The 2025 OSAA boys soccer season has come to an end.
Salem-Keizer area teams from 6A to 3A/2A/1A completed historic seasons with state championships, conference championships, record-setting performances and more.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementStayton completed its first-ever undefeated season with a 4A state championship win over North Marion. The Eagles marched through the Oregon West Conference, winning it handily, as freshman Cesar Perez put a cherry on top of the season with a game-winning goal in the state final.
McNary won its fourth consecutive 6A Central Valley Conference championship. Dayton held off Blanchet Catholic in a 3A/2A/1A Special District 2 conference playoff championship game as drama unfolded from day one to the state final on soccer pitches across the Willamette Valley.
Stayton players throw forward Cesar Perez to celebrate their win as the Stayton Eagles take on the North Marion Huskies in the OSAA 4A state championships at Liberty High School on Nov. 15, 2025, in Hillsboro, Oregon.It’s time for you to decide which individual player had the best season. Here are the nominees for the Statesman Journal’s boys soccer player of the year.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIsaiah Dixon, Stayton
Johnny Garcia, Stayton
Christian Gragert, Silverton
Abraham Lopez, South Salem
Jonathan Mendez, Dayton
Christian Orozco, Blanchet Catholic
Jaiden Ortiz Paredes, North Marion
Fernando Zepeda, McNary
Vote at statesmanjournal.com/sports. The poll closes at noon Wednesday, Dec. 3.
Stayton's Isaiah Dixon (5) passes the ball during the round of 16 OSAA 4A boys soccer state playoffs at Stayton High School on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in Stayton, Ore.Isaiah Dixon, Stayton
Stayton’s senior captain was an offensive force in the Eagles' march to a 4A state championship. Dixon was named Oregon West Conference player of the year. His 14 assists this season were the eighth-best tally across all divisions in Oregon.
Stayton midfielder Johnny Garcia moves the ball up the field as the Stayton Eagles take on the North Marion Huskies in the OSAA 4A state championships at Liberty High School on Nov. 15, 2025, in Hillsboro, Oregon.Johnny Garcia, Stayton
Garcia was a utility-knife piece in the midfield as the Eagles completed their first-ever undefeated state championship season. The senior captain assisted on the lone goal in the state title game and was named to the all-Oregon West Conference first team.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementChristian Gragert, Silverton
Silverton’s junior defender spearheaded a defense that pitched eight shutouts and gave up more than one goal in a game just four times. Gragert earned a first-team all-Mid-Willamette Conference bid as the Foxes played to a 5A state quarterfinals appearance.
South Salem’s Abraham Lopez celebrates scoring in a soccer match against McNary on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025 in Salem.Abraham Lopez, South Salem
Lopez earned a spot on the Central Valley Conference first team from the midfield this season. Lopez, a senior, helped the Saxons to a second-place CVC finish and a second-round appearance in the 6A state tournament.
Jonathan Mendez, Dayton
In the regular season, Mendez scored 16 goals and assisted 11 goals (both top-20 tallies in the state across all divisions) to help the Pirates to a 12-1 overall record and 3A/2A/1A Special District 2 championship. Mendez, a senior, and Dayton fought to a No. 4 seed placement in the state tournament and fell in the quarterfinals.
Blanchet Catholic's Christian Orozco scores the second goal during a high school soccer game at Blanchet Catholic High School on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in Salem, Ore.Christian Orozco, Blanchet Catholic
Orozco was a senior goalkeeper/central midfielder for Blanchet Catholic who could score goals or save them. The senior Cavalier helped Blanchet Catholic to a 7-0-1 second-place conference finish, as well as a 3A/2A/1A state quarterfinal appearance.
North Marion goalkeeper Jaiden Ortiz Paredes, right, blocks a shot as Stayton midfielder Johnny Garcia, center, and North Marion's Christian Delgado Ortiz (22) jump to head the ball in the 4A state championship game. Ortiz Paredes and Garcia are nominees for Statesman Journal boys soccer player of the year.Jaiden Ortiz Paredes, North Marion
Ortiz was North Marion’s rock-at-the-back goalkeeper as the Huskies fought to a 4A state finals appearance. Ortiz, a sophomore, helped North Marion pitch eight shutouts across the regular season to claim a spot on the all-Oregon West Conference second team.
McNary’s Fernando Zepeda dribbles the ball down the field during a soccer match against South Salem on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025 in Salem.Fernando Zepeda, McNary
Zepeda was named Central Valley Conference player of the year as McNary claimed its fourth consecutive conference title. Zepeda, a senior midfielder, and the Celtics went undefeated in the conference (5-0-3) and earned the No. 8 seed in the 6A state tournament.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLandon Bartlett covers high school sports and Oregon State for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at [email protected] or on X or Instagram @bartlelo.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Vote for Statesman Journal's boys soccer player of the year
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