New England Soccer Journal’s The Goal

James Proctor, Director of Boys Soccer at Masters Academy International

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.
Topics
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

Takeaways From the ECNL Florida National Showcase

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

MIAA Season Recap

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

2025 NEPSAC Recap

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.
Topics
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

NEPSAC Tournament Preview

Matt Doherty, alongside Matt Langone and Mike Zhe, offers an in-depth preview of the NEPSAC boys and girls soccer tournaments. They discuss the upcoming matches and potential top teams, and they speculate on the brackets, with special attention to Class A and Class B. The episode also includes personal anecdotes on memorable soccer experiences and predictions for the soccer season ahead.
Topics
00:39 NEPSAC Boys and Girls Tournament Preview
01:50 Class A Girls Analysis
07:45 Class A Boys Analysis
18:48 Class B Girls Analysis
24:52 Class B Boys Analysis
26:26 Suffield's Playoff Prospects
26:56 ISL Teams Battle for Playoff Spots
27:26 Brooks and Vermont Academy's Strong Seasons
28:09 Teams Fighting for the Last Playoff Spots
30:39 The Excitement of NEPSAC Tournaments
34:18 Extra Time: Panelists' Soccer Experiences

MIAA Playoff Forecast

Patrick Donnelly and Matt Doherty delve into the MIAA soccer playoffs as the postseason approaches. They discuss the top contenders and potential upsets in each division for both boys and girls soccer. Patrick and Matt dive into specific teams and players to watch, highlight noteworthy games, and provide insights into the playoff picture in the five divisions. Additionally, producer Dave Yas challenges the hosts with a soccer history and rules quiz, adding an entertaining element to the discussion.
Topics
00:31 Excitement for the Upcoming Playoffs01:30 Division 1 Boys Soccer Preview02:44 Top Contenders in Division 104:27 Potential Upsets and Dark Horses10:13 Division 2 Boys Soccer Preview15:19 Division 2 Boys Soccer Preview19:46 Division 4 and Five 5 Soccer Preview23:21 Transition to Girls Soccer Discussion29:52 Underdogs to Watch in the Tournament31:11 Division 1 Insights and Predictions31:21 Division 2 Contenders and Dark Horses35:26 Division 3: The Most Exciting Division40:12 Division 4 and 5: Dynasties and Rising Stars42:47 Extra Time: Soccer Quiz Challenge

MIAA Mid-Season Check-In

Matt Langone is joined by Matt Doherty and Pat Donnelly to discuss the current high school soccer season, providing a mid-season check-in on MIAA boys' and girls' teams. The conversation covers early impressions, standout teams, and players, as well as the impact of the MIAA power rankings system. The hosts also share their bold predictions for the rest of the season. Additionally, the episode features a fun segment of 'Overrated or Underrated,' focusing on soccer traditions such as suits for managers, half-and-half scarves, and club mascots.
 
Topics
00:45 Weather Talk and Fall Vibes
02:28 High School Soccer Mid-Season Check-In
02:48 MIAA Boys Soccer Insights
04:21 MIAA Girls Soccer Insights
06:28 Power Rankings Discussion
11:27 Surprise Teams and Performances
16:54 High-Level Club Players in High School Soccer
20:21 Bold Predictions for the Season
20:32 Newton South's Impressive Comeback
21:40 Natick's Potential to Win Out
22:56 Underrated Teams to Watch
23:15 Disclaimer and Final Thoughts
24:16 Extra Time with Producer David Yaz
25:21 Overrated or Underrated: Soccer Traditions
35:11 Wrapping Up the Show

NEPSAC Soccer Midseason Report

Matt Doherty is joined by NEPSAC experts Matt Langone and Mike Zhe to discuss the state of high school soccer as of October 1st. They review surprising performances, key matchups, and standout players from September, and preview what to expect in October. The discussion covers both boys and girls teams, highlighting notable results, emerging contenders, and impactful players. The episode concludes with a light-hearted 'Overrated or Underrated' segment on various soccer-related topics.
 
Topics
00:28 Season Overview and Surprises
02:36 Albany Showcase Insights
03:50 Top Teams and Key Matches
06:33 Founders League Breakdown
14:01 ISL Teams to Watch
16:33 Standout Players in NEPSAC
18:26 Highlighting Top Young Talent
18:55 Standout Female Players
20:20 Addressing Reader Concerns
22:38 Extra Time: Overrated or Underrated
26:11 Flopping in Soccer: Crisis or Not?
29:29 The Impact of Tifo Displays
31:51 Wrapping Up and Looking Ahead

Nico Calabria of the National Amputee Soccer Team

Matt Langone and NESJ writer Matt Doherty interview Nico Calabria, the captain of the U.S. Men's National Amputee Soccer Team. Nico shares his journey growing up playing soccer on crutches, his rapid rise in amputee soccer, and his global experiences, including climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. They discuss the development and challenges of amputee soccer in the U.S., the growth of the sport, and upcoming competitions. The episode also includes a lively extra-time segment with soccer memories and favorite moments.
 
Topics
00:40 Meet Nico Calabria: Captain of the US Amputee Soccer Team
01:05 Nico's Early Soccer Journey
02:38 Challenges and Triumphs in High School Soccer
04:38 Understanding Amputee Soccer
06:20 Nico's Transition to Amputee Soccer
07:39 Pathway to the National Team
11:09 Building Amputee Soccer in the US
19:15 Climbing Mountains: Nico's Other Adventures
21:43 Future Vision for Amputee Soccer
24:57 Unexpected Moments in Soccer
25:10 Challenges and Aspirations of the Team
26:14 Extra Time with David Yaz
27:13 First Soccer Memories
30:34 Memorable Soccer Chants
32:35 Incredible Soccer Plays
36:50 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts

Prep Soccer Season Preview

Matt Doherty is joined by Matt Langone and Mike Zhe to discuss the upcoming prep soccer season. They delve into both boys' and girls' teams, offering insights on teams to watch, key players, and preseason predictions. They spotlight top contenders like Taft, Berkshire, BB&N, and Suffield while also discussing potential surprise teams. The panel also talks about dynamic matchups, standout players, and the intense nature of the three-game playoff format. Additionally, the hosts answer fun questions in the 'Extra Time' segment and debate the significance of stellar strikers versus goalies. The episode is a comprehensive primer for any soccer enthusiast gearing up for the New England prep soccer season.
 
Topics
00:49 Prep Soccer Season Preview: Girls' Teams to Watch
02:13 Top Contenders in Girls' Class A Soccer
07:53 Dark Horse Teams and Rising Stars in Girls' Soccer
09:51 Class B Girls' Soccer Powerhouses
10:58 Players to Watch This Fall
12:15 Surprise Teams and Season Dynamics
16:03 Upcoming Matches and Key Events
18:15 Boys' Soccer Season Preview: Top Teams and Players
21:44 Class B Contenders and Movements
23:35 Excitement of the Tournament
25:56 Preseason Storylines and Expectations
28:20 Extra Time: Fun and Games
36:38 Wrapping Up and Looking Forward