Soccer season preview: Pocatello, Marsh Valley after return trip to state tourney; Preston off to hot start in 4A

EASTERN IDAHO — District 5 had just two representatives in the 2025 boys’ soccer state tournament.

But both teams, the Pocatello Thunder and the Marsh Valley Eagles, enter the 2026 season with new head coaches. They will also deal with challenges from new conference foes, while some of the old ones return this season with their own title aspirations.

6A

After falling just shy of a state tourney berth a year ago, losing to a conference qualifier to Canyon Ridge on penalty kicks, the Rams (0-5-1) have gotten off to a slow start. Highland has been outscored 18 to three through six games, which includes a 3-2 conference loss to Thunder Ridge.

Both Canyon Ridge and Thunder Ridge, who are coming off trophy-less trips to state last year, are off to stronger starts and present major obstacles for the 2026 Rams.

5A

Under the leadership of Fredrick Kuffour, their first-year head coach, the Thunder have gotten off to a 2-1-2 start, with wins over Skyline and Century and draws against Bonneville and Shelley.

Having joined with District 6, the Thunder and Diamondbacks face the same new challenge — playing as part of a larger conference, with teams coming off successful seasons.

Both Skyline and Blackfoot made appearances in the 5A state tournament last year. The Grizzlies were knocked out after an 0-2 start, while the Broncos eliminated Pocatello en route to a consolation championship.

More than replacing four seniors, including co-captains Carter Johnson and Korbin Contreras, and welcoming a new head coach, Pocatello must contend with Blackfoot, Skyline and the rest of the High Country Conference, not just Century.

The Diamondbacks, who before last year had won three consecutive conference championships, will look to rebound from a rough 2025.

Century has started the season with two wins and a draw through its first four games, including wins against Blackfoot and Hillcrest. Century suffered its only loss thus far at the hands of rival Pocatello.

4A

Like Pocatello, the Marsh Valley Eagles enter the season on the heels of an 0-2 appearance in the state tournament and under the leadership of a new coach.

Jake Rios, who was an assistant coach last year, has led Marsh Valley to a 2-2 start to the season, including a 5-0 season-opening loss to the same Teton Timberwolves who eliminated the Eagles last year.

Marsh Valley will need to replace 2025 seniors Jaxson Smith and Chance Smedley, who averaged 2.5 goals per game between them last season. The Eagles have thus far relied on co-captain Shad McBride to do so.

Having dropped from 4A to 3A this season, Marsh Valley will not face any different competition on the soccer field, as 3A teams compete in the 4A division.

The Eagles will still contend with familiar foes: Aberdeen (1-2, 1-1), American Falls (0-4, 0-0) and Snake River (0-3-1, 0-2). They will also battle with a new conference addition in Preston (5-0, 0-1), which dropped from the 5A division to 4A this year.

Preston has been on a warpath in the early going, outscoring its opponents 16 to two across five games — including a 5-0 home victory over Aberdeen.