Woodstock Academy repeats as national champs

For the second straight season, Woodstock Academy (Conn.) finishes atop the Prep Top 10.

The powerhouse program under coach Owen Finberg won a second straight Prep Premier League title and now boasts a 29-1-3 record over the past two seasons. En route to a second straight Prep Top 10 No. 1 ranking, Woodstock went 6-0-1 against other Prep Top 10 programs. Woodstock’s only loss was a setback to Pennington School (N.J.), which was last year’s High School Boys Soccer fall national champion.

The top three look familiar as Taft School (Conn.) finishes No. 2 and Milton Academy (Mass.) is No. 3. Last year, Milton was No. 2 and Taft was 3. This year’s Prep Top 10 struck an equal balance between the NEPSAC and PPL programs, with five each. Historically, the NEPSAC schools had dominated the rankings, including the top spot. Since the creation of the PPL in 2023, a handful of year-round, residential programs that play a fall prep season have risen in the profile.  

FINAL 2024 PREP TOP 10

School, Record, Accomplishment

1. Woodstock Academy (Conn.), 14-1-2, PPL champion

Rutgers signee Jude Essuman Jude Essuman F #145 Nation CT , a midfielder, netted a team-best eight goals in league play to lead Woodstock to a second straight PPL title. In the final, Woodstock edged Hoosac School 2-1. Other standouts include Lehigh commit Ajani Banton Ajani Banton D Woodstock Academy | 2025 #218 Nation CT , a defender, and Middlebury commit Dylan Payne Dylan Payne M CT , a midfielder. Essuman will be competing in this week’s High School All-America Game in Charleston, S.C. The following Woodstock seniors are expected to sign with NCAA Division I programs: LB Romeo Corino, AM Jasper Cox Jasper Cox M Woodstock Academy | 2025 #220 Nation CT , W Xahvi DeRoza Xahvi DeRoza M Woodstock Academy | 2025 CT , CM Enoch Joseph Enoch Joseph M Woodstock Academy | 2025 CT , GK Alvaro Medrano Lopez Alvaro Medrano Lopez GK #40 Nation CT and CB Jonathan Moumboko Jonathan Moumboko D Woodstock Academy | 2025 #84 Nation MA . Sophomore star Richard Sarpong Richard Sarpong F Woodstock Academy | 2027 CT was second on the team in league goals and fourth overall in the PPL.

2. Taft School (Conn.), 17-3-1, NEPSAC A champion

UConn signee Preston Alessio Preston Alessio M Taft School | 2025 #43 Nation CT , a senior midfielder, was named NEPSAC Player of the Year after leading Taft School to its first-ever NEPSAC A title. Alessio will be playing in the High School All-America Game in South Carolina on Dec. 14. The following seniors have committed to college programs: F Ethan Marquis (Stonehill), M Joaquín Manon (Colby), CB Ollie Clifford (Colby), W/OB Ebenezer Lamptey (Connecticut College), M Trevor Saruwaka (Trinity College). Alessio, Marquis, and junior B Marcos Santana Marcos Santana D Taft School | 2026 CT also earned all-NEPSAC first-team honors.

3. Milton Academy (Mass.), 18-2-1, NEPSAC A runner-up

Milton Academy, after winning the NEPSAC A title in 2023, fell to Taft School in the 2024 final. The result does lead to a second straight Top 3 Prep Top 10 finish. Milton Academy was led by Wake Forest signee Alfred Debah Alfred Debah F Milton Academy | 2025 #4 Nation MA , a forward, and Stanford signee Josh Partal, a midfielder. Debah finished with 42 goals and 13 goals for his career. Partal had 31 career goals and 25 assists.

4. Hoosac School (N.Y.), 12-5-4, PPL runner-up

Xavier commit Harun Bakaran Harun Bakaran F Hoosac | 2025 #170 Nation NY sparked a Hoosac School to a late-season run that ended up with a PPL runner-up finish. Bakaran, who was selected for the All-America Game, finished his career with 60 goals. Hoosac School upset Northwood School in the PPL quarterfinals before stunning Kiski School in the semifinals on PKs.

5. Kiski School (Pa.), 17-1-5, PPL third

Kiski School put together one of its best-ever showings before getting upset in the PPL semifinals in penalty kicks. The team’s top scorer in league play was Santiago Giraldo Valencia, an uncommitted senior. The second-leading scorer is junior standout Mamadou Tall, who already has committed to Pitt. Giraldo Valencia, Nahum Bardolet Llordes, Mateo Secaira and Francisco Branco, all seniors, are receiving NCAA Division I interest.

6. Loomis Chaffee School (Conn.), 17-4-1, NEPSAC A semifinalist

7. Western Reserve Academy (Ohio), 5-4-1* (PPL only), PPL fourth

8. Northwood School (N.Y.), 5-3-2* (PPL only), PPL tied fifth

9. Choate Rosemary Hall (Conn.), 14-4-3, NEPSAC A semifinalist

10. Suffield Academy (Conn.), 16-4-2, NEPSAC B champ

All-Time Prep Top 10 No. 1s

2024 – Woodstock Academy (Woodstock, Conn.)

2023 – Woodstock Academy (Woodstock, Conn.)

2022 – South Kent School (Conn.)/Worcester Academy (Mass.)

2021 – Northfield Mount Hermon (Mass.)/South Kent School (Conn.)

2020 – no season

2019 – South Kent School (South Kent, Conn.)

2018 – Berkshire School (Sheffield, Mass.)

2017 – Brooks School (North Andover, Mass.)

2016 – South Kent School (South Kent, Conn.)

2015 – South Kent School (South Kent, Conn.)

2014 – Berkshire School (Sheffield, Mass.)

2013 – Hill School (Pa.)/Berkshire (Mass.)

2012 – Berkshire School (Sheffield, Mass.)

2011 – South Kent School (South Kent, Conn.)