For the first time in three years, Class 5A boys soccer teams around Southern Nevada feel like there’s a legitimate chance at a state championship.
Coronado enters the season as the three-time defending 5A state champion. But the Cougars graduated a big senior class, which included nine starters that helped the program have one of the most dominant runs in all of Nevada high school sports.
“It’s definitely a challenge,” Coronado coach Dustin Barton said. “It’s been fun to try to get ready for this … hopefully these guys coming up are going to be up for the challenge.”
The new boys soccer season begins Thursday. Coronado will get a look at its brand-new squad in action at the South Tahoe Soccer Showcase in South Lake Tahoe, California, on Friday and Saturday. Other 5A challengers Faith Lutheran and Bishop Gorman are also taking part in the event.
‘Something to prove’
Coronado’s triumph over Hug in the 2025 state title game was the program’s 55th consecutive victory, which is the state’s record for an undefeated streak. The Cougars scored a state-record 181 goals last year in a perfect 25-0 season.
This year, Barton said he is optimistic that the newer group can come together and be strong by the end of the year. The coach added that the goal for the Tahoe tournament, which includes Northern Nevada teams, will be to develop chemistry.
“They have something to prove — that they can do it as well,” Barton said. “We’re really working on chemistry now because with all those guys gone, it’s all brand new. There’s probably five guys from last year’s team that are coming back, so that’s kind of the backbone of our team and what we’re building off of right now.”
Coronado returns second-team All-Southern Nevada selection Gavin Biddinger (seven goals and 14 assists in 2025). Barton added that Brady Flickinger – the younger brother of Gavin Flickinger (who scored a state record 127 goals in his two seasons with Coronado) — and Jace Self (10 goals in 2025) will be the Cougars’ top contributors.
“We’re definitely going to have some adversity,” Barton said. “Last year, there weren’t as many close games. We’re going to have to battle every single game. It’ll be good for the kids. It’s going to be completely different with every team (in 5A) being a contender. It’s going to be a super competitive league.”
Other 5A contenders
Palo Verde has qualified for the 5A state tournament each of the last three years and the Panthers’ victory over Coronado in the 2023 region title game was the last time Coronado lost.
Panthers coach Scott Hunt said looking past Coronado this year is “foolish.”
“I still think Coronado is the team to beat,” Hunt said. “They’re still going to be very good. People are going to look past them because they lost all those guys, but I don’t. They haven’t lost in a long time. I don’t know how you count them out.”
Palo Verde is expected to contend atop the Mountain League alongside Bishop Gorman and Faith Lutheran. The Panthers graduated two-time first-team All-Southern Nevada goalie Landon Blanchard.
“There’s a lot of work to be done to replace some of the guys from last year,” Hunt said. “Defensively, we should be good. Three of our four (defensive starters) are returning. They’re all seniors. We got to figure out the rest of the pieces. If our seniors step up and we get some leadership from some seniors, we can have a good year.
“We’ll be somewhere in the mix like we usually are, but we’re going to need those guys to step up for us this year, said Hunt, who added that Crew Simon will lead the Panthers’ defense and expects Parker Turner and Jonathon Villanueva to be their top contributors offensively.
Palo Verde opens at Eldorado in the Gerald Pentsil Classic at 7 p.m. Thursday. Barton added that Eldorado should have a strong team this year.
In 4A, Sunrise Mountain is the defending state champion and looks to challenge alongside SLAM! Nevada, Chaparral and Centennial for the state title.
Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.
Top returning boys soccer players
Ayzen Agbunag, Spring Valley — The junior was the 4A Mountain League defensive player of the year.
Gavin Biddinger, Coronado — The senior had seven goals and 14 assists for the 5A state champion.
Nicholas Divsalar, Spring Valley — The senior was the 4A Mountain League goalie of the year in 2025.
Mason Feeley, Palo Verde — The senior was a 5A all-state defender for the 5A state semifinalist.
Christian Hernandez, Centennial — The junior was the 4A Sky League defensive player of the year last season.
Nathan Mendez, SLAM! Nevada — The junior had 108 saves, 11 shutouts and 17 goals allowed for last year’s 4A state runner-up.
Haydn Rodrigues, Palo Verde — The senior was a 5A all-state defender for the 5A state semifinalist.
Crew Simon, Palo Verde — The senior was a 5A all-state defender for the 5A state semifinalist.
Parker Turner, Palo Verde — The senior was a 5A All-Mountain League forward for the 5A state semifinalist.
