Your Prep Sports Area Boys Soccer Players to Watch This Season
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
Soccer season is here.
The season officially got underway on Monday with the first day of competition for teams across the state with every squad seeking the same goal – a spot at the 2024 state tournament set for May 29 and 31 and June 1 in Des Moines.
Before the season gets rolling for teams in the Your Prep Sports area here are 11 players to keep an eye on this season.
Jack Hoover
Senior, Regina
Regina reached the semifinals of the Class 1A state tournament for the 13th time in the past 15 seasons last spring and Hoover was one of the big reasons for that postseason success.
Hoover scored a team-high 19 goals and had five assists on his way to earning second-team Class 1A all-state honors from the Iowa High School Coaches Association.
Already a three-year starter, Hoover was at his best in the postseason during his breakthrough junior campaign, scoring in all four postseason matches, racking up eight goals in that span including three goals at the state tournament.
Conley Sundblad
Junior, Liberty High
The emergence of Sundblad as one of the top keepers in Class 3A played a key role in Liberty High capping a historic season with the first state title in program history.
Sundblad made 77 saves and allowed 33 goals on the season on his way to earning Class 3A second-team all-state honors from the IHSSCA but was at his best in the Lightning’s run to the 3A title.
In five postseason matches Sundblad allowed just two goals and posted back-to-back shutouts in the state semifinal and state title matches.
Joe Hamann
Senior, West Branch
A four-year starter Hamann is coming off a breakthrough junior season in which he ranked seventh in Class 1A in goals leading West Branch to a historic season that featured a program-record 14 wins and its first state tournament appearance.
Hamann scored a team-high 26 goals and added four assists as West Branch went 14-4 and advanced to the 1A state tournament.
In three prep seasons Hamann has scored 48 goals to go with 12 assists and will look to build upon those numbers this season as the leader of the West Branch attack.
Kaleab Wendy
Senior, West High
In his first season at West High Wendy made a major impact ranking second on the team in goals while helping the Trojans to a 17-3 record and a runner-up finish at the Class 3A state tournament.
Wendy scored 16 goals and had five assists last season while earning first-team Mississippi Valley Conference all-divisional honors and second team Class 3A all-state honors from the IHSSCA.
In his prep career Wendy has scored 47 goals and has 19 assists.
Abdala Ebdala
Junior, Clear Creek Amana
In his first season in the lineup last spring Abdala emerged as a major threat in the Clear Creek Amana attack tying for the team lead in both goals and assists.
A second team all-WAMAC West Division selection last season as a sophomore, Abdala had five goals and three assists in his first varsity season.
Look for Abdala to be a key piece of the attack from his midfield spot as Clear Creek Amana seeks to improve on a 6-10 record from a year ago.
Eddie Petersen
Senior, Regina
A stalwart in the Regina lineup for four seasons Petersen will look to end his career by leading the Regals on yet another state tournament run.
Petersen is coming off the best season of his career, ranking second on the team in goals and third in assists last spring while earning second-team Class 1A all-state honors from the Iowa High School Coaches Association.
He had 12 goals and eight assists last season and enters his final prep season with 13 career goals and 10 assists.
Ben Borger-Germann
Sophomore, City High
Veteran City High coach Jose Fajardo has put a major premium on defense that season and Borger-Germann will be a big part of that after starting in goal last season as a freshman.
In his first varsity season Borger-Germann was solid, allowing 13 goals in 15 matches and posting five shutouts.
Borger-Germann had 36 saves in his first season and will look to take a step forward this season while helping the Little Hawks improve on a 8-7 record from last season.
Eli Freerks
Senior, Solon
After scoring a combined 10 goals in his first two varsity seasons Freerks emerged as the leader of the Spartan attack last season leading Solon in goals, assists and points.
A four-year starter Freerks had a career-high 15 goals last season and tied for the team lead with four assists.
Freerks has increased his goal scoring production each of the past three seasons and enters his senior season with 25 goals and 13 career assists.
Trenton Schutte
Senior, West Branch
A four-year varsity contributor Schutte has been a cornerstone piece in the building of the West Branch program helping the Bears increase their win total each of the past three seasons.
Schutte has started the last 31 games, racking up 23 assists and nine goals while starting every match over the past two seasons.
Last season Schutte had five goals and a team-high 18 assists while helping West Branch to a 14-4 record and a spot in the Class 1A state tournament.
Daniel Fuentes
Junior, West High
Fuentes burst onto the scene two seasons ago scoring six goals and adding four assists as a freshman on a state quarterfinal team.
Last season Fuentes was even better leading West High in assists and ranking third on the team in goals while helping the Trojans to a Class 3A runner-up finish.
Fuentes had a team-high 10 assists and nine goals on his way to being named to the Mississippi Valley Conference all-Valley Division second team.
Flori Gembo
Senior, Liberty High
Among the most dangerous offensive players in the state last season Gembo returns to lead the Liberty High attack after ranking second on the team in both goals and assists last season.
A four-year starter Gembo had his best season yet as a junior last spring when he earned Class 3A second-team all-state honors after posting 16 goals and six assists.
In three seasons Gembo has already racked up 34 goals and 19 assists and is seeking a third consecutive season with double digit goals.
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