The CIAC boys soccer season has crossed its midpoint.
Many top teams have established themselves, including some surprise or overlooked squads that have risen through the ranks. Many top players have separated themselves from the field, while new players have joined the conversation.
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With the postseason around the corner, conference tournaments beginning at the end of October and the CIAC tournament to follow, what teams can we expect to make deep runs? Which players have led them?
Here is what has caught our eye:
Top conferences
ECC: The ECC usually has a few teams make deep runs when it comes to the CIAC state playoffs, and this year should be no different. The conference is being led by a somewhat surprising team in Waterford (10-0-1), which is ranked third in the latest CSCA Class M/S coaches’ poll. Bacon Academy (5-2-1) is also having a strong year, defeating a strong East Hartford team 1-0 earlier this season. NFA (7-0-3) and Lyman Memorial (8-2-0) are off to strong starts, while East Lyme (4-4-2) should not be overlooked come the postseason.
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CCC:
Arguably the top conference in the state this year, the CCC is loaded with talent. Defending conference champion and two-time defending CIAC Class M champion Tolland is still a force to be reckoned with at 7-1-1, its lone loss coming against Glastonbury. The Guardians are 7-1-2 and have established themselves as one of the top teams in the state. South Windsor (9-1-1) is also a state tournament contender atop the CCC standings, having only lost to Tolland. Behind that group sits a handful of strong teams in Avon (8-0-2), Lewis Mills (7-2-1), RHAM (5-2-2), Windsor (5-2-2), East Hartford (5-4-1), and Hall (5-3-2).
FCIAC:
If the CCC is not the strongest conference in the state, the FCIAC certainly is. The top two teams in both the GametimeCT Power Rankings and the CSCA Class LL/L coaches’ poll are No. 1 Staples (8-0-1) and No. 2 Greenwich (7-0-2). The Wreckers defeated the Cardinals in last year’s FCIAC and CIAC Class LL championships, and the two will meet for the first time this season on Friday. Staples’ lone tie came against Stamford, which is also a consensus Top 10 team at 7-1-2, with its lone loss against South Windsor and its other tie against Warde. Trumbull (6-3-1) is the other consensus Top 10 team with losses to Stamford, Staples and Wilton, and a tie against Ridgefield. While the records aren’t as strong for Ridgefield (4-3-2), Wilton (4-3-2), Darien (4-3-2) and Danbury (5-4-0), each is capable of making a deep postseason run in its respective class.
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SCC:
There are three teams that have seemingly separated themselves at the top of the SCC, a conference that has been claimed by Notre Dame-West Haven in back-to-back tournaments. This year the favorites are Xavier (9-0-2), which is ranked No. 3 in the GametimeCT Power Rankings, Fairfield Prep (8-0-2) and Hand (9-1-1). Xavier has ties against formidable West Haven and Wilbur Cross teams, while Fairfield Prep’s two ties are against contenders Foran and Hamden. Hand’s lone loss came against Xavier 1-0, and it also tied Guilford. While these three are at the top of the conference, there is plenty of talent behind them, including Hamden (7-1-2), Wilbur Cross (8-2-1), Foran (7-2-2) and Guilford (6-2-2), to name a few.
SWC: Bethel has been the dominant team in the SWC for years now, having won the tournament in two of the past three seasons and reaching the final in three straight. Last year it was Weston who claimed the title over Bethel, and both teams are favorites in the conference again this year. Bethel (9-0-1) is a consensus Top 10 team in both the GametimeCT Power Rankings and the CSCA Class LL/L coaches’ poll, while Weston (8-2-1) has sat at No. 2 in the Class M/S poll all season long. Bethel surprisingly tied a winless Notre Dame Prep team, but has been perfect otherwise. Weston has tied Pomperaug and Masuk, and lost to a New Milford team that could be the surprise top team in the conference. New Milford is the only remaining team in the state to win every game it has played at 10-0-0. The Green Wave play Bethel on Oct. 15 and will look to establish themselves as this year’s top SWC team. The SWC can become unpredictable in the postseason, with plenty of teams that come alive late. Some potential contenders include new addition Bassick (6-2-2) along with Immaculate (6-3-1), Masuk (5-4-2), New Fairfield (5-3-1) and Pomperaug (4-4-3).
Top players
Jonathan Adadjo, Tolland, Sr., F: The offensive leader of the two-time defending Class M champ and defending CCC champion has scored nine goals and assisted on five more through nine games.
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Tyson Brenes, Wolcott, Sr., F: The Wolcott striker has scored 17 goals and assisted on seven more for a total of 41 points through nine games, helping lead Wolcott (8-0-2) to a top spot in the NVL standings.
Kevin Ly, Bethel, Sr., M: He has led Bethel to a 9-0-1 start to the season, scoring 15 of his team’s 21 goals with one assist.
Charlie Mannix, Hand, Jr., M: The junior has scored 16 goals with six assists through the first 11 games of the season, helping to lead Hand to a 9-1-1 record over that stretch.
