Shealer’s Notebook: Who’s No. 1 in 2022?

As the fall season winds down, the preseason hype starts up for 2022. Today, I take a look at some early favorites for preseason No. 1 for the fall of 2022. <strong>GIRLS</strong> <strong>Bearden (Tenn.)</strong> won the state title in 2021, while host the High School All-America Game in December, and easily could be hoisting a national title in 2022. South Carolina commit [player_tooltip player_id="26207" first="Brinley" last="Murphy"] leads a talent crew that is returning from a 23-0-1 season. Nyla Blue, a sophomore, netted the state title-winning goal agains Houston. Breana Mendoza, a sophomore, added a game-clinching state title goal in the 3-1 win. Add in junior Rebecca Roth and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="26193" first="Alivia" last="Stott"], and Bearden has the offense to make another serious run at No. 1 in 2022 after what will be a Top 5 finish in 2021. <strong>Mount Notre Dame (Ohio)</strong> plays for the Ohio Division I state title this weekend. The program has not lost a regular season match since 2019. Peyton Kohls, a top prospect, is only a junior. Assuming the club players return in 2022, Mount Notre Dame will have the lineup that could make a state title run, along with a serious bid for FAB 50 No. 1. <strong>Hingham (Mass.)</strong>, like Mount Notre Dame, is still playing this fall. But looking ahead, the Harbormen should be just as strong in 2022, as long as national recruit [player_tooltip player_id="22759" first="Sophie" last="Reale"] returns. <strong>McDonogh (Md.)</strong>, similar to the school’s boys program listed below, was merely a collection of young players with one key senior, [player_tooltip player_id="22647" first="Kelsey" last="Smith"], leading the way to an IAAM A Conference title. While McDonogh won’t be preseason No. 1 material, this could be a squad that makes a run based on its results. This program routinely travels out of state to flex its muscle. It backfired this year in a loss in Pennsylvania, but next year, wins in those types of matches can really elevate a ranking. It’s also fair to note, unlike the teams listed above, McDonogh played 2021 without much match experience since the school did not field a team in the 2020-2021 school year. In fact, for most of the team, the 2021 season was their first high school play. Key returners include [player_tooltip player_id="22714" first="Sabba" last="Haghgoo"], Gracie Salias, Addy Mahaney and Remi Schaller. <strong>Rutgers Prep (N.J.)</strong> is another program similar to McDonogh in that it might not be No. 1 preseason material, yet, the pieces are there for a real soccer power. [player_tooltip player_id="23805" first="Addison" last="Halpern"], a freshman, has been part of the U.S. Youth National Team ID events and is considered a major college prospect. [player_tooltip player_id="24190" first="Melina" last="Rebimbas"], a junior, already has committed to North Carolina. Combined, they have scored 78 goals in 2021. With a bit more of a challenging schedule, Rutgers Prep could be in for a lofty national ranking. <strong>BOYS</strong> The reality of boys soccer in the fall right now, there is <strong>St. Benedict’s (N.J.)</strong> and <strong>St. Ignatius (Ohio)</strong>, and then there’s everyone else. St. Benedict’s is riding a 70-match undefeated streak. St. Ignatius’ undefeated run is in the 60s. Both teams feature game-changing underclass players. This one is almost too difficult to call for 2022, but the lean is St. Benedict’s since almost the entire starting lineup returns. [player_tooltip player_id="18528" first="Ransford" last="Gyan"], a sophomore, is an exciting forward who ended as the team’s leader in goals (16) and assists (12) as the Gray Bees only played 13 matches. Current sophomore Philder Fanes and junior [player_tooltip player_id="18527" first="Belmar" last="Joseph"] were second and third in scoring. Another key returnee will be keeper Marilio Soares, who is exceptional with his feet and did not allow a goal in the run of play this season. Meanwhile, St. Ignatius expects to return Notre Dame commit [player_tooltip player_id="14666" first="Nolan" last="Spicer"] in the midfield, along with top prospects forward [player_tooltip player_id="14738" first="Zsombor" last="Onodi"] and keeper [player_tooltip player_id="14674" first="Patrick" last="McLaughlin"]. The good news, the programs are discussing renewing their rivalry next season. Therefore, it might not matter who is No. 1 or 2 to start the season as they might settle the issue on the field. In 2018, St. Benedict’s won the first-ever meeting between the schools en route to a No. 1 finish. In 2019, the teams tied and ended up sharing FAB 50 No. 1 honors that fall. <strong>Martin Luther King (N.Y.)</strong> is coached by legendary Martin Jacobson, whose exploits have been featured in documentaries and on 60 Minutes. In his mid-70s, he says retirement is near, but as long as he’s leading this program, MLK should remain a PSAL — and thus national — national power. Looking ahead of 2022, MLK returns [player_tooltip player_id="33767" first="Hakim" last="Karamoko"], a man-child in he attack. Karamoko was tabbed as one of the nation’s top ECNL players this past summer and likely will be courted like former MLK star Yaya Bakayoko, who played every match at North Carolina this past fall as a sophomore. <strong>McDonogh (Md.)</strong> saw its run of MIAA A Conference titles end at the hands of rival Calvert Hall (Md.), but the experience will serve as motivation for this youthful team. [player_tooltip player_id="32260" first="Bryant" last="Mayer"] already has committed to Northwestern. [player_tooltip player_id="11864" first="Tyler" last="Tucker"] is a major college prospect, as well. The team fielded mostly an underclass starting lineup en route to a 21-3 season with two losses coming to Calvert Hall. The big issue will be finding a finisher to replace [player_tooltip player_id="29182" first="Jacob" last="Murrell"] who was directly involved in about 80 percent of the team’s goals. <strong>Marquette (Wis.)</strong> is a staple program in the rankings. The Hilltoppers dominate Wisconsin (seven state titles in the past eight years). The team plays a demanding schedule, one that normally provides justification for the ranking of the Midwest teams. Marquette is seldom in the conversation for No. 1, and won’t be next year in the preseason as it graduates a number of key performers this year. However, the Hilltoppers always reload and make a Top 10 push every year under coach Steve Lawrence.