Boys' Soccer Season Preview

The Newark Academy boys' soccer team enters the 2026 season looking to build on a successful 10-9-1 campaign under head coach Hernando Santamaria. Last fall, the Minutemen were led by captains Zach Shirodkar ’26, KJ Powell ’26 and Ryan Zhu ’26, while Cash Loncar ’27, Nathan Yan ’27 and Kai van Garderen ’27 will serve as captains this season.

The Minutemen are coming off a memorable 2025 season that included a 1-0 victory over Livingston in the "Battle of Livingston" at Sports Illustrated Stadium, home of the New York Red Bulls. This fall, Newark Academy's girls' soccer team will take center stage at the venue when it faces Millburn.

Newark Academy returns a strong core of award-winning players led by Cash Loncar ’27, an All-State Prep B First Team selection. Also back are Nathan Yan ’27, Kai van Garderen ’27 and Nicos Estiakoh ’28, who each earned All-Super Essex Conference (SEC) Liberty Division Second Team honors, along with Nico Rodriguez ’28, an SEC Liberty Division Honorable Mention selection.

The Minutemen will look to replace a talented senior class that included Ryan Zhu ’26, Zachary Shirodkar ’26 and KJ Powell ’26, all SEC Liberty Division First Team selections. Newark Academy also graduated Zach Gershwin ’26, an SEC Liberty Division Honorable Mention honoree, Pablo Koestel ’26, an All-State Prep B First Team selection and Jacob During ’26, who earned All-State Prep B Honorable Mention recognition.

Newark Academy opens the 2026 season on Tuesday, September 1, hosting West Orange at 4:00 p.m. The Minutemen will compete in the Super Essex Conference Liberty Division against East Side (Newark), Columbia, West Essex, Millburn and Verona.