New England Soccer Journals The Goal

Author: Seamans Media

New England Soccer Journal reaches the pulse of the regions soccer scene in a vibrant new way, thanks to The Goal podcast with Matt Langone. Each episode features dynamic guests from across the sports spectrum, with a focus on prospects.
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Language: en

Genres: Soccer, Sports

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Behind NESJ's Best of New England Rankings
Episode 119
Friday, 13 March, 2026

Matt Doherty and Matt Langone discuss their “Best in New England” rankings for boys and girls in the classes of 2026 and 2027, explaining their evaluation process using in-person scouting, input from coaches, league honors, team success, and college commitments while acknowledging the difficulty of positional comparisons and “splitting hairs” within tiers. The hosts describe the 2026 boys list as MLS Next-heavy near the top and discuss balancing MLS Next, prep, and commitment context and explain why only 25 2027 boys were ranked due to slower recruiting. They call the 2027 girls class exceptionally deep, with many FC Stars commits, and discuss club and school representation across New England. In Extra Time, they answer questions about favorite New England soccer venues, unusual moments seen in games, and differences between men’s and women’s soccer and coaching approaches. Topics 01:00 Podcast Intro and Rankings Recap 01:59 How the Rankings Were Built 03:56 2026 Boys Top Tier Breakdown 04:58 MLS Next vs Prep Weighting 08:29 Splitting Hairs and Tier Gaps 10:21 Positions and Goalkeeper Value 11:33 Owning Mistakes and Updates 17:10 2027 Boys List and Recruiting Trends 22:10 2027 Girls Loaded Class 25:51 New England Club Powerhouses 27:53 Girls Clubs and Commit Numbers 28:36 High Schools Producing Talent 30:49 Rankings Updates and Next Steps 31:32 Regional Gaps Beyond Mass and Conn 32:52 Extra Time Segment Begins 33:21 Best Soccer Venues in New England 36:42 Craziest Never Seen That Moment 40:01 Men vs Women Soccer Differences 43:32 Coaching Women vs Men 48:14 Wrap Up and July Tease