Sports Illustrated Preseason Soccer All-America Team & Watchlist Features 3 Mustangs

Sports Illustrated recently released its 2026 NEPSAC Preseason Boys Soccer All-America Team and watchlist, and a trio of Millbrook soccer stars made the cut! Midfielder Marcus Paul ’27 made the All-America eleven, while midfielder Tahirou Traore ’29 and forward Sasha Mykhalchuk ’27 made the publication’s list of other NEPSAC players to watch.

“It’s a great honor to be recognized as an SI All-American,” said Marcus, a 2025 Sports Illustrated All-America Honorable Mention selection who also is a member of Saint Lucia’s U20 national team. “I’m very grateful because it reflects a lot of the hard work I’ve put in over the years, but I also know I wouldn’t be in this position without my teammates, coaches, family, and everyone who has supported me along the way. Representing Millbrook and Saint Lucia means a lot to me, and I’m proud to be able to represent both on this stage. This recognition motivates me to keep working and pushing toward my goals in soccer.”

Marcus and Tahirou helped lead last year’s squad to win the NEPSAC Class C Championship, and Sasha, a postgrad transfer from The Hun School, is ready to help the team repeat—or maybe even advance to this year’s Open Tournament, which will feature the top eight teams from all NEPSAC divisions.

“I am very excited about the season, and the goal is to win class C championship again,” commented Sasha. “We have a great group of guys and coaches, and hopefully we can keep building and becoming better.”

Tahirou, one of only two lowerclassmen on the Sports Illustrated All-America list, is also grateful for the Sports Illustrated recognition and determined to help lead Millbrook soccer over the next few years. “The grind never stops,” he explained, “so I’ll keep working hard without taking my foot off the gas.”

The hunt for back-to-back NEPSAC championships begins on Saturday, September 19, at 2:30 P.M., when the Mustangs host Deerfield Academy. Come to campus to watch our All-Americans in person, or livestream all the action on our YouTube channel.

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