Michael Osipoff's top 10 boys soccer teams and 25 players to watch in Northwest Indiana for the 2025 season
1. Chesterton (11-4-2): The Trojans, who have won at least a share of the Duneland Athletic Conference title for seven straight years, open this season atop a crowded field. Senior forward Cal Stuckert (23 goals, 3 assists) stars. Senior forward Zarek Sierazy (10 goals, 10 assists) is another productive player. Senior goalkeeper Elliott McEvoy and senior defender Nate Kitchel also return, and the Trojans add senior Danny Lule, a transfer from Portage, among their newcomers.
2. Crown Point (13-4-2): Senior midfielder Nate Townsend and junior Oliver Brewer, perhaps the area's top goalkeeper, headline the Bulldogs. Sophomore defender/midfielder Kane Estrada joins the team after transferring from Portage. Sophomore Maksim Tasevski could help offensively after switching to forward from defense during club season. The Bulldogs lost their top three scorers, including star midfielder Brayden Kurtz and forward Landyn Hoyhtya to academy teams.
3. Lake Central (7-6-3): The Indians are in the mix among the elite every season. They should have a formidable midfield with seniors George Karabatsos (12 goals, 5 assists) and David Dorneanu, and Ethan Tarry also made a significant impact as a freshman.
4. Valparaiso (11-10): The Vikings look to continue their momentum after winning their first sectional title since 2012. Senior defender/midfielder Jack Luth (8 goals, 12 assists) leads the way. Junior midfielder Noah Barnett (2 goals, 11 assists) also is back. Senior goalkeeper Zach Bayer, sophomore forward Patrick Klimek and junior midfielder Nasser Ali also are among their returnees. They lost standout forward Will Donley (23 goals, 9 assists) to academy ball.
5. Munster (14-4-1): The Mustangs, perennial Northwest Crossroads Conference champions, won a sectional title last year for the first time since 2021. They graduated a large and talented senior class, including midfielder Nikola Dimitrijevic (24 goals, 6 assists), but typically reload. Senior midfielder/forward Lucas Ferguson is among the returnees.
6. Bishop Noll (12-5-1): There's an unmistakable buzz surrounding the Warriors, who shared the Greater South Shore Conference title last season. Junior forward/midfielder Joaquin Rosas (18 goals) broke out, and senior forward Alfonso Leon (22 goals in 2023) returns after missing last season following a sophomore season in which he led the team in scoring. Sophomore midfielders Lino Melero and Kevin Bogarin also are among their returnees, as is senior defender Adrian Luna.
7. Illiana Christian (14-3-2): Expectations are high once again for the Vikings, who have won back-to-back sectional titles and shared the GSSC title for their fourth straight. Senior midfielder Josh Carter (8 goals, 12 assists) should be their key player again. Senior defender Noah Davids (7 goals, 2 assists) also returns, as do senior forward Grant Terpstra (9 goals, 5 assists), senior midfielder Lucas Terpstra and junior goalkeeper Aidan Drost, part of an experienced group that includes 10 seniors.
8. Hanover Central (12-4-1): The Wildcats are another team with high expectations. Among 10 returning starters are eight seniors. The dynamic duo of senior midfielder Logan Zilz (3 goals, 10 assists) and senior forward Kyle Otworowski (21 goals, 9 assists) lead the list; Otworowski is out with a knee injury, but there's hope he can come back by the end of the season. Also among their returnees are senior midfielder Owen Furman, senior defender Evan Brooks, senior goalkeeper Tyler Burroughs and junior midfielder Aldo Desiderio (9 goals, 3 assists).
9. Wheeler (11-6-2): Senior midfielder Harper Schaberg (9 goals, 7 assists) should be the focal point for the Bearcats, who have won three straight sectional titles. Junior defender Leo Vega and senior forward/midfielder Tyne Vettickal (7 goals) also return.
10. Hobart (6-7-2): The Brickies suffered several significant injuries last season, forcing younger players into action. Now they're an experienced team with 18 seniors and juniors among their 19 players. Senior midfielder Gabriel Rodriguez highlights the group. Junior midfielder/forward Cameron Guess and senior midfielder Cooper Evans also are among their returnees. Keith Luttell, their third coach in as many seasons, said 'my intent is to be here long term and develop a winning program.'
