Because the 2025 highschool soccer season kicked off within the Bay State, there have been loads of questions. Would premier groups proceed their reign of success? Who may problem after a whirlwind of change?
And, in fact, which athletes would stand out?
Some issues went as deliberate, with Xaverian and Catholic Memorial opening with spectacular wins, regardless of nice competitors. For others, it was a troublesome re-entry into actuality. Some newcomers enter the fray as colleges to look at. This week, there are even higher video games to see, as squads look to go away their stamp on what is going to hopefully be a fall to recollect.
With out additional ado, right here’s the Herald’s Week 2 Candy 16:
1. Xaverian: There have been questions for the Hawks getting into Week 1’s bout with an thrilling Bishop Feehan staff. They’ve been answered with authority. Xaverian proved its value with a convincing 35-7 romp of the Catholic Central heavyweight, and maintains its high spot.
2. Catholic Memorial: A robust staff from New Jersey (St. Thomas Aquinas) proved no match for the Knights, as Kise Flannery fired 4 landing passes within the first half alone (whereas including 75 yards speeding) to information his group to a 35-7 rout. The college will stay on the street to start the season, touring to St. Francis (N.Y.) subsequent.
3. St. John’s Prep: For a second in Week 1, it appeared the Eagles would lose a heartbreaker. Not so quick. Led by a heroic efficiency from Jordan Toribio (24 carries for 185 yards to go together with two touchdowns and a game-winning two-point rush), they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat towards a vaunted Springfield Central squad. The Catholic Convention titan will look to hold that momentum right into a street sport towards Marshfield.
4. Leominster: Osiris Lopez erupted in his opening sport of the season towards St. John’s (Shrewsbury), ending with 4 complete touchdowns (three passing, one speeding). The Coastal Carolina commit confirmed everybody he’s the actual deal towards the Catholic Convention foe, and has the Blue Devils on an upward trajectory already on this younger season.
5. King Philip: After having fun with every week off to start the season, this perennial Hockomock League titan is ready to open play this Friday. Awaiting the Warriors? A really powerful problem with a rival, which simply so occurs to be the subsequent staff on our listing.
6. North Attleboro: The Rocketeers had been confronted with a troublesome Brockton squad on opening evening. But, they dispatched the Boxers with a commanding 42-7 victory, persevering with a development the reigning Div. 3 Tremendous Bowl champion began final fall. This week’s contest with King Philip will inform loads about the place they really stand.
7. Springfield Central: It’s arduous to climb the rankings with a loss. Nonetheless, the Golden Eagles proved they’ll cling with nearly anyone within the state throughout a formidable Week 1 efficiency, faltering within the ultimate seconds to St. John’s Prep. With touted standout Jareth Staine at quarterback and Isaiah Rogers within the backfield, this staff might be arduous to cease shifting ahead.
8. Wellesley: The Raiders had loads of roster turnover to start the 12 months, dropping a few of their high gamers. But, they merely turned the playbook over to Bobby Shanahan at quarterback, and stored issues establishment with a 34-0 blanking of Bay State Convention rival Framingham in Week 1. Will their success proceed? They tackle Andover this weekend.
9. Scituate: The Sailors parted methods with essential items from final 12 months’s good season, most notably wideout Lawson Foley (now at UMaine). Nonetheless, they nonetheless proved that they’ve offensive firepower throughout a memorable 33-29 victory over a Rhode Island powerhouse (Westerly) to kick begin their season. Up subsequent on the docket? A street conflict with arch nemesis Duxbury.
10. Mansfield: Due to some late heroics by kicker James Warren (a game-ending area objective as time expired), the Hornets pulled off a miraculous victory (24-21) towards a rising Bridgewater-Raynham squad. Now they may look to hold their momentum west, as they journey to the Nice Lakes for a match with a Michigan program (Bedford).
11. Duxbury: The Dragons may need simply gained one of the dramatic Week 1 video games seen shortly, knocking off Abington (52-44) in triple time beyond regulation. Now, they may host Scituate, the identical rival that defeated them within the Div. 4 Tremendous Bowl simply final December. Nice matchup. Anticipate a variety of followers heading to St. George’s Road on Friday evening.
12. Barnstable: Following a formidable 49-12 rout of Minnechaug final week, the Crimson Hawks have rightfully taken flight in our newest rankings. Springfield School commit Kyle Coffin (4 complete touchdowns) led the cost below heart, with weapons equivalent to Jason Dyer (18 rushes for 201 yards and a landing) offering a spark. The college will look to hold issues into this weekend, going through off with Brockton.
13. Methuen: As anticipated, the Rangers had been challenged of their opening sport towards a perennial contender in Marshfield. They handed the take a look at, knocking off the Rams in a tightly-contested 18-13 end. They are going to host a hungry North Andover squad Friday, with the Scarlet Knights hoping to punch again of their season opener. This might be a sport to look at.
14. Hudson: Following an ideal season in 2024, the Hawks rolled into 2025 with a 27-7 romp of a fairly robust Auburn squad. Can they hold their successful streak (now at 15 video games courting again to 2023) going? The staff faces off with Shrewsbury on Friday evening.
15. BC Excessive: The Eagles took a success final week, dropping for the primary time of their newfound rivalry with La Salle (R.I.), a 22-15 time beyond regulation defeat, following two straight victories lately. Paul Zukauskas’ squad will look to rebound this week throughout a tilt with a really powerful nonleague opponent in Central Catholic.
16. Shawsheen: Following one of many best seasons in program historical past (13-0), which concluded with a Div. 5 Tremendous Bowl title, the Rams started the 2025 season with an analogous begin by knocking off Bedford in a 20-13 win. They are going to host Lynnfield this week, hoping to spoil the Pioneers’ season opener.
On the sideline: Winchester, Milton, Uxbridge, West Boylston, Stoneham, Marshfield, Bishop Feehan, Weymouth, Plymouth South, Needham, Central Catholic.
