New England Soccer Journal’s The Goal

Seamans Media
  • 4.3 (18)
  • Soccer
  • Updated Weekly

New England Soccer Journal reaches the pulse of the region’s soccer scene in a vibrant way, thanks to The Goal podcast. Each episode features dynamic guests from across the sport’s spectrum, with a focus on prospects.

  1. 20h ago

    Inside our new Best of New England rankings

    In this episode, we delve into our newest Best of New England player rankings, exploring the criteria, standout players, and the evolving landscape of youth development. We ranked 150 players on the boys and girls sides, plus we created "watch list" players from the class of 2029. Matt Doherty and Sam Robb O'Hagan explain how they arrived at these lists.

  2. Jun 18

    NEPSAC's new tournament and recruiting season talk

    In this episode, Matt Doherty welcomes his new co-host, New England Soccer Journal writer Sam Robb O'Hagan. The duo sits down for an early summer check-in to unpack the opening of the college recruiting window and break the news on a massive structural shift coming to the NEPSAC boys' soccer postseason. Key Discussion Topics 1. The June 15th Recruiting Window Opens Boys' Class of 2028 Insights: Sam shares his early takeaways from researching the local boys' talent pool.  The High-Ed Trend (D1 vs. D3/NESCAC): The hosts debate why local boys' players are increasingly choosing high-academic Division 3 programs (like Tufts or Amherst) over mid-tier Division 1 schools due to the transfer portal and international roster squeeze. The Girls' Talent Hotbed: Unlike the boys' side, where development timelines are more complex, local girls' commits are flying off the board to Power Four schools within the first 24 hours (including commits to Boston College and Utah). The hosts credit a highly consolidated ECNL/Girls Academy structure for better player continuity and visibility in New England. 2. Exclusive: The New NEPSAC "Open Tournament" Sam shares a major scoop regarding a postseason overhaul for NEPSAC boys' soccer starting this fall. Why the Change? The NEPSAC aims for a 35% tournament representation threshold across sports. With only 32 teams making the postseason across four classes, soccer fell short, prompting a vote to add 8 more postseason spots. The Tournament Format: Instead of introducing a fifth class, the NEPSAC is introducing an elite 8-team Open Tournament (similar to an "Elite Eight"). It will run as a single-elimination bracket alongside the existing class tournaments. Selection Process: The field will be selected by a committee of coaches, aided by an RPI-style formula looking at strength of schedule. It is expected to heavily feature top Class A and a few Class B programs. The Discourse: Matt and Sam debate the pros and cons—while it creates massive regular-season drama and an exciting playoff field, it could inadvertently dilute the prestige of the traditional Class A title. Notable Quotes "The soccer landscape in New England and just in general in the US at amateur levels is pretty freaking wild, as I've come to learn." – Sam Robb O'Hagan "The quality of play of the NESCAC is at an all-time high... the biggest winners of what's going on at the D1 level are the D3s." – Matt Doherty

  3. Jun 5

    World Cup Preview with Frank Dell'Apa

    Host Matt Doherty welcomes Frank Dell’Apa (New England Soccer Journal/Boston Globe) to discuss the World Cup one month out, focusing on US expectations, injuries, and local ties. They say the US is highly talented but inconsistent under new coach Mauricio Pochettino, should advance from a group with Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey. Frank shifts his title favorites from Spain to France (seen up close in Foxborough) and Germany, flags Portugal and Norway as threats, and highlights Morocco’s depth; they discuss Italy missing another World Cup and compare Boston’s muted buzz to Philadelphia’s planning, preview Gillette games (Scotland-Haiti, France-Norway, England-Ghana), and in “Extra Time” cover Gillette’s pros/cons, vuvuzelas, and novelty merch.   Topics 01:18 USMNT Expectations and Group Outlook 03:11 Breakout Players and Goalkeeper Battle 06:01 Local Ties and Injury Concerns 07:38 Tournament Favorites France and Germany 10:13 Dark Horses Norway England Morocco 15:05 Boston Buzz and Foxborough Logistics 18:42 Must See Gillette Matches and Fanbases 22:11 Picking Extra Teams and Group of Death 23:45 Group of Death Breakdown 25:13 US Group Outlook 25:54 Bosnia Dark Horse Story 28:05 Italy Misses Again 30:17 Extra Time Kickoff 31:21 Gillette Matchday Pros Cons 35:49 Vuvuzelas and Crowd Noise 37:41 World Cup Merch Draft 40:54 Final Thanks and Wrap

  4. Mar 13

    Behind NESJ's Best of New England Rankings

    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

  5. Feb 25

    Boys club soccer spring preview

    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

  6. Feb 12

    Tufts Coach Kyle Dezotell

    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

  7. Jan 28

    James Proctor, Director of Boys Soccer at Masters Academy International

    Matt Langone and Matt Doherty welcome James Proctor, the director of boys soccer at Masters Academy International. The discussion centers around the launch of MAI, a soccer academy aiming to nurture student-athletes with a year-round program. Proctor shares insights on transitioning from Worcester Academy, the recruitment process, and the development of the program, including domestic and international travel plans. He also discusses the establishment of the coaching staff and how MAI will coexist with other New England prep schools. The episode concludes with Proctor's vision for an attacking and energetic soccer style at MAI. Topics 00:36 Guest Introduction: James Proctor 01:10 Building Masters Academy International 02:51 Recruitment and Staffing 07:51 Program Structure and Schedule 10:17 Challenges and Excitement 12:31 League Participation and Competitions 18:20 Future Vision and Style of Play 19:21 Conclusion and Farewell

  8. Jan 16

    Takeaways From the ECNL Florida National Showcase

    Matt Langone and Matt Doherty return to the studio after a holiday hiatus. They discuss Matt Doherty's recent trip to Florida for the ECNL Florida National Showcase, where he observed promising teams and standout players. The podcast delves into team performances, recruiting opportunities, and the strengths of various New England clubs, with a special focus on the 2010 age group. The hosts highlight key takeaways from the showcase, including the strong showing from Connecticut FC and the building excitement for the upcoming ECNL spring season. Additionally, the episode features a trivia segment on global soccer club names and concludes with light-hearted banter about the best meals in Florida.   Topics 00:41 Matt Doherty's Florida Trip Recap 01:39 ECNL Florida National Showcase Highlights 03:58 Standout Teams and Players 06:40 Recruiting Insights and Future Prospects 11:44 Connecticut FC and Select Club Analysis 13:22 Weather and Player Performance 14:53 College Coaches and Recruitment 16:18 Transfer Tracker and College Game Movement 16:39 Playoff Spots and League Emphasis 17:14 Key Matches and Team Aspirations 18:14 Food Adventures in Florida 19:46 Extra Time Trivia Challenge 27:11 Concluding Remarks and Farewell

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4.3
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New England Soccer Journal reaches the pulse of the region’s soccer scene in a vibrant way, thanks to The Goal podcast. Each episode features dynamic guests from across the sport’s spectrum, with a focus on prospects.

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