Middlebury center back William O'Brien controls possession. (Brian Foley Photography)
With the 2021 college soccer season in the rearview mirror, we're shining the spotlight on freshmen who made the most of their opportunity.
We've opted for a Best XI format and arranged the group in a 5-4-1 formation, with nine different programs represented. Five of the players have New England hometowns, and there's heavy NESCAC representation.
Off the jump, we'll note that players selected were true freshmen during the 2021 campaign. While sophomores were considered first-years in many respects due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we sifted through players who slotted into the Class of 2021 (natural or deferral).
