Not one soccer expert could have predicted the brilliant postseason run put on by the Chambersburg boys soccer team last fall.
Yes, the Trojans had a fine campaign on the pitch, but expectations weren’t high when they entered the District 3-4A playoffs as a No. 10 seed. With win after improbable win, Chambersburg made it to the district title game for the first time in school history, and qualified for states.
That 2025 dream season is barely visible in the rear-view mirror now, but that won’t stop opponents from painting a big, fat bullseye on the back of the Trojans when they take the field this fall.
Can Chambersburg take the heat?
We’ll attempt to shed some light on this question in our boys soccer previews, which cover seven programs in the LocalNews1.org coverage area: Chambersburg, Waynesboro, Greencastle-Antrim, Fairfield, North Hagerstown, South Hagerstown and Smithsburg.
The Trojans aren’t the only team to watch this fall. North Hagerstown brings back a wealth of talented players, including senior midfielder Cooper Byard, who notched 14 goals and seven assists last season.
Stick with LocalNews1.org in the days and weeks to come as we continue to preview the fall sports season before it kicks off next month.
Below are team-by-team preview capsules for the 2026 high school boys soccer season:
Waynesboro Tribe
Coach: Corey Duesler
Division: Mid-Penn Colonial
Last season: 4-13-1, 4-9-1 Mid-Penn Colonial
Top projected returners: Jack Knepper (Jr., F), Landen Kennedy (Sr., D), Jude Rogers (Sr., Striker), Justus Walters (Sr., Wing), Stephanos Gladhill (Sr., GK), Zach Kaiser (Sr.), Cole Peyton (Sr.), Drake Malcolm (Sr.), Joey Roberts (Sr.), Conlan Kuhar (So.), Thomas Skehan (Jr.), Ekalen Burkholder (Sr.), Palmer Davis (So.), Hezekiah Delaney (Sr.).
Meet the Tribe: Following significant graduation losses, Waynesboro will be competing in a restructured Colonial Division and will face the likes of Boiling Springs, Greencastle-Antrim, Middletown, Shippensburg, West Perry, and Gettysburg … The Tribe will take on this challenge without the services of a large outgoing senior class that included two All-Colonial Third Team All-Stars in Alex Williams and Andres Velazques … Waynesboro will turn to junior forward Jack Knepper, a two-time division all-star, to help lead the team this fall … The Tribe have qualified for districts 16 times in program history, most recently in 2024.
Opener: Friday, Aug. 28, at South Western
Greencastle-Antrim Blue Devils
Coach: Ryan Palmer
Division: Mid-Penn Colonial
Last season: 5-12, 4-10 division
Top projected returners: Nolan Sullivan (Sr., F), Mason DeVaughn (Jr., M), Evan Shaull (Jr., M), Biruk Facchina (Sr., M/D), Jesse Fye (Sr., M), Caleb Noll (Sr., Wing), Ethan Heinrichs (Jr., M), Jose Bautista (Sr., D), Logan Andou (Jr., D), Brian Marroquin (Jr., Striker), Blake Gilroy (Sr., Striker), Landon Koontz (Jr., Striker), Nathan Cain (Jr., Wing), Jack Michalsky (Sr., M), Bryce Wilson (Sr., M), Blaine Martin (Sr., M), Collin Flynn (Sr., M), Calvin Divelbliss (Sr., M), Carter Kuykendall (Jr., GK).
Meet the Blue Devils: After back-to-back losing seasons, Greencastle-Antrim would love to return to its form from 2023, when it racked up a 15-1-2 record … To do so, the Blue Devils will need to plug the holes left in the lineup by the graduated Cooper Noblit, a two-time All-Colonial Second Team selection, as well as starting goalkeeper Joe Lofton … Biruk Facchina, a senior midfielder and defender who earned First Team division honors last fall, will look to hold down the fort while Greencastle narrows down its best lineup … Nolan Sullivan, a 2024 All-Colonial Third Teamer, is expected to return to play forward for his senior season … While rosters haven’t been officially released yet, Greencastle is projected to run out a senior-heavy lineup that could include Caleb Noll, Jesse Fye, Jose Bautista, Blake Gilroy, Jack Michalsky, Bryce Wilson, Blaine Martin, Collin Flynn, and Calvin Divelbliss … Greencastle has qualified for the district postseason 18 times in program history.
