DeForest boys soccer prepares for 2026 campaign

DeForest's boys soccer team entered the 2026 season after three successful years in the Badger-Large Conference and beyond.

In 2023, 2024 and 2025, DeForest spearheaded three deep postseason runs — each of which ended at state.

The previous season, DeForest's quest for a gold ball fell just short, losing in the 2025 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Division 2 state championship game to Whitefish Bay 3-1. They finished with an 18-2-4 overall record. They didn’t lose a game against conference competition.

Heading into the 2026 season, expectations for DeForest haven’t changed, even if circumstances around them have.

This year, DeForest moves from Division 2 to Division 1, the WIAA reported. DeForest is slotted into loaded Sectional No. 3, which features defending D1 state champion Madison West, 2024 state champion Middleton, among others.

Returning players and outlook

Captain Carter Lovick isn’t going to let that get in the way of their quest for a gold ball.

“Expectations are going to be high”, Lovick, a junior midfielder, said. “We made state three years in a row, but we’re D1 now, so it’s harder competition. But that’s going to be the expectation, and we hope to exceed that expectation.”

With the move to Division 1, DeForest's 2026 schedule will, naturally, feature plenty of Division 1 foes.

In short, it’s nothing new for DeForest.

“These last couple of years, our schedule’s full of D1 teams,” captain Landon Adams, a senior forward/midfielder, said. “I think we’re just very used to the competition. I think it would be great for us to make another run again.”

DeForest’s start to the season reflects that. They kick off their 2026 campaign in a non-conference matchup against Homestead in Milwaukee on Tuesday, Aug. 25. A pair of matchups against Madison La Follette and Madison Memorial will follow this.

Captain and senior midfielder Brad Powers believes their challenging slate to start the season can help prepare his team for what they hope to see come a chilly day in November at state.

“I think it’s just good to get that competition right away earlier in the season,” Powers said. “So then, when it gets later in the postseason, then we already have the experience that we need.”

Senior midfielder Brad Powers scored six goals to go alongside five assists, totaling 17 points, the previous season. He believes DeForest's challenging slate to open the season will prove to beneficial for his team down the road.

Along with moving to Division 1, DeForest will also have a new, albeit familiar, face roaming the sidelines this year.

Josh Howard has taken over as coach for DeForest. Howard, who also serves as the head girls’ soccer coach, was previously an assistant on the boys’ team. He replaces former coach Matthew Scharpf.

Senior captain and midfielder/defender Carter Deming believes their familiarity with Coach Howard is vital to DeForest hitting the ground running again this fall.

“We put our trust in him, and we believe in him and everything that he does for us,” Deming said.

Looking to build off the previous year’s success, the cupboard is far from bare for DeForest this year.

Despite losing notable pieces such as Badger-Large Player of the Year Blake Lovick, Ty Ngo, JB Hall, Miles Meinen, and many others, DeForest has strong assets at its disposal to continue its success.

Additional details

This year, DeForest returns its leading goal scorer in senior Antonio Anchondo. Last year, the lighting-quick forward/midfielder scored 21 goals. He also led DeForest in assists with 10, according to stats provided by MaxPreps.

Antonio Anchondo led DeForest in goals and assists the previous season with 21 goals and 10 assists, earning First Team All-Conference recognition.

Anchored behind Anchondo in the attack, DeForest also expects significant contributions from its four captains.

The previous season, Landon Adams scored 10 goals and dished six assists. Carter Deming scored three goals with five assists. Carter Lovick had three assists along with being a primary anchor on defense, while Brad Powers had six goals and five assists.

DeForest also returns junior goalkeeper Kolby Herschleb. As a sophomore the previous season, he engineered eight shutouts, totaling 38 saves on just six goals allowed. Collectively, DeForest allowed only 13 goals all season.

Other names returning to the fold this year include senior forward/midfielder Cedrick Badillo, senior defender Liam Schloemer and senior midfielder Elliott Colwin, among others.

“I think we have great chemistry,” Carter Deming said on this year’s roster. “We’ve been playing all summer together and in practice, and I think it’s showing right now in practice that we can all play together.”

Landon Adams credits their work ethic as something they can lead on as the season officially kicks off this week.

“Everyone brings a big role to the team, and I think it’ll be a great year for us,” he said.

Additional Preseason coverage note: Gearing up to the season, DeForest coach Josh Howard was featured on the Aug. 10 edition of the Cap City Sportscast. You can view the episode wherever you get your podcasts, such as Spotify and/or Apple Podcasts.