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Featuring Cal Stuckert, Chesterton may be the team to beat in the Duneland Athletic Conference again. 1. Chesterton (11-4-2): The Trojans, who have won at least a share of the Duneland Athletic Conference title for seven straight years, open this season atop a crowded field. Senior forward Cal Stuckert (23 goals, 3 assists) stars. Senior forward Zarek Sierazy (10 goals, 10 assists) is another productive player. Senior goalkeeper Elliott McEvoy and senior defender Nate Kitchel also return, and the Trojans add senior Danny Lule, a transfer from Portage, among their newcomers. 2. Crown Point (13-4-2): Senior midfielder Nate Townsend and junior Oliver Brewer, perhaps the area's top goalkeeper, headline the Bulldogs. Sophomore defender/midfielder Kane Estrada joins the team after transferring from Portage. Sophomore Maksim Tasevski could help offensively after switching to forward from defense during club season. The Bulldogs lost their top three scorers, including star midfielder Brayden Kurtz and forward Landyn Hoyhtya to academy teams. 3. Lake Central (7-6-3): The Indians are in the mix among the elite every season. They should have a formidable midfield with seniors George Karabatsos (12 goals, 5 assists) and David Dorneanu, and Ethan Tarry also made a significant impact as a freshman. 4. Valparaiso (11-10): The Vikings look to continue their momentum after winning their first sectional title since 2012. Senior defender/midfielder Jack Luth (8 goals, 12 assists) leads the way. Junior midfielder Noah Barnett (2 goals, 11 assists) also is back. Senior goalkeeper Zach Bayer, sophomore forward Patrick Klimek and junior midfielder Nasser Ali also are among their returnees. They lost standout forward Will Donley (23 goals, 9 assists) to academy ball. 5. Munster (14-4-1): The Mustangs, perennial Northwest Crossroads Conference champions, won a sectional title last year for the first time since 2021. They graduated a large and talented senior class, including midfielder Nikola Dimitrijevic (24 goals, 6 assists), but typically reload. Senior midfielder/forward Lucas Ferguson is among the returnees. 6. Bishop Noll (12-5-1): There's an unmistakable buzz surrounding the Warriors, who shared the Greater South Shore Conference title last season. Junior forward/midfielder Joaquin Rosas (18 goals) broke out, and senior forward Alfonso Leon (22 goals in 2023) returns after missing last season following a sophomore season in which he led the team in scoring. Sophomore midfielders Lino Melero and Kevin Bogarin also are among their returnees, as is senior defender Adrian Luna. 7. Illiana Christian (14-3-2): Expectations are high once again for the Vikings, who have won back-to-back sectional titles and shared the GSSC title for their fourth straight. Senior midfielder Josh Carter (8 goals, 12 assists) should be their key player again. Senior defender Noah Davids (7 goals, 2 assists) also returns, as do senior forward Grant Terpstra (9 goals, 5 assists), senior midfielder Lucas Terpstra and junior goalkeeper Aidan Drost, part of an experienced group that includes 10 seniors. 8. Hanover Central (12-4-1): The Wildcats are another team with high expectations. Among 10 returning starters are eight seniors. The dynamic duo of senior midfielder Logan Zilz (3 goals, 10 assists) and senior forward Kyle Otworowski (21 goals, 9 assists) lead the list; Otworowski is out with a knee injury, but there's hope he can come back by the end of the season. Also among their returnees are senior midfielder Owen Furman, senior defender Evan Brooks, senior goalkeeper Tyler Burroughs and junior midfielder Aldo Desiderio (9 goals, 3 assists). 9. Wheeler (11-6-2): Senior midfielder Harper Schaberg (9 goals, 7 assists) should be the focal point for the Bearcats, who have won three straight sectional titles. Junior defender Leo Vega and senior forward/midfielder Tyne Vettickal (7 goals) also return. 10. Hobart (6-7-2): The Brickies suffered several significant injuries last season, forcing younger players into action. Now they're an experienced team with 18 seniors and juniors among their 19 players. Senior midfielder Gabriel Rodriguez highlights the group. Junior midfielder/forward Cameron Guess and senior midfielder Cooper Evans also are among their returnees. Keith Luttell, their third coach in as many seasons, said 'my intent is to be here long term and develop a winning program.'