Opener: Monday, Aug. 31, at home vs. Trinity
Chambersburg Trojans
Coach: Corey Grove
Division: Mid-Penn Commonwealth
Last season: 12-5-4, 7-3-2 division
Top projected returners: Edwin Ramirez (Sr.), Brandon Arana (Sr.), Benny Interiano (Sr., F), Wilhelm Smith (Sr., D), Jayden Mendoza (Jr., M), Aaron Carrillo (Jr., F), Anton Winter (Jr., D), Bramere Pittman (Sr., M), Brennen Smith (Sr., M), Cardson Ymonnice (Sr., F/D, 5-7), Dalton Rock Armstrong (Sr., F), Deklin Shank (Sr., F/M), Erich Deinbock (Sr., M), Jason Lopez Contreras (So., F), Landon Djannie (Sr., D), Levi Findley (Sr., M), Mason Schenzel (Jr., M), Nate Boal (Jr., M), Nate Folk (Sr., F/M), Theo Deinbock (Sr., M).
Meet the Trojans: Chambersburg, a 22-time district qualifier, is coming off perhaps its best campaign in school history … The Trojans had a quality regular season by posting a winning record and taking third in the Commonwealth Division, but it was the playoffs where they forged their legacy … Entering the District 3-4A tourney as the No. 10 seed, Chambersburg made an improbable run and earned its first trip to the championship game in program history … The Trojans ultimately fell by a 1-0 score to No. 1-seeded Warwick, before their season ended in the first round of states with a 3-1 loss to Abington … Reaching those heights again this fall will be easier said than done as Chambersburg graduated a trio of Commonwealth All-Stars in Izhais Jean, Noah Mulewich, and Adrian Barrientos, as well as starting goalkeeper Tyson Shanholtz … The Trojans will be looking to senior midfielder Edwin Ramirez to provide a spark. The 5-foot-6 Ramirez, an All-Commonwealth First Team selection last fall, is a physical player who can cover a lot of ground and make contributions on both the defensive and attacking sides of the field … Look for Wilhelm Smith, a senior lock-down defender, to make an impact.
Opener: Wednesday, Sept. 2, at Cedar Cliff
Fairfield Knights
Coach: William Jenkins
Division: South Central Athletic Conference Division III
Last season: 3-12-1, 1-10-1 YAIAA III
Top projected returners: Michael Phelan (Sr., M/F), Jude Willock (Sr., GK), Collin Jones (Jr.), Kaylen Rhoads (Jr.), Ben Sharp (Jr.), Collin Putt (Jr.), Jeremy Talcott (Sr., M/F), Lucas Horrell (Jr.), Jacob Wehage (Jr.), Eli Shay (Jr.), Cayden Leissler (So.), Vince Lawler (Jr.), Bryce Thompson (So.), Micah Stull (Sr.), Joey Sharp (Jr.), Michael Gonzalez (Sr.)
Meet the Knights: Fairfield will be looking to bounce back from a three-win season in a new-look division that includes old and new foes alike in Big Spring, Delone Catholic, Hanover, James Buchanan, Littlestown, Shalom Christian, and West York … The Knights, with a solid group of returners, could be in for their second winning campaign in three seasons … Not only is Fairfield projected to return its long-time starting goalkeeper Jude Willock, the team is also expected to bring back a pair of YAIAA All-Stars in Eli Shay and Michael Phelan … Shay, a midfielder, was an Honorable Mention selection last fall, while the slick-dribbling Phelan was a Second Team pick in 2024 … The Knights do have a big hole to plug with the graduation of YAIAA First Teamer Johnathan Wastler, but will attempt to cover that loss with an experienced group of projected returners that include Collin Jones, Kaylen Rhoads, Ben Sharp, Collin Putt, and Jacob Wehage.
Opener: Saturday, Aug. 29, at home vs. Our Lady of the Cross
North Hagerstown Hubs
Coach: Uriel Galvan
Classification: 3A West Region I
Last season: 8-6
Top projected returners: Cooper Byard (Sr., M, 6-0), Hector Diaz (Sr., M/F, 5-6), Jayden Gray (Sr., F), Daniel Krumpe (Sr., M), Robin Lopez (Jr., GK), Adnan Elhadad (Sr., M, 5-10), Julio Lopez (Jr., D/M, 5-6), Ben Galioto (Jr., D/M), Alex Philp (Jr., M), Chris Coello (Jr., M), Jehu Bonilla (Sr., F), Bailey Sheffler (Sr., GK), Thomas Owusu (Sr., D, 6-2).
