Following a 17-6-1 record last season, the Oakville Tigers boys soccer team is heading into the season energized and ready for more.
“Tryouts week went well. Had a lot of guys come out, and it’s been great talent out there. We practiced early in the morning, so while it was still hot, we didn’t have to deal with the brunt of the heat,” Oakville boys soccer head coach Brad Oestreich said.
The varsity squad is carrying 25 players this season, due, in part, to the large number of athletes who tried out for the program — 95 students, to be exact. Of the 25 on varsity, 11 are seniors, 10 are juniors and 4 are sophomores; no freshmen will play on the team.
“We have that core group coming back this year,” Oestreich said. “We’re really excited for that chemistry to really just carry over to this season, and hopefully be able to carry on the success from last year and into this season.”
Though captains were not yet named as of The Call’s press time, Oestreich again pointed to the core group of returners as leaders on and off the field.
“I think any one of (them) really can step up and take that leadership role,” he said.
One player who has stood out in particular is Tarik Sopovic, who served as a captain last season.
Despite the Tigers’ success in 2025, the team fell to St. John Vianney High School in the final round of the Class 4 District 1 Tournament — something Oestreich hopes not to repeat come October.
“We had a great season last year, but we did not reach the goals that we set forth. We lost a tough one in the district championship to Vianney,” Oestreich said. “Our goal this year is obviously to continue to build on that success from last year, and really come out, compete each and every day, and look to also get that district championship, which will then hopefully lead us to that final goal of making that state run.”
The team, per Oestreich, will be well-prepared for a post-season run due in part to its tough regular season schedule. Oakville will also play multiple additional games spread throughout the season against the area’s top teams through the St. Louis High School Champions League tournament. In its third year, the tournament brings together the Class 3 and Class 4 district winners, along with the next-best St. Louis teams based on power rankings. Oakville has been one of the sixteen teams chosen to be a part of the tournament every year it has been held. They are the only South County public school involved.
“It’s a highly competitive tournament. It has four groupings, and then the winners of those all come together to play in the semis and then play in the finals,” Oestreich said. “We’re looking forward to having an opportunity to play in that again this year.”
Oakville’s “pool” in the tournament is a tough one; the Tigers will face St. Louis University High School — the defending tournament champions — Christian Brothers College High School (CBC) and Priory.
The Tigers will start their regular season on Sept. 1 against Jackson, before taking on Mehlville on the Panthers’ turf on Sept. 3.