NXT LVL: Day 2 standouts, Best XI

The NXT LVL Invitational is bringing together 39 top boys programs from 10 states for a weekend of competition in Colonie, N.Y. Each day a new set of teams join the event. Therefore, each day is an opportunity to learn more about how teams stack up and the players who make the difference. Each day PrepSoccer.net will list the top performers capped with a Best XI for the day. DAY 2 WHAT WE LEARNED: 

• There might be a new wave of impactful prep and residential programs to watch on the national scene this year. In addition, never count out Pingry School (N.J.). The top teams during Saturday’s competition were Northwood School (N.Y.), Pingry School (N.J.), Bridgton (Maine), St. Andrew’s (R.I.), Hoosac School (N.H.), Erie Cathedral Prep (Pa.), and Good Counsel (Md.). Pingry fell behind 2-0 to Archbishop Moeller and roared back for a 5-2 victory in one of the showcase matches of the day.

Saturday’s Top Performers F Muntasir Ahmad, Bridgton Academy (Maine), Sr.: He’s finally working into a more prominent role with the team, and assisted the game-winning goal in the victory over St. Andrew’s. GK Ethan Baker, Erie Cathedral Prep (Pa.), Jr.: Baker had a pair of shutouts in Cathedral’s two regular-season matches. F/M: Dom Breidenbach Dom Breidenbach D/M Moeller | 2022 OH , Archbishop Moeller (Ohio), Sr.: Listed a defender, Breidenbach was one of Moeller’s most effective offensive players. His size and deceptive speed kept Pingry under pressure for large stretches of the first half. M Carmine Dipietrantnio, Bridgton Academy (Maine), Sr.: A box-to-box player who was Bridgton’s top performer for the day. He scored an impressive goal in the team’s first win in the morning. M Liam Doyle, Northwood School (N.Y.), Sr.: The Stanford commit simply dominates the play and puts defenses under pressure. He’s tough, never goes down, and he wins balls in the midfield. D Jalen Grant, Hill School (Pa.), Sr.: The Navy commit was solid on the backline and even scored a goal as Hill posted its first win of the season. The outcome also marked Hill’s second shutout in its last three matches. M: Sebastian Green, Northwood School (N.Y.), Sr.: One coach described him as a beast on the field. The uncommitted senior might have the biggest upside of the Northwood seniors. F Noah Handzel, Erie Cathedral Prep (Pa.), So.: He had two great plays in the win over Springside Chestnut Hill, first earning a penalty kick and later scoring a goal. He was flying all around the field the entire match. He showed a lot of poise for a sophomore playing in big-time matches over the weekend. F Daniel Ittycheria Daniel Ittycheria M/D NJ , Pingry School (N.J.), Sr.: He constantly broke down Moeller’s backline. He scored two goals and assisted on one as Pingry mounted a big come-from-behind victory. In fact, his goals were game-changers. The first ended Moeller’s hot start and pulled Pingry within 2-1. His second goal, a left-footed blast, put Pingry ahead for good at 3-2. GK Savio Ketno, Good Counsel (Md.), Sr.: Ketno saved a penalty kick which helped Good Counsel eke out a 1-0 win over Immaculate Heart Central. F Brock Kiper Brock Kiper F Moeller | 2022 OH , Archbishop Moeller (Ohio), Sr.: The Belmont commit is a high-intensity player who was dangerous. D Aydin Kocak, St. Andrew’s (R.I.), Sr.: Kocak is a center back who controlled the backline throughout the match. F Allesandro Lancia, St. Andrew’s (R.I.), Sr.: A native of Italy, Lancia scored a pair of goals to give St. Andrew’s a 2-0 lead in what eventually was a 3-2 setback. Certainly early in the match, he was able to hold the