The Wilmington area is buzzing as the 2026 high school boys soccer season approaches, with 52 standout athletes slated to shape the competition.
A Historic Title Sets the Tone
Hoggard High School capped a remarkable 2025 campaign by capturing the first ever state championship for a New Hanover County program, a milestone that has raised expectations across the region.
Returning stars such as senior forward Ari Tanner, who led Hoggard with 18 goals last year, and sophomore midfielder Harry Dyer, who contributed 16 assists and 12 goals, are expected to anchor the squad once again.
Laney’s senior forward Conner Wall, who netted 12 goals in 2025, will carry the Buccaneers’ attack, while New Hanover’s sophomore sensation Tre Bennett already boasts 20 goals and a reputation for clutch performances.
New Transfers Bring Fresh Energy
The offseason brought notable transfers, including Ronald 'Trey' Ragan and Eduardo Morales, who are expected to add depth and dynamism to their new teams.
Other local programs are also poised to contend; Jax Lawrence, a senior striker for the Topsail Pirates, recorded 17 goals and 13 assists in 2025, while Cruz Bernardini, a sophomore from North Brunswick, found the net six times as a freshman.
South Brunswick’s senior Tristen Baker contributed 10 goals and seven assists, and Aiden McDonough of Wilmington Christian Academy topped the private‑school charts with 39 goals and 15 assists.
Coaches and analysts alike see the convergence of returning talent and new blood as a catalyst for a highly competitive season, one that could produce additional state‑level breakthroughs and solidify the area’s reputation as a hotbed of high school soccer.