch from Eastern Mass. leagues.
David Alas, East Boston — Alas turned up the heat in the tournament, driving the Jets’ run to the Division 4 semifinals with the winning goal in consecutive games.
Nick Babanikas, Oliver Ames — The senior played his best in the Tigers’ run to a third straight Division 2 title with five goals and an assist in the tournament. He scored six times and supplied five assists in the regular season.
Ikaro Da Silva, Lowell — The goalie in charge of the Red Raiders’ elite defense, da Silva recorded 13 shutouts a season ago and named the Merrimack Valley Conference’s Goalkeeper of the Year.
Marcelo Diamantino, Barnstable — The reigning Cape & Islands MVP, Diamantino tallied a staggering 33 goals and 14 assists as a junior.
Caio Dos Santos, Dover-Sherborn — A returning All-Scholastic midfielder, Dos Santos helped pull the strings for the Raiders’ Division 3 title run last fall.
Mason Fasoli, Weymouth — In powering the Wildcats to the third seed in Division 1 last year, the Bay State All-Star logged 10 goals and six assists as a junior.
Oliver Helmling, Newton South — A returning Bay State Conference All-Star, Helmling is in charge of a Lions back line that produced one of the best defensive records in the state a season ago.
Garrison Murphy, St. John’s Prep — The senior talisman, bound for UMass next year, returns after missing the majority of last season through injury. He scored 14 goals in a full sophomore season in 2023.
Rocco Scenna, Lynnfield — One of the most creative midfielders in the state, Scenna is a returning Cape Ann All-Star who committed to Bowdoin over the summer.
Max Tillmann, Medfield — Still just a sophomore, Tillmann earned Tri-Valley All-Star honors as a freshman as the pace-setter in the Warriors’ midfield.
Other players to watch: Cooper Balfour (Sr. Concord-Carlisle), Avery Brodsky(Needham, Sr.), Colin Casperson (St. John’s High, Sr.), Marc Chedid (Lexington, Sr.), Spencer Coppola (Hingham, Sr.), Matt Droggitis (St. John’s Prep, Sr.), Zach Gilson (Oliver Ames, Sr.), Tate Laramee (Monomoy, Jr.), Brooks O’Brien (Duxbury, Sr.), Nick Stein (Hamilton-Wenham, Sr.)
Mike Puzzanghera can be reached at michael.puzzanghera@globe.com. Follow him on X @mpuzzanghera.