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Vermont Academy takes on Northfield Mount Hermon earlier this season. (Courtesy photo)
We’ve just about arrived at the midway point of the 2025 NEPSAC boys soccer season, with the playoffs looming large next month.
Before we know it, the end of the regular season will be here, the postseason will begin and champions in Class A, B, C and D will be crowned on Sunday, Nov. 16, at a location still to be determined.
So far, this fall has seen its fair share of standout teams, standout players and compelling storylines. There will certainly be more of the same over the next five-plus weeks.
As we hit midseason, we looked around the NEPSAC at the teams to beat, rising powers, players to know, and we give you a bold prediction for good measure.
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Here is our midseason report:
As good as advertised
Taft
Discussion of a repeat as Class A champions are officially legit for Taft. The defending champs are sitting at 9-0-0 this season and defeated talented Suffield Academy, the defending Class B champs, 3-1 on Saturday for their latest statement victory. The Rhinos haven’t lost a match since Oct. 9, 2024, and are riding a 21-game unbeaten streak. The team is strong and deep at every level of the field and has outscored opponents, 50-6. They’ve been absolutely dominant and already have five Class of 2026 players committed to college programs.
Loomis started the season ranked No. 3 in our top 10 and then moved up to No. 2, and has done nothing to imply that it is slowing down. The Pelicans are sitting at 8-1-0 with the lone loss coming against non-NEPSAC powerhouse Woodstock Academy at the NXT LVL Invitational. Loomis has kept seven clean sheets, en route to outscoring opponents, 23-6. The attack isn’t super explosive, but it’s really good, combined with an elite back line. Loomis travels to Taft on Nov. 1 for a game that could decide the Founders League and the top seed in the Class A playoffs.
Choate
We stay in the Founders League, as our preseason No. 7 has proven to be a true contender. Choate is sitting at 8-1-0, with the lone blemish being a 4-2 loss to Buckingham Browne & Nichols back on Sept. 13. Since then, Choate hasn’t surrendered more than one goal in a single game, and had impressive wins over Rivers, 3-1, and Phillips Exeter, 7-0, along the way. Like Taft and Loomis, Choate doesn’t appear to have a glaring weakness. To beat any of those three teams, you have to play extremely well.
Pleasant surprises
Noble & Greenough
We underestimated Nobles coming into the campaign, but the team is proving to be a true contender after moving up from Class B to Class A this season. Nobles (7-1-0) is a perfect 5-0-0 in Independent School League play, after handing Belmont Hill its first loss in a 3-2 result on Saturday. Nobles’ lone loss came against Taft, 4-1, at the NXT LVL Invitational. Of course, the depth of the ISL means that a team can never be too comfortable.
After qualifying for the Class B playoffs last year and advancing to the semifinals, what would Mount Saint Charles do for an encore? Well, so far the team is 7-0-2 and playing excellent soccer. A 1-1 draw with Suffield Academy and wins over St. George’s and Rivers has shown what Mount is capable of. This looks like a team with the capabilities of playing deep into November.
Williston Northampton
Williston lost its season opener, 2-0, against Berkshire. Since then, the team has won six straight and has only surrendered one goal in the process. This program has a tendency to surprise, as evidenced by last year’s run to the Class B championship game as a No. 6 seed. Williston looks like a team that nobody is going to want to play as we get deeper into autumn.
Three players to know
Tyler Bedortha
Vermont Academy | Midfielder | 2026
For a VA (5-2-1) team looking to make some noise in Class B after winning the Class C championship in each of the last two years, Bedortha is a major presence. His versatility allows VA to use him everywhere in the middle of the park, including as a defensive midfielder or an attacking midfielder.
Anthony Marziliano
Loomis Chaffee | Goalkeeper | 2026
With two clean sheets last week against Worcester Academy and Northfield Mount Hermon, Marziliano continues to shine. He’s a true weapon between the posts for Loomis, as a shot-stopper, distributor and leader. Undoubtedly one of the region’s top keepers and a big key to Loomis’ success.
Adriano Valmora
Middlesex | Forward | 2028
Just a sophomore, Valmora is putting up crazy numbers for a Middlesex (6-1-2, 3-1-1 ISL) squad that is in the thick of the Independent School League race. He has 10 goals and eight assists this season and has now played 28 career matches for Middlesex and has 23 goals and 15 assists. “We’ve never had a young player do anything close to this type of production,” said Middlesex head coach Ken Risley.
Bold prediction
Both the Founders League and the Independent School League championships will be decided on the final Saturday of the regular season, Nov. 8, and that will have major playoff seeding implications. Notably, Nobles travels to Milton Academy that day, and Taft plays at Hotchkiss. Truthfully, the entire final week of the regular season will be must-see, as we expect the races in both of those leagues to come down to the wire.
Podcast: NEPSAC Midseason Check-in
Matt Langone is the managing editor for New England Soccer Journal. You can email him at [email protected] or follow him on X @MattLangone.
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Taft
Loomis Chaffee
Choate
Noble & Greenough
Mount Saint Charles
Williston Northampton
Tyler Bedortha
Adriano Valmora
