FAB 50 High School Soccer Team Rankings

The fall season includes the following states: Colorado, Connecticut, D.C., Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia (private), West Virginia, Wisconsin.

The rankings are compiled by high school rankings editor Sheldon Shealer.

View the Region Rankings | View the State Rankings
Rank School Record
1 St. Benedict's Prep Newark, NJ 0-0-0
Mickey George, Joe Alba, Celio Martins, Michael Tahiru and Louis Silva highlight the returnees for the reigning SIMA FAB 50 No. 1 team, but it's the slew of quality transfers that keeps the Gray Bees at No. 1. St. Benedict's picked up a pair of players from Brazil, goalkeeper Igor Stelter and midfielder Thiago Franca. Franca is the younger brother of former Brazlian international player Adriano. The Gray Bees also picked up PDA keeper Max Blacker and Kearny's all-state forward John Najarro. St. Benedict's is riding a 31-match win streak and is 119-4 under coach Jimmy Wandling, who is entering his seventh season. St. Benedict's schedule includes matches against No. 8 Salesianum (Del.), No. 9 Chaminade (N.Y.) and Prep Top 10 power Berkshire School (Mass.).
2 St. Ignatius Cleveland, OH 0-0-0
Seven starters return from last year's Ohio Division I state championship team, led by Xavier commit Stephan Milhoan and Dayton commit Riley Houde. Milhoan and Houde were joined by Tommy Patacca, Patrick Strauss and Adam Haas on the Challenger Crew Juniors club team that reach the US Youth Soccer National Championships this past summer. Junior Matt Trickett and midfielder Johne Vrablic, returning from the Columbus Crew Academy team, help beef up a loaded Wildcats' lineup.
3 Scotch Plains-Fanwood Scotch Plains, NJ 0-0-0
Scotch Plains figured to be a preseason Top 15 team but its stock soared when it landed four Development Academy players who committed to playing for the perennial New Jersey power. Monmouth commit Sean Murray, a returning all-state player, and is expected to anchor the defense. The incoming academy players are midfielders John Murphy and Tommy DeVizio, defender Andrew Murray and forward Rock Valian. Murphy is the younger brother of James Murphy, who recently signed with Sheffield in England. The younger Murphy has been invited to train for a week with Manchester United.
4 Rockhurst Jesuit Kansas City, MO 0-0-0
The return of former DA player Gianni Catenacci, a midfielder, beefs up an already solid Rockhurst lineup. The team welcomes back senior defenders Michael Rall and Matthew Smith, along with junior Kyle Ruark and a 1-2 keeper tandem in senior Nick Moyer and Jackson Ebersole.
5 McDonogh School Owings Mills, MD 0-0-0
McDonogh graduated three TeamSnap All-America players from last year's 22-0-1 team, yet the Eagles will remain in the national conversation thanks to five returning starters. The key players are all-state honoree Stevie Nichols, along with Jared Moses, Chris MacDonald and transfer Jayson Cyrus. Eight McDonogh starters play on Baltimore Celtic teams, and three starters were in the US Youth Soccer national semifinal showdown between Celtic (two players) and Pipeline (one player).
6 Cicero Morton Cicero, IL 0-0-0
Junior midfielder Baltazar Duran highlights a Morton program that has made a habit of reloading every season. Of course, with a student population in excess of 7,000, it's a bit easier for a school the size of Morton to remain in the highly competitive realm every year. Morton is 75-8-2 over the past three years and is the only program to finish in the state Top 5 each of the past three seasons.
7 Christian Brothers College St. Louis, MO 0-0-0
The Metro Catholic league in St. Louis is the nation's most storied and demanding conferences. Every league members has been in the SIMA FAB 50 rankings in recent years, and this year Christian Brothers, with the nation's all-time winningest coach Terry Michler, gets the preseason nod. Forward Nick Dempster, a junior, and midfielder Sam Leach lead a cast of five returning players who received all-league mention last year.
8 Salesianum Wilmington, DE 0-0-0
Salesianum had eight players named to the Delaware all-state team, and all eight are expected to return for the defending state champs. Salesianum went 14-3-1 last year and its only losses were to SIMA FAB 50 No. 1 St. Benedict's (N.J.) and FAB 50-ranked Trinity (Ky.) and Washington Township (N.J.). Among the returnees are Ryan Sholes, who was in the running for state player of the year last season, Jason Blackwell, Gavin Ford and Gavin Campbell.
9 Chaminade Mineola, NY 0-0-0
In sizing up New York, the conversation always begins with Long Island -- regardless if its assessing the top public or private schools. Chaminade, the defending Catholic school state champion, gets the preseason state No. 1 nod, in part due to the expected return of forward Matt Vowinkel. The forward netted 24 goals, including the playoff game-winner over rival St. Anthony's and four more goals in the state tournament.
10 Conestoga Berwyn, PA 0-0-0
