2025-26 High School Boys Soccer Preview
Regular season ends: Feb. 14
Championship finals: Feb.26- 28
Defending champion
Open Division: St. Augustine
Division 1: Point Loma
Division 2: Pacific Ridge
Division 3: Central Union
Division 4: Classical Academy
Division 5: Christian
Division 5-AA: St. Joseph’s Academy
2025 Player of the Year: Emiliano Postlethwaite, St. Augustine
Teams to watch
(in alphabetical order)
Calexico
Classical Academy
Central Union
Del Norte
La Costa Canyon
Mission Bay
Mission Hills
Oceanside
Pacific Ridge
Point Loma
Rancho Buena Vista
San Diego
San Dieguito
San Pasqual
Scripps Ranch
St. Augustine
Torrey Pines
Westview
Players to watch
(in alphabetical order)
Jared Baza, Del Norte, Sr.
Carson Bernstein, Cathedral Catholic, Sr.
Kai Broitman, Mission Bay, Sr.
Carlos Cardiel, San Diego, Jr.
AJ Devich, Pacific Ridge, Sr.
Xavier Flores, San Pasqual, Sr.
Santi German, Central Union, So.
James Greaney, Rancho Buena Vista, Sr.
Alexander Jolic, Mt. Carmel, Sr.
Trevor Long, La Costa Canyon, Sr.
Abraham Lopez, San Pasqual, So.
Tristan Martinez, Oceanside, Sr.
Nathan Pak, Scripps Ranch, Sr.
Marco Preciado, Classical Academy, Sr.
Maximo Piancone, St.Augustine, Jr.
Luke Schneider, San Marcos, Sr.
Ezekiel Varela, Point Loma, Jr.
Marcus Weick, Torrey Pines, Jr.
Kai Wheeler, Del Norte, Sr.
Shane Whittmer, La Costa Canyon, Sr.
Emilio Ybarra, St.Augustine, So.
Notes
St. Augustine has become a boys soccer dynasty. The Saints enter the season as the three-time defending champions of the Open Division.
“The expectation, I would say, is the biggest driving factor for our guys each year,” coach Brendan Johnston said. “Things are best when they’re player-driven. These guys set the standard and hold each other accountable.”
CIF San Diego Section Player of the Year Emiliano Postlethwaite and second-team All-CIF selection Luke Weinpel lead St. Augustine on the field. Johnston said he’ll look to Michael Weinpel, Maximo Piancone and Emilio Ybarra for key minutes.
• A season ago, La Costa Canyon surprised folks, making a run to the Open Division semifinals behind some key underclassmen.
The Mavericks are back and hoping to go even further.
“This core group that I have, they have a bit of a chip on their shoulder,” coach Craig Dean said. “They’re winners, they’re used to winning. They have a belief in themselves that they are ready for this season and ready to put the work in.”
La Costa Canyon returns several key starters, including the junior duo of Trevor Long and Shane Whittmer.
• Since the creation of the Open Division in 2014, San Pasqual has appeared in three title matches. The team won it all in 2022.
Last season ended in the Open semifinals, when San Pasqual fell to Del Norte.
“Losses can be the best teacher,” said coach John Burson, “We were so close, but we’ll have to do things slightly differently to get the result we want. The kids are very hungry to get back to those heights and get on top of the mountain.”
San Pasqual returns several key starters, including four-year starters Xavier Flores and Abraham Lopez.
– CLARK FAHRENTHOLD