The 2026 high school boys soccer season is nearly in full swing across the Queen City.
Northern Kentucky got off to the races on Aug. 10, while teams across Ohio and Indiana kick off on Aug. 14. The 2025 season was successful for Greater Cincinnati teams; Summit Country Day claimed another title and three other local programs were state runners-up. Those accomplishments are now firmly in the rearview mirror as teams gear up for the upcoming season.
The Enquirer is wrapping up its class-by-class breakdowns with the top returning seniors. These players weren’t just role players last year, they were already at the top of their game. In 2026, they’ll be front-runners for All-Ohio and even All-American consideration.
Keep an eye on these top seniors in 2026.
Drew Adams, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy
Adams led the Eagles to a share of the Miami Valley Conference-Scarlet Division title with eventual state champions Summit Country Day. The midfielder earned all-district honors after scoring five goals and recording six assists. Adams will be CHCA’s top returning offensive weapon in 2026, having scored 27 career goals.
Ben Angelica, Wilmington
Cincinnati’s top returning scorer, Angelica lit up the Southern Buckeye Athletic and Academic Conference with 30 goals last season. He led Wilmington to a 14-1-3 record and a SBAAC-American co-title, earning all-district honors in Division III.
Marco Barrios, Simon Kenton
Barrios was a scoring machine for the Pioneers in 2025. He led Simon Kenton with 25 goals, earning first-team All-Eighth Region and third-team All-Northern Kentucky honors. The Pioneers were one of the Eighth Region’s top offenses last year and Barrios should have them near the top of the leaderboards again.
Brady Dorko, Anderson
Dorko was the offensive leader for Anderson’s run to the regional finals. He scored 12 goals alongside six assists, pushing the Raptors to a 12-4-4 record. Dorko earned himself all-district honors and was The Enquirer’s Division II Offensive Player of the Year.
Santiago Dreher, Seven Hills
Dreher was a standout defender for Seven Hills, leading a defense that allowed just 20 goals in 22 games. He led the Stingers to the best overall record in the MVC at 15-6-1, reaching the regional finals before falling to the eventual state champions. Dreher was named to the all-southwest district team in 2025.
Aidan Gross, Mariemont
Gross is The Enquirer’s reigning Division IV Offensive Player of the Year, also earning all-region honors from the United Soccer Coaches. His 16 goals and 13 assists led Mariemont to a 17-3-1 record, good for second place in a highly competitive Cincinnati Hills League and a district title. USA TODAY Network Ohio ranked him No. 11 in the All-USA Ohio Top 25 boys soccer players in the state.
Scotty Hall, Wilmington
Hall erased opposing attackers in 2025, accumulating 133 saves while stopping 91% of shots on goal. The all-district goalie allowed just 13 goals and helped Wilmington stay undefeated in conference play.
Thomas Harp, Mariemont
Harp led Mariemont’s defense last season, earning all-district honors as the Warriors allowed just 13 goals and posted 13 shutouts. He also contributed three goals and three assists to the 17-3-1 season.
Joey Kurtz, Walnut Hills
Kurtz was a key component of one of the stingiest defenses in the city last season. He helped Walnut Hills allow just 10 goals on the year, leading the Eagles to a share of the Eastern Cincinnati Conference title. Kurtz also scored two goals and was an all-district selection.
Dallas Marshall, Conner
A first-team All-Ninth Region selection in 2025, Marshall will be the top returning scorer for the Cougars. His six goals and eight assists helped Conner go 14-9-1 and reach the regional championship game. Conner was a senior-laden team last season, so Marshall will see much more of the offense run through him in 2026.
Nick Maslin, Lakota East
Maslin was one of the Greater Miami Conference’s top keepers in 2025. He was named to the all-district team as he recorded 82 saves and allowed just 25 goals. USA TODAY Network Ohio ranked him No. 24 in the All-USA Ohio Top 25 boys soccer players in the state.
Salem Mayala, Boone County
The clear No. 1 option for Boone County last season, Mayala led the Rebels with 20 goals and four assists. He was selected to the All-Northern Kentucky first team and second-team all-state as one of Kentucky’s top strikers.
James McKernan, St. Xavier
McKernan was The Enquirer’s co-defensive player of the year in Division I. He led the Greater Catholic League-South with 73 saves and allowed just 21 goals. He was named to the all-district team for his role in helping St. Xavier’s trip to the state semifinals. USA TODAY Network Ohio ranked him No. 20 in the All-USA Ohio Top 25 boys soccer players in the state.
Luke Neltner, Bishop Brossart
Neltner was a reliable weapon for Northern Kentucky’s top offense in 2025. He scored 22 goals and had 12 assists, earning first-team All-10th Region honors and being named to the second-team all-state. He helped Bishop Brossart win the 10th Region championship, finishing 16-8-1.
Santino Serger, Mariemont
Serger’s was an all-district selection after scoring 15 goals and adding eight assists for Mariemont. He balanced out the offense to help the Warriors go 17-3-1 overall.
Andy Stein, Indian Hill
Indian Hill’s lone returning all-district selection led the Braves to a sectional championship in 2025. Stein scored seven goals and had seven assists last season.
Miles Steininger, Wyoming
After Wyoming reached the state semifinals in 2025, Steininger will be the Cowboys’ only returner who was selected to the All-Cincinnati Hills League team. The all-district selection scored seven goals and had six assists last year and will see a much larger share of the offense in 2026. USA TODAY Network Ohio ranked him No. 25 in the All-USA Ohio Top 25 boys soccer players in the state.
Jack Sweeney, St. Xavier
Sweeney is just one of two returners from the All-Ohio team in Division I last season. He scored eight goals and turned in six assists, leading St. Xavier in total points as the Bombers made a run to the state semifinals. Sweeney was also named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Great Lakes Region team. USA TODAY Network Ohio ranked him No. 10 in the All-USA Ohio Top 25 boys soccer players in the state.
Mark Szalay, CHCA
While Drew Adams led the offense, Szalay led the CHCA defense in 2025. His unit allowed only 20 goals last season, helping the Eagles to win a share of the MVC-Scarlet division. He was selected to the all-district team for his performance.
Elijah Warner, Summit Country Day
Cincinnati’s only returning All-American, Warner was the centerpiece of Summit Country Day’s defense. He helped the Silver Knights force 11 shutouts, including five straight shutouts in the postseason. Warner was named The Enquirer’s defensive player of the year in Division V for leading Summit to another state championship. USA TODAY Network Ohio ranked him No. 4 in the All-USA Ohio Top 25 boys soccer players in the state.
Other names to watch
Rylan Bell, Beechwood; Ethan Brandhorst, Turpin; Hayden Carter, Harrison; George Fey, CHCA; Booker Gifford, Covington Catholic; A.J. Goff, McNicholas; Cole Gross, Mariemont; Tyler Hahn, Bethel-Tate; Sam Harding, Turpin; Keith Hiridson, Kings; Carter Lund, Summit Country Day.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Top preseason seniors in 2026 Cincinnati high school boys soccer
Reporting by Chase Souder, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Chase Souder, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
