What’s driving increased depth, parity in ISL soccer?

Milton Academy junior forward Aidan Farwell drives past a Belmont Hill defender. (Evan Scales/New England Soccer Journal)

Heading into the final two weeks of the Independent School League regular season, just six points separate the teams in first and seventh place.

Much can change from now through the second weekend of November, but that’s a sizable group that speaks to the ISL's growing level of parity. There’s no shoe-in champion this year, even if it's looking like a season-end game between Milton Academy and Nobles & Greenough on Nov. 9 could determine who takes home the Gummere Cup.

Coaches around the ISL are taking notice, namely with how the middle tier has become far more talented. Just ask Willie Waters, who has seen his young Brooks team surpass expectations for a sophomore- and junior-heavy squad.