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.
Key Discussion Topics
1. The June 15th Recruiting Window Opens
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.
2. Exclusive: The New NEPSAC "Open Tournament"
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.
Notable Quotes
"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.https://youtu.be/XTx4n1PHuTw
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.
Topics00:47 Welcome to the Goal Podcast01:19 Interview with National Champion Coach Kyle Dezotell02:01 Reflecting on the Championship Season04:42 Building a Winning Team10:53 Recruitment Strategies and Player Development19:24 The Role of Multi-Sport Athletes21:46 Looking Ahead: Goals and Challenges28:26 Recruitment Plans and Future Prospects28:54 National Championship Reflections29:40 Extra Time with David Yas30:26 The Passion of Soccer Fans36:41 The Rise of Soccer in the U.S.42:48 Dream Goalkeepers for the World Cup47:14 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts

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

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.
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