After a strong season and unexpected first-round playoff exit last season, the boys soccer team looks to hit the ground running to kick off the 2025 season.
After seeing 13 seniors graduate, including star center back Dylan Tamayo and current MIT player Canon Robins, the Dolphins will likely have an entirely new 11 out on the field as starters this year.
“Those are definitely tough shoes to fill, since we lost so many vital team members,” senior center back Kaden Pratt said. “Luckily, we’re surrounded by a great group of guys who are all going to come together and mesh this year.”
Even for the underclassmen, recent success and program pedigree is not a daunting comparison, but rather something promising to build off of. Attackers Tristan Domanski and Lukas Leach look to build off strong freshman campaigns, while midfielder Zak Kain-Kuzniewski is already a vocal leader.
“Most people want to label this year as a rebuilding year for us, but that is not what we plan on it being,” sophomore midfielder Zak said.
Having long been known as a defense-first side, Coach Dave Wiggins will be relying on seniors Taden Domanski and Kaden Pratt, as well as junior Austin Stegerwald to limit opponents’ chances.
“Veterans have already taken on increased leadership roles, and are helping mold a solid core family for the future,” Wiggins said. “A big key to our success will be the emergence of our reserves and former JV players, since we have only one returning field player from last year’s starting 11.”
Though some have counted out the team this season, especially due to their lack of upperclassmen, many believe their youth could be a positive.
“Being on the team for four years means that I have seen the program continue to grow,” Taden said.
With that being said, after stalling somewhat early in the playoffs the last few years, there are definite points of emphasis as far as improvement is concerned this season. Specifically, the Dolphins will look to have a more potent attack this season through a variety of tactics.
“We need to work on our chemistry and work ethic,” Zak said. “Last year, there were too many individual players, which cannot happen this year; we need to watch more film and be more interconnected so that we can work our way through slumps.”
Regardless of the narrative surrounding the team being young, they won both of their preseason scrimmages, one against 2023 state champion Princess Anne on March 6, 2025, and are intent on exceeding all outside expectations.
“We are viewing this season as a ‘reload,’ rather than a ‘rebuild,’” Wiggins said. “A key element to success will be winning games that we’re supposed to win, then playing well against the “big 5” (Cox, Kellam, First Colonial, Princess Anne and Landstown).”
The team starts their season off with matches against Oscar Smith and Kempsville, both teams which they have beaten within the last two years. However, the team has much loftier goals than meeting expectations.
“The goal is always that state title, but I think any improvement on previous years is something to strive for,” junior goalkeeper Logan Carbone said. “Beating First Colonial would also be very satisfying, since we’ve gone nine games without a win against them.”
With a bit more preparation, some momentum and trust in the new talent on the team, many have their sights set high.
“I have no doubt that we will have a very successful season,” Taden said.
