The Elite 11

Michael Rodriguez
School: Lakeland
Year: Senior
Position: Midfielder

What makes Rodriguez elite: He’s a resourceful attacker who has to be closely marked any time a match is on the line. Rodriguez delivered 15 goals and seven assists last season and was named all-section. He netted four game-winners, two in overtime, and scored three times in the last 11 minutes to lead a wild comeback over Peekskill.

Rhaymani Alexander
School: White Plains
Year: Senior
Position: Forward

What makes Rhaymani elite: He’s a dynamic frontman making up for lost time after losing most of last season to a broken collarbone. Alexander is not content to sit and wait for the ball. He’s a master of changing speeds to create space and is quick to find an open teammate in a crowd.

Lucas Buono
School: Yorktown
Year: Senior
Position: Midfielder

What makes Lucas elite: He’s the heart-and-soul leader of a team that has very high expectations. Buono is constantly in motion. He plays the angles like an engineer, closes on the ball in a hurry and rolls up on 50-50 balls with serious attitude.

Leo Khang
School: Scarsdale
Year: Sophomore
Position: Forward

What makes Leo elite: He’s rarely high or wide with shots inside or outside the box so defenders have to close out with purpose. Khang had a big freshman season with six goals and three assists. He stands 6-foot-1 and has the ability to control the ball in tight spaces, which makes the underclassman a difficult matchup 1-on-1.

Jack Kryger
School: Tappan Zee
Year: Junior
Position: Forward

What makes Jack elite: He’s a nose-for-the-ball player who is likely to score more goals this season than any of his Section 1 peers. Kryger was named all-county and all-section after collecting 19 goals and seven assists last season. He is likely to get even more chances this year with a more experienced group on the field.

Marcus Nahim
School: Iona Prep
Year: Senior
Position: Forward

What makes Marcus elite: He’s a high-velocity striker who’s been in the starting lineup each of the last three seasons. Nahim was named all-CHSAA last year after getting 10 goals and seven assists. He is a sprinter of national repute, as well, and was the first athlete from Iona Prep to compete in the Millrose Games.

Alexander Prevost
School: Mamaroneck
Year: Junior
Position: Defense

What makes Alexander elite: He’s built to be a stopper with size and mobility. Prevost was moved into the starting lineup a year ago and filled a need at centerback, playing a big role in five regular-season and five postseason shutouts. He will be asked to provide leadership for an inexperienced team this year.

Will Redman
School: Bronxville
Year: Senior
Position: Midfield

What makes Will elite: He’s a highly accomplished, extremely technical player who last season was named all-section and all-state. Redman is constantly in attack mode and capable of single-handedly establishing the pace of a game. He stands 6-feet and can win the ball in any number of ways.

Daniel Santos
School: New Rochelle
Year: Senior
Position: Midfielder

What makes Daniel elite: He’s a plug-and-play center midfielder who maintains a wide-angle view of the field. Santos is the Huguenots’ distributor and can be downright elusive in tight spaces. He can slip a pass into a tight window and has uncanny touch when crossing to a teammate.

Anthony Tucci
School: Somers
Year: Senior
Position: Goalie

What makes Tucci elite: He’s a fire-and-ice competitor who often gives up his body to make a stop, regardless of the consequences. Tucci is the most experienced starter returning from last year’s NYSPHSAA championship team, which posted a dozen shutouts. He will be asked to keep a new back line calm this season.

Jonas van Beurden
School: Rye
Year: Senior
Position: Defense

What makes Jonas elite: He’s just plain stubborn. Rye lost momentum last season when van Beurden went down with an injury. He is a fearless back who loves going head-to-head with the best scorers in the section and can turn a game around with a single tackle.