Take a look: The State’s 2026 all-area HS boys soccer team, players of the year
A look at The State’s Midlands all-area boys high school teams and players of the year for the 2026 season.
All-Area Boys Soccer Team
— The State’s Player of the Year —
Cullen Maas, AC Flora: Senior striker had a school-record 47 goals, 8 assists, was Region 4-4A Player of Year, All-State and Clash of Carolinas selection. Maas signed to play at Barry College.
— Readers’ choice Player of the Year (fan vote) —
First Team
David Andrade, Gray Collegiate: Senior defender had 6 goals, 6 assists, was an All-State and North-South All-Star selection.
Tanner Battafarano, Cardinal Newman: Senior defense/forward had 8 goals and 2 assists this season. Battafarano was Co-SCISA 1-4A Player of the Year, All-State selection and helped the Cards to the program’s seventh straight state championship.
Cayden Berzins, Blythewood: Junior defender had 9 goals, 14 assists and was an All-State selection.
Jacob Braden, Chapin: Senior midfielder had 9 goals and 2 assists and was part of a Chapin defense that allowed just 8 goals in making it to 5A Division II championship. Braden was Region 4-5A Player of the Year, an All-State selection and was picked for the Clash of Carolinas.
Andres Campo, Gray Collegiate: Senior midfielder had 5 goals and 20 assists. Campo was an All-State and North-South selection.
Wade Douroux, River Bluff: Senior defender and North-South All-Star selection had 15 goals and 9 assists this season.
Jackson Dyer, Chapin: Junior defender had 3 goals, 8 assists and was an All-State selection.
Jason Gonzalez, Gray Collegiate: Sophomore forward had 29 goals and 17 assists in helping Gray to the 4A championship match. Gonzalez was an all-state selection.
Grant Hill, AC Flora: Senior centerback had 2 goals, 4 assists and was an All-State selection.
Austin Ipock, Lexington: Senior midfielder had 8 goals and 5 assists. Ipock was an All-State and North-South All-Star game selection.
Cash Knight, Mid-Carolina: Junior striker had 34 goals, 13 assists and was an All-State selection.
DeSean Logan, Lexington: Junior defender had two assists and was an All-State selection.
Roman Lopez Orozco, Saluda: Sophomore forward scored 34 goals, 12 assists, was Region Player of the Year and an All-State selection.
Cullen Maas, AC Flora: Senior striker had a school-record 47 goals, 8 assists, was Region 4-4A Player of the Year, All-State and Clash of Carolinas selection. Maas signed to play at Barry College.
Matthew Pinasco, Hammond: Senior was an SCISA All-State selection, Region 1-4A Co-Player of Year and scored more than 40 goals to set a school record. Pinasco signed to play at Sewanee College.
Dalton Purcell, Blythewood: Junior was Region 5-5A Player of Year, an All-State selection and had 20 goals and 11 assists this season.
Juel Rivers, Swansea: Senior forward had 4 goals, 3 assists, was an All-State selection and signed with Johnson & Wales.
Jacob Stanek, Cardinal Newman: Senior had 4 goals and was an SCISA All-State selection in Cardinals’ state championship season.
Luke Stanek, Cardinal Newman: Senior defender was an SCISA All-State selection and part of Cards’ defense that had 13 shutouts on the season.
Jonathan Strickland, AC Flora: Junior midfielder had 6 goals, 12 assists and was an All-State selection.
Jalen Tucker, Chapin: Senior was an All-State and Clash of Carolinas selection in helping the Eagles to the Class 5A Division II championship game. Tucker signed to play at Winthrop.
Davis Whitaker, Ben Lippen: Junior striker had 28 goals, three assists and was an SCISA All-State selection.
Quade Wilson, Cardinal Newman: Senior scored 11 goals, 15 assists, and was an SCISA All-State selection in helping the Cards to their seventh straight state championship.
Goalkeepers
Cooper Hughes, Chapin: Senior had 68 saves in 1,210 minutes played and allowed just five goals this season.
Ben Smoak, Cardinal Newman: Junior was SCISA 1-4A Goalkeeper of Year, All-State selection and had 13 shutouts in the Cardinals’ 23 matches.
Second Team
Ethan Bettis, Dutch Fork; Will Blakely, Lexington; Ernesto Marceleno-Brazell, Swansea; Holt Drinkall, Northside Christian; Kaden Edouard, Spring Valley; Jacob Gardner, Gray Collegiate; Cade Hopp, Gilbert; Asher Madden, Heathwood Hall; Noah McCarn, Dreher; Graham Parsons, Brookland-Cayce; Charlie Petroff, Gray Collegiate; Isaac Polanco, Saluda; Luis Valdez Rodriguez, Saluda; Lucas Rogers, Chapin
This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 3:34 PM.
