Iowa's best high school boys soccer players: Meet the state's top defensive players

With soccer season in full swing, SBLive Iowa is highlighting the top boys soccer players in the state. Today, we take a look at the state's top defensive players. These lists are not comprehensive as there are hundreds of standout soccer players statewide. 

Ryder Davidson, Jr., Treynor

Davidson and teammate Danny Kinsella were both Class 1A all-state first-teamers last season as defensemen, but Kinsella has moved up in the Cardinals’ formation and is playing forward/midfielder this season. The team has lost as many games through seven matches in 2023 as it did in its entire 2022 march to the regional championship round, but all losses have come in non-conference play and the Cardinals stand to have a say in who makes it to state this season behind its returning core.

John Froth, Jr., Dowling Catholic

Froth got an honorable mention nod as a sophomore defenseman in the Central Iowa Metro League, and returns to anchor the back end for Dowling, one of two undefeated teams left in the newly-created Class 4A this season. The Maroons have gotten by with the slimmest of margins with three one-goal wins and a pair of two-goal victories. Froth has a goal scored, but importantly, stopped opponents late in their effort to pull even in close games.

Reyes Falcon, Jr., Humboldt

Falcon was an All-North Central Conference first teamer last season as part of the Wildcats’ 17-1 campaign and runner-up effort in Class 2A as a right back. Humboldt is off to a 5-0 start in 2023 and Falcon has a goal and three assists over that span.

Luke Klostermann, Sr., Assumption

Assumption started last season just 1-4 before going on to capture the Class 1A championship. A big part of the title run was buckling down on goals allowed, and Klostermann went on to be named first team all-state in 1A. The Knights only allowed eight goals after that modest start in 2022, and in their effort to repeat as champs, Klostermann and Co. are off to a 6-0 start and the senior defender has two goals while helping the back line as Assumption has only one goal against in 2023.

Nate Lampe, Jr., Newton

Lampe is a proven playmaker from the back line as the junior has accounted for five goals and 11 assists for Newton this season through Cardinals’ first eight games, in which they’re 6-2 overall and 4-0 in the LIttle Hawkeye Conference. Newton made it to the Class 2A semifinals last season, and Lampe contributed 12 goals and eight assists.

Charlie Leinart, sr., Davenport Assumption

Leinart can play anywhere on the field and is listed as a forward/defender. However, his best attributes are his decision-making and distributing as he led the Class 1A champs in assists with 22 in 21 games last season while adding eight goals. Such a versatile talent is also a threat to score on set pieces for the Knights.

Brody Dehner, Sr., Prince of Peace

The Irish dropped two of its first three matches this season, but have rattled off three consecutive wins. Brody Dehner is primarily a defender, but has moved up to midfield on occasion. He’s one of the state’s most accurate shot takers this season for his position(s), putting nearly 40 percent of the 18 shot attempts on goals with seven goals.

Noah Blomquist, Jr., North Polk

Blomquist has a goal and two assists for North Polk through five matches as he moves back and forth between defender and midfielder. His versatility has helped the Comets to a couple of wins this season after going just 4-11 a season ago.

Caleb Mattes, Jr. Newton

Behind the previously mentioned Lampe and Mattes, Newton boasts one the best back lines in the state. Mattes has contributed toward the team’s goal total with five goals and two assists through five matches.

J.T. Laufersweiler, Jr., Fort Dodge

While Fort Dodge has experienced some struggles as a team (1-3 this season), Laufersweiler is a benefit to the team in all facets as he anchors the back line and has added four goals this season while putting 44 percent of his 20 shots on goal this season.

Isaac Weary, Jr., Gilbert

Gilbert is out to a 6-1 start and has only allowed three goals over that span. Weary is the Tigers’ center back and deserves some of the credit for keeping clearing the path ahead of goalie Matthew Weber. Weary has also contributed two goals and an assist while putting half of shots on goal.

Christian Lawson, Jr., Newton

A third Newton defender appears on this list, and for good reason. Lawson has five goals and six assists as a defender for the Cardinals, though he hasn’t captured the individual accolades of his teammate Lampe, and splits his time between all levels of the Newton formation, as he’s listed as a defenseman, but started for the Cardinals at forward at last year’s Class 2A state tournament, where Newton made the semifinals.

Cole Angell, Fr., Marion

Angell has inserted himself among the best first-year players this season, regardless of position as he’s held his own on the Wolves’ back line and helped his team to a 6-0 start. He’s also supplied Marion with five assists this season as the Wolves have shown an ability to quickly turn defense into offense.

Alex Nelson, Fr., Sioux City North

Like Angell, Nelson has come up big in his first season at the varsity level. As a defenseman, Nelson has four assists through five games for the Stars, who hit a two-game skid after winning their first three games of the season as North tries to replicate the success it had last season in going 12-5.

Blake Carolan, Sr., Hudson

Carolan has three goals and four assists for the 4-1 Pirates. He’s put over 42 percent of his 14 shot attempts on goal as Hudson is thinking big this season after going just 13-20 over the last two seasons.

Carter Spangler, Sr., Pleasant Valley

Pleasant Valley is 5-1 so far this season and looking to repeat as Class 3A champions. Spangler returns from that title team as starting center back after helping the Spartans play astounding defense the entire time. PV only allowed six goals last season in going 19-1, and didn’t allow any scores in the postseason.Spangler has a goal and an assist this season after going for two assists last season while anchoring the defense.

Owen Duff, Jr., Waukee Northwest

Duff is the lone returning defenseman from last years’ Wolves team that made it to the Class 3A state championship game. A left back for Northwest, he had a goal and an assist in their runner-up campaign. The Wolves are out to a 5-1 start this season and have only given up more than one goal in one of those games, which was a 5-3 quality win over Ames.

Luke Bohonek, Sr., Bettendorf

Bettendorf posted eight shutout wins last season, and Bohonek collected first team All-Mississippi Athletic Conference honors while playing center back for the Bulldogs. He’s contributed an assist for the 5-2 Bulldogs, who have only allowed two goals and are fresh off a victory over reigning Class 3A state champions Pleasant Valley.

Tyler Woods, Jr., Ankeny

Woods was a starting center back on last season’s 19-2 team that qualified for the Class 3A state tournament. He had four assists from the back line while garnering first team All-Central Iowa Metro League honors.

Jack Hillis, Sr., Waukee

Waukee ended last season even at 9-9 and were ousted in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs. Still, Hillis was named first team All-Central Iowa Metro League after he scored a goal and an assist. This season, he has two goals on just five total shot attempts while anchoring the defense.

Ben Croll, Sr., Urbandale

Urbandale has struggled this season, getting out to a 2-6 start. But the J-Hawks have gone up against a brutal schedule and return two All-Central Iowa Metro League defenders in Croll and classmate Denis Sehic. Croll has been a bit more effective this season as he’s tallied two goals for Urbandale as the J-Hawks seek to rebound from the tough start and make a bid to return to the state tournament.

Drake Gray, Sr., Muscatine

Gray plays an aggressive center back and can play up on set pieces to present opponents with an additional scoring threat in the Muskies’ attack. He plays physical at just under 6-feet tall and around 170 pounds, yet displays good lateral quickness when he wins possession and turns the tide in a hurry with good runs down the field to set up other Muskies. He’s also scored a goal for the 4-1 Muskies and was a member of last season’s All-Mississippi Athletic Conference team.

Hayden Saul, Jr., Iowa City Liberty

Saul was all-conference in the Mississippi Valley after scoring seven goals and tallying two assists as a sophomore defenseman. This season, he has two goals and an assist for the 2-1 Lightning as Liberty tries to break through to the state tournament after losing in the regional final to Cedar Rapids Prairie in 2022 and ending the season 15-4.

Haider Nasr, Soph., Iowa City Liberty

Behind Nasr and Saul, Liberty boasts a formidable back line, although the two are new teammates with the Lightning as Nasr captured All-Mississippi Valley status as a member of the Iowa City West squad in 2022. In two games with the Lightning, he’s got an assist from the back row.

Jackson Othmer, Jr., Muscatine

Othmer is in his third year on the Muscatine varsity squad and has played every level of the Muskies’ formation except goalie. With a surplus of midfielders, Muscatine has Othmer anchoring the back line, and the junior brings a high soccer IQ, strong leg and athletic, big frame (5-foot-11, 170 pounds) as center back to protect the Muskie net. He led his team in scoring as a freshman with eight goals.