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

Matt Langone and Matt Doherty preview the boys club soccer spring season amid winter weather delays, focusing on MLS Next and ECNL boys postseason qualification for MLS Next Flex and the playoffs in a shortened calendar year. They discuss New England clubs in strong positions (IFA, Bolts, NEFC, Beachside) and highlight key players. The hosts note a surge in 2026 college commitments, a slow pace for 2027 commits, and how the transfer portal and potential Division 2 roster reductions impact recruiting, citing a UMass Boston coach prioritizing transfers. They mention upcoming events like Generation adidas Cup, Jefferson Cup and Florida showcases, including strong ECNL showings by FC Stars U-16 and AC Connecticut U-18/19. "Extra Time" debates player allegiance after transfers, memorable “loud silence” moments, and choosing Bruce Arena as a World Cup final coach. https://youtu.be/XTx4n1PHuTw

Topics

01:50 Flex and Playoff Race

03:31 Top Prospects and IFA Rise

05:26 Commitments and Recruiting Trends

07:56 Transfer Portal Ripple Effect

10:53 Showcases and Key Events

12:48 ECNL Boys Florida Standouts

18:37 Next Wave of Talent

21:32 "Extra Time" Segment

23:42 Modern Fandom Debate

25:33 Fans Athletes Owe

27:10 Loudest Silence Moments

29:24 Tuck Rule Storytime

31:02 Pick World Cup Coach

33:53 Ted Lasso Wrap Up

Matt Langone and Matt Doherty welcome Tufts University men's soccer coach Kyle Dezotell. The coach shares his experience of winning the national championship and discusses the aftermath, the strength of NESCAC, and his vision for the future of the program. The conversation delves into how the team overcame challenges, built the championship roster, and maintained its competitive spirit. The podcast also explores broader themes in soccer, including the popularity of the sport in the U.S. and the significance of player attitudes and multi-sport athletes in building successful teams. In the "Extra Time" segment, the discussion includes philosophical insights into why people passionately support soccer clubs and a fun dive into the best goalkeepers in history.

Topics 00:47 Welcome to the Goal Podcast 01:19 Interview with National Champion Coach Kyle Dezotell 02:01 Reflecting on the Championship Season 04:42 Building a Winning Team 10:53 Recruitment Strategies and Player Development 19:24 The Role of Multi-Sport Athletes 21:46 Looking Ahead: Goals and Challenges 28:26 Recruitment Plans and Future Prospects 28:54 National Championship Reflections 29:40 Extra Time with David Yas 30:26 The Passion of Soccer Fans 36:41 The Rise of Soccer in the U.S. 42:48 Dream Goalkeepers for the World Cup 47:14 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts