High school soccer has begun in Ohio and Kentucky.
The Enquirer has previewed the top players in the area in various ways. Now, here is The Enquirer's overall ranking of the top 25 boys soccer players this season.
25. Owen Rothwell, Elder
The senior had seven assists and two goals and should be one of the top players in the Greater Catholic League-South this season.
24. Dallas Marshall, Conner
A first-team All-Ninth Region selection in 2025, Marshall will be the top returning scorer for the Cougars. His six goals and eight assists helped Conner go 14-9-1 and reach the regional championship game. Conner was a senior-laden team last season, so Marshall will see much more of the offense run through him in 2026.
23. Chase Wagner, Harrison
Wagner was a key contributor
to the Wildcats' offense in 2025, finishing third on the team with five goals and tying for most assists with four. He earned second-team all-city recognition for his efforts, pushing Harrison to an 11-5-4 record. The Wildcats lost in the playoffs to eventual state finalist Kings. He'll almost certainly play a larger role in 2026 as the Wildcats' top two scorers graduated last year.
22. Ian Shinkle, Batavia
Shinkle was already the go-to guy for Batavia in 2025. He led the Bullogs with 16 goals, good for third in the Southern Buckeye Academic and Athletic Conference. He was named to the all-city second team, but alongside a young returning Batavia squad could have a much higher ceiling in 2026.
21. Drew Adams, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy
Adams led the Eagles to a share of the Miami Valley Conference-Scarlet Division title with eventual state champions Summit Country Day. The midfielder earned all-district honors after scoring five goals and recording six assists. Adams will be CHCA's top returning offensive weapon in 2026, having scored 27 career goals.
20. Cooper Gastright, St. Henry
As a sophomore, Gastright was a key initiator for St. Henry on offense. He led the Crusaders with 10 assists and also scored eight goals, good for second on the team. The all-city second-teamer should have a great deal of statistical consistency, with all but two members of the offense coming back in 2026.
19. Santiago Dreher, Seven Hills
Dreher was a standout defender for Seven Hills, leading a defense that allowed just 20 goals in 22 games. He led the Stingers to the best overall record in the MVC at 15-6-1, reaching the regional finals before falling to the eventual state champions. Dreher was named to the all-southwest district team in 2025.
18. Joey Kurtz, Walnut Hills
Kurtz was a key component of one of the stingiest defenses in the city last season. He helped Walnut Hills allow just 10 goals on the year, leading the Eagles to a share of the Eastern Cincinnati Conference title. Kurtz also scored two goals and was an all-district selection.
17. Marco Barrios, Simon Kenton
Barrios was a scoring machine for the Pioneers in 2025. He led Simon Kenton with 25 goals, earning first-team All-Eighth Region and third-team All-Northern Kentucky honors. The Pioneers were one of the Eighth Region's top offenses last year and Barrios should have them near the top of the leaderboards again.
16. Luke Neltner, Bishop Brossart
Neltner was a reliable weapon for Northern Kentucky's top offense in 2025. He scored 22 goals and had 12 assists, earning first-team All-10th Region honors and being named to the second-team all-state. He helped Bishop Brossart win the 10th Region championship, finishing 16-8-1.
15. Beckett Brinkman, Summit Country Day
Summit Country Day won its second consecutive state title in 2025, and it did so with a ton of underclassmen talent. Brinkman was one of four sophomores to earn first-team all-city honors for the Silver Knights, finishing second on the team with eight goals and leading Summit with eight assists. Though some key seniors departed in the offseason, Brinkman and his cohort of rising juniors will bring more than enough experience to keep the Silver Knights as serious three-peat contenders.
14. Brayden Strong, Wyoming
The senior defender has returned to the Cowboys from club ball. He has committed to Northern Kentucky University and should help the Cowboys contend for the Cincinnati Hills League title.
13. Thomas Harp, Mariemont
Harp led Mariemont's defense last season, earning all-district honors as the Warriors allowed just 13 goals and posted 13 shutouts. He also contributed three goals and three assists to the 17-3-1 season.
12. Carter Lund, Summit Country Day
The senior capped off a big season by scoring a hat trick in the Division V state final. He had 10 goals and four assists for the season and enters his senior year with 17 career goals and eight assists.
11. Brady Dorko, Anderson
Dorko was the offensive leader for Anderson's run to the regional finals. He scored 12 goals alongside six assists, pushing the Raptors to a 12-4-4 record. Dorko earned himself all-district honors and was The Enquirer's Division II Offensive Player of the Year.
10. Forrest Cloran, Summit Country Day
Another junior Silver Knight, Cloran turned in three goals and five assists during the 2025 title run. The midfielder was an all-district selection in addition to a first-team all-city selection.
9. Miles Steininger, Wyoming
The forward is Wyoming’s only first-team All-CHL player returning from their state semifinalist team. As a junior last year, he had seven goals and six assists. USA TODAY Network Ohio recently ranked him No. 25 in the All-USA Ohio Top 25 boys soccer 2026 preseason list.
8. Mark Szalay, CHCA
While Drew Adams led the offense, Szalay led the CHCA defense in 2025. His unit allowed only 20 goals last season, helping the Eagles to win a share of the MVC-Scarlet division. He was selected to the all-district team for his performance.
7. Nick Maslin, Lakota East
A first-team All-Greater Miami Conference pick last season as a junior, the goalkeeper had three shutouts and made 82 saves in 18 games. USA TODAY Network Ohio recently ranked him No. 24 in the All-USA Ohio Top 25 boys soccer 2026 preseason list.
6. Ben Angelica, Wilmington
Cincinnati's top returning scorer, Angelica lit up the Southern Buckeye Athletic and Academic Conference with 30 goals last season. He led Wilmington to a 14-1-3 record and a SBAAC-American co-title, earning all-district honors in Division III.
5. Jack McKernan, St. Xavier
The senior was a first-teamer in the GCL-South as a goalie, saving 73 shots in 18 games with six shutouts. USA TODAY Network Ohio recently ranked him No. 20 in the All-USA Ohio Top 25 boys soccer 2026 preseason list.
4. Gavin Young, Moeller
The senior is one of the highest-ranked defenders in Ohio, helping the Crusaders post eight shutouts and win the GCL-South championship. USA TODAY Network Ohio recently ranked him No. 13 in the All-USA Ohio Top 25 boys soccer 2026 preseason list.
3. Aidan Gross, Mariemont
A junior forward last season for 17-3-1 Mariemont, Gross had 16 goals and 13 assists. His 45 points were second-most in a talented CHL conference. USA TODAY Network Ohio recently ranked him No. 11 in the All-USA Ohio Top 25 boys soccer 2026 preseason list.
2. Jack Sweeney, St. Xavier
The senior forward was one of just two returners to get named to the All-Ohio team in Division I. In 18 games, he had eight goals and six assists as the Bombers went 12-5-4. USA TODAY Network Ohio recently ranked him No. 10 in the All-USA Ohio Top 25 boys soccer 2026 preseason list.
1. Elijah Warner, Summit Country Day
The senior defender was the MVC Player of the Year and an All-Ohio selection in Division V. Summit Country Day entered the postseason at 5-6-6 after a tough regular season and finished as 12-6-6 state champions. USA TODAY Network Ohio recently ranked him No. 4 in the All-USA Ohio Top 25 boys soccer 2026 preseason list.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: The Enquirer ranks Cincinnati's top 25 preseason boys soccer players