ball and create and finish his chances. F Jordi Lopez, Good Counsel (Md.), Jr.: Lopez played in four different positions Saturday. He was effective in finding space and gaps in the opponent’s defense. His movement off the ball also opened up chances for teammates. In the end, though, it was Lopez who netted the winner in a 1-0 decision. D Leon Ma Leon Ma M Pingry School (NJ) | 2023 NJ , Pingry School (N.J.), Jr.: One a team with several senior standouts, Ma plays a crucial role in the defensive, commanding the backline. He cleaned up a lot of Moeller’s chances in the second half. F Aidan Marroquin Aidan Marroquin F Immaculate Heart Central | 2022 NY , Immaculate Heart Central (N.Y.), Sr.: He won a lot of 50-50 balls and he was great at holding up play and getting the team into the attack. D Alvaro Martin-Pena, Hoosac School (N.Y.), Jr.: He’s smart and super fast. He’s a back who likes to get forward. M Gavin Mpiana Gavin Mpiana F/M PA , Hill School (Pa.), Jr.: Mpiana controlled the match in the midfield and was dangerous in the attack. M Cole Morriello Cole Morriello M NJ , Pingry School (N.J.), Sr.: He was a ball-winner in the midfield for Pingry all day long. D Jeremy Ogango, Hoosac School (N.Y.), Sr.: For the second straight day, Ogango was among the most impressive players in the event. The native of Kenya plays center back, but also makes himself available to receive passes and get the play moving forward. M Adam Osorio, St. Andrew’s (R.I.), Sr.: Osorio is a defensive mid who was constantly working. His distribution was impressive. F Zachary Pacheco, Bridgton Academy (Maine), Sr.: He was good with distribution and seemed to settle the play and calm things down. D Vincent Padalino, Erie Cathedral Prep (Pa.), Jr.: A midfielder by trade, Padalino has been moved to center back and helped Cathedral Prep to a pair of shutouts. He was very good at winning head balls. M Drew Peatman, Holderness (N.H.), Sr.: His distribution was the strength of his play Saturday as he created chances for his teammates in a 4-0 victory. M Declan Rhatigan, Holderness (N.H.), Jr.: A native of Rhode Island, Rhatigan will be solid recruit in the Class of 2023. He scored an impressive goal in Holderness’ win on Saturday. D Paolo Roditti, High Mowing (N.H.), Sr.: The center back from Ecuador held the defense together and converted a penalty kick in High Mowing’s victory. M Lapo Romieri, Hoosac School (N.Y.), Sr.: Hoosac’s lineup is full of players from Italy and Spain. Romieri, from Italy, assisted on a coupe of goals Saturday, and showed his skill in beating players 1v1. F Calem Tommy, Northwood School (N.Y.), Sr.: Explosive speed and has the ability to beat defenders 1v1. He scored in the first two minutes of Northwood’s victory. He is being courted by a number of NCAA Division I programs. M Daniel Yanez Daniel Yanez M NJ , Pingry School (N.J.), Sr.: The PDA MLS Next player was the day’s top offensive performer, scoring two goals and assisting on three. He simply found spaces and exploited the defense. SATURDAY’S BEST XI GK: Savio Ketno, Good Counsel (Md.), Sr. D: Jalen Grant, Hill School (Pa.), Sr., Navy D: Jeremy Ogango, Hoosac School (N.Y.), Sr. D: Vincent Padalino, Erie Cathedral Prep (Pa.), Jr. M: Carmine Dipietrantnio, Bridgton Academy (Maine), Sr. M: Liam Doyle, Northwood School (N.Y.), Sr., Stanford M: Sebastian Green, Northwood School (N.Y.), Sr. M: Daniel Yanez Daniel Yanez M NJ , Pingry School (N.J.), Sr., Tufts F: Daniel Ittycheria Daniel Ittycheria M/D NJ , Pingry School (N.J.), Sr. F: Allesandro Lancia, St. Andrew’s (R.I.), Sr. F: Calem Tommy, Northwood School (N.Y.), Sr.