Five players who received All-Main Line honors last year return for a Conestoga squad that went 21-2-1 and reached the state semifinals before losing to eventual undefeated state champ Central Bucks East. Defender Gabe Harms was a first-team selection. Midfielder Blaise Milanek, forward Mason Miller and junior forward Chris Donovan were second-team picks. Junior midfielder Nick Jennings was an honorable mention. Harms is being courted by several Big Ten programs. Milanek has committed to Lehigh.
11 Milwaukee Marquette Milwaukee, WI 0-0-0
Despite the graduation of three Milwaukee Journal first- and second-team performers from last season, the Hilltoopers are expected to remain a favorite in the state, as well as maintain its regional and national reputation. This year's team should be led by Ben Leas, a senior who has committed to Wisconsin.
12 West Chester Henderson West Chester, PA 0-0-0
West Chester Henderson could be the surprise team in the PIAA Class AAA ranks this season. The team returns defender Max Zandi, a Villanova commit, and Aiden McFadden, a Notre Dame commit. Henderson reached the state quarterfinals last year and then got knocked out by Conestoga.
13 Hicksville Hicksville, NY 0-0-0
Hicksville, coming off a 14-1-2 season, is the only New York Class AA with multiple all-state performers returning. Highlighting the expected lineup is American University commit Matt Sloan, who had 17 goals in 12 matches, and midfielder Storm Strongin, a former USL Super Y League ODP performer.
14 Delbarton School Morristown, NJ 0-0-0
Delbarton has earned a reputation as one of the nation's stingiest defensive teams. That might get tested this year since several key defenders graduated from last year's team, including New Jersey Star-Ledger Payer of the Year Jack Kielty (Notre Dame for lacrosse) and Brian Finn. The projected key returner is midfielder Kian Alberto, a first-team all-state selection last year as a sophomore.
15 Forest Hills Central Grand Rapids, MI 0-0-0
Forest Hills Central had a dream season in 2015, going undefeated, winning the Division 1 state title and finishing with a SIMA FAB 50 No. 6 ranking. One of the key performers, Mohamed Haji, is expected to return after a 19-goal, 17-assist junior season.
16 Albuquerque Academy Albuquerque, NM 0-0-0
Albuquerque Academy returns six all-state performers from last year's 21-1-1 state title-winning team. The key returnees are twin midfielders Alexander and Chris Touche. Alexander Touche was named the state's Class 5A state player of the year.
17 Quincy Quincy, IL 0-0-0
Quincy made a somewhat surprising run to the state final last year, where it lost to Libertyville. This year's team comes in high expectations with the return of midfielder J.D. Sohn, a four-year starter for the Blue Devils.
18 St. Thomas Aquinas Overland Park, KS 0-0-0
The Eastern Kansas League figures to be strong again this year, led by perennial power St. Thomas Aquinas and defending 6A champ Blue Valley Northwest. Aquinas will be tested regionally as it competes at the Gateway City Soccer Classic. This year's team will be led by Aubrey Evans, Danny Gabriel, Sam Sketers and transfer forward Ricardo Gonzalez.
19 Louisville Trinity Louisville, KY 0-0-0
Trinity probably won't be as top-ended heavy in 2016 as last year's team, but this program has been consistently strong in recent years. Trinity will be led by senior defender Cameron Smith, who has committed to Louisville, along with fellow Division I prospects Luke Williams and Tanner Stevens.
20 DeSmet St. Louis, MO 0-0-0
DeSmet had three players earn Metro Catholic first-team honors last year, and all three graduated. However, quality depth is what keeps DeSmet in the state, region and national conversation year after year. The Spartans have five juniors make all-conference honors, as well, last year.
21 South Mecklenburg Charlotte, NC 0-0-0
Appalachian State commit Reed Hunnicutt is joined by Charlotte Observer honorable mention selections Ethan DeSilva and Fernando Garcia for the defending Class 4A state champs. South Meck went 23-0-2 last season.
22 Seton Hall Prep West Orange, NJ 0-0-0
Indiana commit Mason Toye is expected to lead Seton Hall Prep, which is coming off an 18-2-3 season.
23 Blue Valley Northwest Overland Park, KS 0-0-0
Blue Valley Northwest, the state's defending 6A state champ, might receive a pair of players from the Development Academy to enhance what should be a strong lineup. Last year's team went 19-1, losing only to St. Thomas Aquinas in league play.
24 Weddington Matthews, NC 0-0-0
Weddington graduated a pair of all-state performers last year, and that's about it. Seven starters are back from last year's 20-1-3 state title-winning team, led by forward Michael Davidson.
25 Grand Blanc Grand Blanc, MI 0-0-0
Forward Austin Hobbs and defender Drew Kubani are expected to return for Grand Blanc after receiving all-state honors as juniors last season. Grand Blanc is coming off a 16-3-2 season in 2015.

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