Meet the Hubs: North Hagerstown, led by senior midfielder Cooper Byard, believes it has enough firepower to make an impact on the pitch this fall … The 6-foot Byard, who totaled 14 goals and seven assists last season, is a two-time All-CMC Large School selection and is coming off a season where he was named to the Second Team … Hector Diaz provides high-energy play for the Hubs in the midfield and on the front line and could very well improve upon a 2025 campaign that saw him total six goals and six assists … With Byard and Diaz drawing significant attention, opportunities should open up for senior forward Jayden Gray, who notched two goals and two assists last season … Include the return of Daniel Krumpe, a senior midfielder with goal-scoring experience, and it’s easy to get excited about North Hagerstown … The Hubs, aiming to improve upon a winning season that ended with a 1-0 loss to Tuscarora in the 3A West Region I Semifinals, would love to return to their 2024 form, when they won 15 matches and were state quarterfinalists … North Hagerstown will need to find a replacement in goal for Darius Geaman, who earned All-State Second Team honors in 2024.
Opener: TBA
South Hagerstown Rebels
Coach: Josiah Norris
Classification: 4A West Region I
Last season: 2-11
Top projected returners: Hazael Sanchez (Jr.), Taylor Alas Valenzuela (Sr., D), Randall Ortiz (Sr.), Armando Guandique (Sr., M/D), Juan Coreas Martinez (Sr., D), Clinton Otinkorang (Sr., F, 5-10), Enam Erkin (Jr., D), Amari Watford (Sr., D), Jose Leiva (Sr., D), Ben Orndorff (Sr.), Oscar Grande (Jr., D).
Meet the Rebels: South Hagerstown is looking to gain some traction on the field after posting three wins over the last two seasons … The Rebels are coming off a two-win campaign that ended with an 8-0 loss to Thomas Johnson in the 4A West Region I Quarterfinals … South Hagerstown will be breaking in a new goalkeeper as Jeremiah Acquah, a 2024 All-CMC Large School Honorable Mention selection, has graduated … The Rebels will have to also contend with the graduation of Leo Cruz Escobar, a proven goal scorer … Look for South to turn to senior midfielder Armando Guandique to lead both on and off the field, and for junior defender Enam Erkin to impact the season from the back line.
Opener: Tuesday, Sept. 8, at home vs. Catoctin
Smithsburg Leopards
Coach: Morgan Keplinger
Classification: 1A West Region II
Last season: 2-13
Top projected returners: Trace Lingg (Jr., F), Brayden Burke (Jr., D, 6-0), Brentyn Ruck (Sr., M), Franco Saavedra Young (Jr., D), Maximus Boumel (Sr., GK), Marlon Lazo (Sr., M), MacMillan Shuster (Sr.), Preston Coffman (Sr., F), Dylan Lowe (Jr., D, 5-10), Aiden Hoover (Jr., GK, 6-2), Kye Mathias (Jr., D, 6-3), William Romero (Jr., M), Ricky Harp (Jr., D), Isaiah Shifler (Jr., M), Anderson Avalos (Sr., F), Charlie Baker (Sr., F/M), Delvy Carrasco (Sr., M), Jared Wilkinson (Sr., D), Diego Adimonye (So., D).
Meet the Leopards: Smithsburg will be counting on two standout defenders, juniors Brayden Burke and Dylan Lowe, to lead the team from the back line this season … Both Burke (6-0) and Lowe (5-10) possess the size to physically impose themselves on opposing forwards, and their play will be key for a Leopards team that graduated starting goalkeeper Noah Shepley and a key defender in Daniel Parlow … Also lost to graduation was midfielder Camilo Mellott, who earned All-CMC Small School Second Team honors after totaling three goals and three assists … Following a winless 2024 season and a two-win campaign last year, the Leopards will be aiming to take another step forward this fall.
Opener: Tuesday, Sept. 8, at Francis Scott Key
