Hopkinton High School boys soccer coach Garrett Sawyer came into the 2026 season with lofty expectations for his team. The Hillers returned 15 seniors, some of whom had been with the program for their entire high school careers.

“We have a lot of guys who have been on this team for three years, and between the talent and experience that comes with that, I knew they would be competitive,” Sawyer said. “I know these guys well, too. I knew it would be a good overall team environment.”

The Hillers closed out the regular season with a 12-4-2 overall record and an 11-3-1 mark that was good enough to be among the top teams in the Tri-Valley League. The Hillers lost in the opening round of the Division 1 state tournament.

“We had a good record in the league, a solid ranking at the state level and a good team culture,” Sawyer said. “They work hard, and they take a lot of pride in their play.”

The strong play for Hopkinton this fall started in goal with junior Owen Tomasino-Steuer, a returning starter.

“He made a lot of great saves over the course of the season to keep us in games,” Sawyer said. “I think he gives our team a lot of confidence.”

Landon Fitzgibbon, a senior and one of the captains, helped anchor the team defense.

“He had a really good season,” Sawyer said. “He is a strong 1v1 defender and really strong in the air. He wins a lot of balls in the air for us.”

Josh Fonseca helped lead a strong Hopkinton midfield. Sawyer praised him for his hard work and his confidence on the ball. Up front, forward Connor McNally was Hopkinton’s top scorer as part of a skilled senior class.

“The senior leadership and experience has been really important for us on a day-to-day basis,” Sawyer said. “Whether we are competing or training, they are motivated to win and work hard. It’s a positive group, and they helped set the tone every day.”

Hopkinton also was blessed with depth this year. Sawyer noted that Hopkinton had contributions this fall across the field.

“I don’t think we had any weak spots,” he said. “Between 15 seniors and some skilled sophomores and juniors, we were able to get a lot of guys in and out, and it kept us running for 80 minutes, which was tough for other teams to compete with.”

The Hillers also had a selfless nature, Sawyer said. Hopkinton frequently tried different formations and positions, and the changes were met with a positive response.

“There is a good team spirit,” Sawyer said. “It makes the coaching piece a lot easier when you can work with a group like that.”