Top local talent back as Fayetteville-area teams prepare for 2026 season
The high school boys soccer season is set to begin and several Fayetteville-area programs are returning players who were central to last year's postseason runs. Area teams combined to send multiple squads into state playoffs across NCHSAA and NCISAA divisions, and individual standouts are expected to shape conference races and local rivalries.
Gray's Creek produced the deepest Fayetteville-area run in last season's NCHSAA playoffs with a trip to the third round, falling 2-0 to Franklinton. Cape Fear captured the Tri-County conference title, while South View earned a share of the Eastern Sandhills crown — its first league title in 20 seasons. Those team results set a backdrop for a new season in which several returning players will be counted on to produce again.
Players to watch
- Kwabena Asante, Village Christian, junior — 27 goals, five assists; all-conference as a sophomore.
- Jesse Baker, Fayetteville Academy, senior — 14 goals, 24 points; part of an Eagles squad unbeaten in conference play.
- Bryan Chavez, Gray's Creek, senior — 10 goals, eight assists; first-team All-Tri-County selection.
- Aiden Hale, Cape Fear, junior — five goals, 11 points; all-conference as a sophomore.
- Alex Hellis, Gray's Creek, senior (goalkeeper) — 0.837 goals-against average, 51 saves; ranked No. 5 in 6A.
- Levi Laney, Fayetteville Christian, junior (goalkeeper) — 0.982 goals-against average in NCISAA 3A; 18 saves and three assists.
- Melvin Correa Martinez, Seventy-First, senior — 3.538 goals-against average, 81 saves; top-five in Eastern Sandhills Conference.
- Damon Ueltzen, Berean Baptist, junior — all-conference as a sophomore with 18 saves.
- Xander Morgan, Fayetteville Christian — listed among returning standouts.
Local stakes and implications
Returnees with high goal totals will be pivotal for teams chasing conference titles and postseason berths. Goalkeepers such as Alex Hellis and Levi Laney give their programs a defensive foundation that can determine seedings in playoff brackets. For schools like Cape Fear and South View, returning contributors should help sustain momentum from league championships; for Gray's Creek, veterans who reached the third round will aim to push further in the NCHSAA field.
The mix of returning scorers and strong goalkeepers across different classifications — from NCISAA 3A to NCHSAA 6A and conference play in Tri-County and Eastern Sandhills — underscores the depth of talent in the Fayetteville region. That depth influences not only local bragging rights but also how Cumberland County programs are perceived across the state heading into the 2026 season.
Quick reference
| Player | School | Notable stat(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Kwabena Asante | Village Christian | 27 goals, 5 assists |
| Jesse Baker | Fayetteville Academy | 14 goals, 24 points |
| Alex Hellis (GK) | Gray's Creek | 0.837 GAA, 51 saves (No. 5 in 6A) |
| Levi Laney (GK) | Fayetteville Christian | 0.982 GAA (NCISAA 3A), 18 saves |
As the season opens, coaches and fans around Fayetteville will be watching whether these returners can translate past production into team success and deeper playoff runs for their schools.
