Meet 25 southern Maine boys soccer players to watch in 2026
Maine high‑school soccer in 2026: a season of returning stars and fresh talent
As the leaves begin to turn in late summer, Maine’s high‑school soccer teams are already sharpening their pitches for the upcoming season. Coaches, parents, and fans alike have their eyes on a new crop of players who have already made a name for themselves, and on a handful of seniors who promise to keep their teams at the top of the state charts.
The most‑watched returnees
| School | Player | Position | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brunswick | Oliver Gorchoff | Forward | 25 goals, 5 assists last year; predicted to be the state’s top finisher |
| Brunswick | Liam Rapoza | Midfield | MSCA All‑Region honoree; the “engine” that drives the Dragons |
| Yarmouth | Lucas Hayner | Midfield | Western Maine Conference (WMC) Player of the Year; 11 goals, 11 assists; Varsity Maine All‑state |
| Cape Elizabeth | Max Hayward | Midfield/Back | First‑team WMC; captains; known for being the go‑to defender against the best attackers |
| Camden Hills | Connor Middleton | Midfield | 25 goals last season; Varsity Maine All‑state; KVAC Class A first‑team pick |
| Massabesic | Sean Azara | Goalkeeper | Third‑year starter; over 200 saves last year; honorable mention all‑SMAA |
| Gorham | Antoine Dube | Center‑back | All‑SMAA second team; speed, strength, and technical play |
| Marshwood | Sam Gennaro | Center‑back | Lone returning starter; “calm presence” (coach Ben Deschenes) |
| Portland | Walter Hettenbach | Center‑back | First‑team SMAA pick; relentless, “his engine doesn’t stop” (coach Rocco Frenzilli) |
| Deering | Christopher Richards | Back/ Midfield | SMAA honorable mention; described by coach Jeremy Longchamp as a “Get‑out‑of‑jail‑free card” |
| Freeport | Dylan Meinert | Forward | 19 goals last season; first‑team WMC |
| Noble | Hunter Michaud | Goalkeeper | A‑South first‑team; the best keeper in the division |
These seniors and juniors are expected to lead their teams on both ends of the field, and many are already drawing comparisons to the best players in the state’s history.
Coaches speak
“We’re in for a tough but exciting season,” says South Portland’s Jeremy Longchamp. He praised Isaac Arey, a 6‑5 center‑back known for “strong, mean tackles and an aggressive presence in the air.” Longchamp added that Arey “has the skill and composure to keep the ball at his feet.”
Portland’s coach Rocco Frenzilli echoed Longchamp’s sentiment when talking about Hettenbach. “If I ever have to correct Walter on the field, it’s telling him to slow down,” Frenzilli said. “He’s highly competitive, aggressive, and his engine never stops.”
Marshwood’s Ben Deschenes highlighted the value of Gennaro’s experience: “He’s a calm presence, and that stead
