Prep Boys: First, Second, Third Best XIs named from 2019 season

Worcester Academy striker Jose Lolas scored in the Class A title game. (Mike Gridley/New England Soccer Journal)

Which players were the best of the best?

New England Soccer Journal sought to answer that exact question for the 2019 NEPSAC boys soccer season, one that ended with Worcester Academy, South Kent, Concord Academy and Rocky Hill all bringing home trophies.

But silverware isn’t the only qualifying factor when defining a superb season, and certainly not when assembling our First, Second and Third Best XIs. Rather, a wide array of qualities were considered – production, talent, college commitment, potential, etc. – when penciling in each group.

The three teams, explained below, are each organized in a 3-4-3 formation. Twenty of the 33 players are from New England, reflecting the international impact on prep school soccer. To account for the NEPSAC's depth of talent, an honorable-mention section is also included for each position group.