Adrian Rodriguez, Staples, Sr., F: The senior striker has scored 11 goals and added four assists in Staples’ first nine games, helping lead the team to an 8-0-1 start.
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Top teams
Greenwich:
Greenwich lost to Staples in both the Class LL and FCIAC championship games last year, and while it also graduated a lot of talent, the return of Joe Carroll has been instrumental for the Cardinals. Greenwich has outscored opponents 25-4 so far, with its only blemishes being ties against Norwalk and Wilton.
South Windsor:
South Windsor is very much a Class LL title contender at 9-1-1. The Bobcats have been led by Riley Lyons (four goals and five assists), Blake Lyons (six goals and six assists), Ian Park (five goals and three assists), Fabian Crespo (four goals and three assists) and Harris Zhinipotoku (three goals and two assists). South Windsor’s lone loss came against Tolland 3-2, and it tied Newington, but had a big 4-1 win over Stamford.
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Stamford:
Stamford is the only team to play Staples and not lose, tying the No. 1 team 0-0 this week. Stamford (7-1-2) is ranked No. 7 in the GametimeCT Power Rankings with the lone loss to South Windsor and ties against Staples and Fairfield Warde. Magnus Smail has been a brick wall in goal, while Alex Mejia (seven goals and two assists), Brandon Toro (four goals and three assists) and Eric Luini (five goals and three assists) have led the offense. The Black Knights have already defeated Trumbull, and will get a chance at Greenwich on October 12th.
Staples:
The defending Class LL and FCIAC champion graduated 16 seniors last year, but has seamlessly transitioned into the new year and established itself as the top team in the state. Adrian Rodriguez has led the offense with 11 goals and four assists, while Noah Rossoni has been a huge factor as well with six goals and five assists on the season. Staples is coming off its first non-victory, a 1-1 tie against Stamford. It will be tested against rival Greenwich on Friday.
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Tolland: The two-time defending Class M champion and defending CCC champ is once again the top team in the Class M/S poll, and a Top 10 team in the GametimeCT Power Rankings at 7-1-1. Jonathan Adadjo has led the offense with nine goals and five assists, while Brendan Burney (three goals and an assist), Truman Harold (three goals and four assists) and Jon DiCiccio (three goals and an assist) have been big contributors. Goalie Jaxon Davis has allowed just 10 goals while making 43 saves. Tolland’s lone loss came against Glastonbury, and it tied Naugatuck.
Xavier:
Xavier was a CIAC Class LL finalist in 2024, and was unceremoniously eliminated in the second round last year. Xavier seems to be back in full force, led by Hayden Modica (10 goals and five assists), Wes Engleman (two goals and nine assists), Rays Kisaku (six goals) and a strong back line of Mike Nicholas, Phoenix Vesneski, Reno Salafia and Dean Dakaj. Xavier is 9-0-2 with ties against West Haven and Wilbur Cross.
Surprise teams
Glastonbury: Glastonbury is the No. 4 team in the GametimeCT Power Rankings, but after going 6-7-4 last year, it fits in both categories: top teams and surprise teams. Glastonbury’s dramatic rise was predicted by some, with 17 returning players and the addition of others. The Guardians showed what they were capable of in a 2-1 win over Tolland, and have gone 7-1-2. The lone loss came against Tolland (second meeting), with ties against Hall and Berlin.
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New Milford: New Milford (10-0) is the only team in the CIAC that has won every game so far. The Green Wave reached the CIAC Class LL quarterfinal last year as the No. 11 seed, falling to eventual champion Simsbury 1-0. New Milford is back and better than ever, and showed it is a serious contender with a 4-2 win over defending SWC champion Weston earlier in the season.
Nonnewaug: Nonnewaug was the No. 8 seed in last year’s CIAC Class M tournament, but suffered a first-round exit against No. 25 Bacon Academy. Nonnewaug is currently ranked fourth in Class M with a 10-1-0 record as it attempts to avenge its disappointing finish to the 2025 season. The Chiefs are not as battle-tested as other teams, but were still among the final three unbeaten teams before a recent overtime loss to Lakeview, which Nonnewaug had beaten earlier in the season. It also had an impressive 5-0 win over Shepaug (8-1).
Waterford:
Probably the biggest surprise of all teams this season, Waterford has dominated its competition and established itself as the top team in the ECC with a 10-0-1 record. Waterford is currently ranked third in the CSCA Class M/S coaches’ poll behind Tolland and Weston, largely thanks to a pair of wins over fellow contender Bacon Academy. Waterford’s lone tie came against NFA. Bray Michonski, Mateus Fontoura-Oliveira and Jaydev Villa are all posting strong offensive numbers for the Lancers.
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Wilbur Cross:
Leo Castellano, Joziah Cintron, Ricky Juarez and Xavier Valdez have led the team to an 8-2-1 record, with a 4-3 loss to Hamden, a 3-0 loss on opening day to Xavier, but also a recent 2-2 tie against Xavier.
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This article originally published at The 2026 Connecticut high school boys soccer midseason report: Top teams, players and surprises.
