The 2025-26 boys soccer season is in the books, and it’s time to unveil the All-Area teams.
Just like on the girls side, New Smyrna Beach was the last team remaining in the postseason with an appearance in the Class 5A regional semifinals. But there was variety of the trophy winners this season.
Spruce Creek was the Five Star Conference champion, and Seabreeze took the District 6-5A crown. Both won their respective titles over New Smyrna Beach.
Still, the Barracudas were the winningest program in the area with a 16-4-2 record.
Without further ado, here are the Volusia-Flagler All-Area teams.
First Team
Evan Achterberg, GK, New Smyrna Beach: Achterberg had 114 saves for the Barracudas, including six consecutive clean sheets at one point in the season. Achterberg and New Smyrna Beach allowed only 17 goals in 22 matches.
Declan Botting, D, New Smyrna Beach: Botting had one goal and seven assists as a wingback for the ‘Cudas.
Gabe Glatt, D, New Smyrna Beach: Glatt was arguably the best center back in the Volusia-Flagler area, but he was also an offensive weapon for the Barracudas. He scored 11 goals, including four game winners.
Maksym Zherukha, D, Spruce Creek: Zherukha was Spruce Creek’s captain and centerback that led the Hawks to their best season since 2021. He had one goal and tied for the team lead with five assists.
Rami Amiri, M, Flagler Palm Coast: Amiri scored 18 goals for a Flagler Palm Coast team that finished 12-8-1.
Jonathan Costa, M, Matanzas: Costa led Matanzas with 15 goals and also registered seven assists. The Pirates voted him as their team MVP.
Luke Harrell, M, Seabreeze: Harrell led Seabreeze to a district championship with an impressive 15 goals and 17 assists.
Tanner, McClelland, M, Spruce Creek: McClelland had eight goals and three assists for Spruce Creek out of the midfield. His efforts helped the Hawks win the Five Star Conference trophy.
Nico Segovia, M, New Smyrna Beach: Segovia led New Smyrna Beach’s midfield with eight goals and 13 assists.
Emmanuel Benitez, F, Taylor: Benitez recorded 13 goals and three assists early in the season for a Taylor squad that finished 10-9.
Samer Ponce, F, DeLand: Ponce had 13 goals and four assists playing every game for the Bulldogs.
Erlin Yahir-Avila, F, Atlantic: Yahir-Avila led Atlantic with 14 goals, including a six-goal game against Eustis.
Second Team
Teagan Paulo, GK, Flagler Palm Coast: Paulo recorded 100 saves in 20 games.
Holden Brown, D, DeLand: Brown was a primary defender for a Bulldogs squad that allowed 28 goals in 18 matches. His efforts helped DeLand hold opponents under two goals eight times, including four shutouts.
Rance Morgan, D, New Smyrna Beach: Morgan added to Glatt’s offensive efforts from the back line, scoring nine goals for the Barracudas.
Spencer Zogg, D, Flagler Palm Coast: Zogg manned the Bulldogs’ back line for a squad that allowed fewer than 1.5 goals per game.
Matthew Ciminera, M, Matanzas: Ciminera had seven goals and nine assists for Matanzas this season.
Trent Golden, M, New Smyrna Beach: Golden had 11 goals and seven assists to tie Segovia for NSB’s team lead of 29 points.
Leo Mazzola, M, DeLand: Mazzola scored 11 goals and six assists in just 11 games. He joined the team after DeLand’s eighth game of the season.
Eli Remsburg, M, Atlantic: Remsburg was the Sharks’ primary facilitator with 10 assists. He also scored four goals and was a pesky defender with 55 steals.
Jack Runnoe, M, Flagler Palm Coast: Runnoe had seven goals and three assists for the Bulldogs.
RJ Cerasi, F, Matanzas: Cerasi tied for the Pirates’ second-leading scorer with nine goals. He also recorded seven assists.
Daneel Martinez Pulido, F, University: Martinez Pulido scored 11 goals for University.
Christian Sweeney, F, Spruce Creek: Sweeney scored 12 goals and had five assists for Spruce Creek, leading it to a 14-9-3 record.
Honorable Mention
DeLand: Braden English, Kelvin Saucedo, Colin Tooley
Deltona: Anthony Lizarazo
Father Lopez: Alessandro Coblentz, Sutton Greathouse
Flagler Palm Coast: Dylan Hardesty, River Rodriguez, Garrett Tucker
Mainland: Diego Cruz
Matanzas: Jose Cortes, Jackson Grace, Sergio Posada
New Smyrna Beach: Elliott McCartha
Seabreeze: Owen Applegarth, Chandler Klepper, Sebastian Mendoza
Spruce Creek: Leonardo Bianchi, Asher Sjoblom, Thomas Wylie
Taylor: Alejandro Caro, Evan Hernandez
University: Liam LaCorte
Coach of the Year
Brandon Cisneros, New Smyrna Beach: New Smyrna Beach was at the top of the Volusia-Flagler area boys soccer hierarchy once again. The Barracudas, led by Cisneros, were the winningest local team with 16 wins, four losses and two ties. New Smyrna Beach was the last local program remaining in the postseason with an appearance in the Class 5A regional semifinals. The Barracudas also appeared in the Five Star Conference and district finals. Although they were upset in both games, New Smyrna Beach was the most consistent contender in local and postseason competitions under Cisneros’ leadership.
Player of the Year
Luke Harrell, Seabreeze: Harrell stuffed the stat sheet for the Sandcrabs. The senior midfielder and Brown University soccer commit led Seabreeze with 15 goals and 17 assists, putting him among the most productive players in the Volusia-Flagler area. And his efforts didn’t go unrewarded. One of Harrell’s goals earned the Sandcrabs the District 6-5A trophy in a 1-0 upset victory over New Smyrna Beach, clinching a bid to the regional playoffs.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Unveiling the 2025-26 Volusia-Flagler All-Area Boys Soccer Team
Reporting by Zach Allen, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
