IFA Leads All New England Clubs in NESJ Boys Prospect Rankings
Intercontinental Football Academy of New England (IFA) is pleased to announce that is the most represented club in the New England Soccer Journal's Top 50 Boys Prospects in the Class of 2026, with 10 players earning recognition, more than any other club in the region. IFA players also featured prominently in the NESJ's inaugural Class of 2027 rankings and underclassmen watch list.
The rankings, compiled by NESJ's Matt Langone and staff, evaluate prospects across high school, prep school, and club performance, factoring in regular season and postseason results, showcase appearances, college recruiting interest, national team consideration, and discussions with coaches. IFA's ten selections in the Class of 2026 lead all New England clubs, ahead of the Revolution Academy with six.
“The club is proud to see so many of our players recongnized by the New England Soccer Journal in their inaugural player rankings,” said IFA New England General Manager Matt Hardiman. “Though these lists are always subjective, it highlights the commitment these players and families have made to developing their game. Our aim continues to be to create a training and game environment where all players can reach their full potential and we are excited to see all our players continue to excel this spring and beyond,” said Hardiman.
Midfielder Trevor Steele (#4, Loomis Chaffee, committed to Notre Dame), defender/midfielder Gavin Baer (#8, Suffield Academy, committed to Northwestern), defender Owen Fadden (#9, CoE, committed to New Hampshire) and forward Jeremie Kasongo (#10, Northfield Mount Hermon, committed to Coastal Carolina) all earned top-10 recognition. The NESJ staff noted that such a high concentration of talent shows “just how competitive that club has gotten in the mighty MLS Next platform."
Class of 2026: IFA New England Players in the top 50
#4 Trevor Steele : (Notre Dame)
#8 Gavin Baer : (Northwestern)
#9 Owen Fadden : (New Hampshire)
#10 Jeremie Kasongo : (Coastal Carolina)
#16 Cesar Miranda : (Columbia)
#28 Luca Toro : (Northwestern)
#39 Griffin Collins : (Holy Cross)
#42 Matt Droggitis : (Rhode Island)
#45 Jonny Osinski : (Rhode Island)
#49 Ethan Rabel : (Brown)
Class of 2027: IFA Players in the Top 25
#4 Matteo Sestito (Boston College)
#14 Reid Aquino (Uncommitted)
#18 Eli Tillinghast (Uncommitted)
#20 Fernando Rivas-Lora (Uncommitted)
Underclassmen Watch List:
Sanders Bertos (2029)
Ben Quirino-Silva (2028)
Jax Cloutier (2028)
Charlie Cruz (2028)
Lisandro Rubino (2029)
Across all three lists, IFA placed 19 players in the NESJ's "Best of New England" boys rankings a reflection of the depth of talent across the club's MLS NEXT pathway. IFA New England provides extensive support for college-bound student-athletes, including yearly college placement seminars, Q&A sessions with college coaches, and individualized guidance throughout the recruitment process.
To learn more about IFA's boys academy programs, visit https://www.ifanewengland.com/boys-academy.
