Vandegrift player Luke Hawley (9) runs up the sideline during the UIL boys soccer bi-district playoff game against Westlake at Vandegrift High School on Thursday, March 20, 2025.

Vandegrift player Luke Hawley (9) runs up the sideline during the UIL boys soccer bi-district playoff game against Westlake at Vandegrift High School on Thursday, March 20, 2025.

Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman

The Central Texas high school soccer season is underway. 

Here are 50 Austin-area boys players to watch this winter. 

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Players listed alphabetically

Ryan Atwood, Vandegrift: A senior center back who will play at Division I Lafayette College in the fall, he’s one of the top three defenders in the Austin area. 

Aiden Bailey, Vista Ridge: One of the more dangerous forwards in Central Texas, the junior was a big part of why the Rangers advanced to the Class 6A Division II semifinals last winter with 10 goals and 11 assists. 

MORE: 55 Central Texas high school girls soccer players to watch

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Bryce Bailey, Cedar Park: The leader of the Timberwolves’ backline, the junior center back is also a threat on offense after tallying five goals and eight assists a year ago. 

David Candia, Liberty Hill: After hitting for 10 goals and eight assists, the senior striker is back to help the Panthers defend their Class 5A Division II state title. 

Gavin Chibib, Westlake: Versatile senior can play either outside back or midfield for a stout Chaps squad. 

Connor Courville, Rouse: If the Raiders are to make the postseason, the talented senior striker will be a major factor. Finished with seven goal contributions for an extremely inexperienced team last winter. 

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Ali Dadashazar, Vista Ridge: Junior controls the midfield for a talented Rangers squad looking to get back to the postseason. 

Angel Cardenas, Liberty Hill: The biggest reason the Panthers won the Class 5A Division II state title a year ago, the senior goalie returns after posting an eye-popping 17 shutouts. 

William Contreras, Connally: Junior forward is the returning leading scorer for a Cougars team that is a perennial playoff team. 

Jack Cox, Westwood: The senior midfielder does it all for the Warriors. A two-time first-team all-District 25-6A pick, he’s one of the top 10 players in the Austin area. 

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Dylan Cross, Dripping Springs: A breakout freshman in Central Texas a year ago, the center back is part of a talented Tigers defense. 

Griffin Donnelly, Lake Travis: The senior center back is a superior athlete who runs the Cavs’ backline. One of the top 10 players in Central Texas. 

Adrian Fagan, Weiss: Stellar in the midfield, the junior is a good player to have for a Wolves squad hungry to return to the postseason. 

Alex Garcia, Northeast: A wall in goal, the senior is back after posting nine shutouts a year ago. 

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Antonio Gutierrez Herrera, Austin Achieve: Coming off a season with 16 goals and six assists, the junior midfielder will only be better for the defending Class 4A Division II state champions. 

Luke Hawley, Vandegrift: Arguably the best player in Central Texas, the senior midfielder helped Vandegrift to the Class 6A Division II state title last spring with 15 goals and seven assists.

Shehram Hayatullah, Connally: A constant threat on the wing, he teams up with Contreras as part of a formidable Cougars attack. 

Dylan Holm, Westlake: Whether at forward or in the midfield, the Chaps’ captain is dangerous in the attack. 

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Alex Isaacson, Round Rock: Dynamic in dribbling and striking the ball, the senior attacking midfielder paces an explosive Dragons offense that looks to be a playoff threat out of District 25-6A. 

Franklin Joseth Perez, Northeast: The talented junior midfielder keys the Raiders’ attack. With eight goals and nine assists, he was the District 25-4A newcomer of the year last winter. 

Liam Kalutkiewicz, Bowie: One of the better goalkeepers in the area, he tallied 14 shutouts in 2025. 

Alex Killmar, Vandegrift: The senior striker is the feature player up top for the Vipers. Finished with 10 goals and three assists last year in limited minutes. 

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Yul Kim, Hendrickson: A junior goalkeeper who may be Central Texas’ most underrated player, he finished with seven shutouts in 2025. 

Kiran Kini, LASA: The Raptors have quietly turned into one of the area’s better Class 5A programs, and with the talented junior midfielder back, that doesn’t look to change any time soon. 

Joshua Lewis, Bowie: Brilliant in finishing and distribution, he’s one of the area’s best players and is coming off a year where he had 11 goals and six assists. 

Gohan Lagunas, Austin Achieve: The do-it-all midfielder had 12 goal contributions and was a first-team all-district and all-state tournament pick for the Class 4A Division II state champions. 

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Jack Miller, Dripping Springs: A dominant center back, he leads a stout Tigers’ backline. 

Aurelio Montoya, Elgin: The senior returns for his fourth year starting in the midfield. Finished with 14 assists last winter. 

Mateo Palma, Hendrickson: The returning District 23-5A offensive MVP had 15 goals and 11 assists last year. A senior midfielder, he’s the top player for a perennially good Hawks team. 

Joshuan Parades, East View: Solid in the midfield, the senior had 13 goal contributions last winter and paces the Patriots’ hopes to return to the postseason. 

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Ethan Paone, Hutto: Attacking player leads the Hippos’ playoff chances after tallying 10 goal contributions a year ago. 

Damiano Peccedi, Lake Travis: One of the Cavs’ glue guys who makes things happen in the midfield, the junior was a first-team pick in District 26-6A. 

Henzel Perdomo, Travis: The Rebels have playoff hopes out of District 25-4A thanks to the talented senior, who moves to the midfield from defense. 

Juan Pizano, LASA: Teams up with Kini to give the Raptors an impressive midfield. 

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Dax Popelka, Anderson: The Trojans seem primed for a big year, and the junior forward is a big reason why. He returns after earning first-team all-district honors and forms a dangerous attack with Trevor Rener.

Moritz Remark, Cedar Park: With 13 goals and seven assists last winter, the forward was the American-Statesman’s newcomer of the year as a sophomore. 

Trevor Rener, Anderson: Lethal as a finisher up top, the senior is coming off a 2025 when he was the District 24-5A MVP and golden boot winner. 

Brandon Reynaga, McCallum: Dangerous on the wing, the junior is a massive threat for the Knights and had 11 goal contributions a year ago. 

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Jackson Roberts-Bardwell, McCallum: The talented senior back will lead a Knights defense that is perennially tough. 

Max Sauceda, Westlake: He does it all in the midfield for a Westlake team that looks to make its perennial appearance in the playoffs. 

Kaz Seyhoon, Westwood: Committed to Division I Lafayette College, the dynamic forward tallied seven goals and eight assists a year ago and figures to be one of the area’s top offensive threats. 

Grant Simmons, Rouse: Entering his third year as a starting goalie, the senior leads the Raiders’ defense and is a big reason Rouse has playoff hopes.

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Borys Siwczak, Round Rock: The senior defensive midfielder has brilliant vision and superb skills and is a major factor why the Dragons seem primed to return to the playoffs out of a loaded District 25-6A. 

Andy Trapp, Lake Travis: The junior winger is one of the top players on one of Central Texas’ best teams. He was a first-team all-District 26-6A pick in 2025. 

Logan Vann, Pflugerville: One of the top center backs in the Austin area and a two-year captain, he’ll lead the Panthers’ playoff push this winter. 

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