Just when it appeared organizers of the Montverde Academy Soccer Tournament (MAST) had reached the pinnacle of winter high school soccer competition, they pull off an even stronger field of teams for the 2015 event.

The eight-team MAST, which takes place Jan. 15-17, 2015, on the campus of Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla., features six teams that finished in the Winter Boys Soccer FAB 50 Top 25 — three from the Top 10, including the reigning national champs. 

The 2015 MAST features host Montverde Academy, which has not lost a match in four years, along with 2014 champions Gulliver Prep (Miami, Fla.) and Cathedral (Los Angeles, Calif.), 2014 state runners-up Coppell (Coppell, Texas) and Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), 2014 state semifinalist Sunlake (Land O’Lakes, Fla.) and Alief Elsik (Houston, Texas) and Auburndale (Auburndale, Fla.). Pairings for the event will not be set until after the winter season starts in Florida.

Here is a quick look at the tournament field:

MONTVERDE ACADEMY (Montverde, Fla.)

2014 FAB 50 Rank: No. 1

2014 Team Highlight: MAST champion

NOTES:Montverde Academy has not lost a match during Mike Potempa’s four-year run as head coach. … The Eagles have won three of the last four FAB 50 national titles, including one after a 21-0-1 showing last season. ... The team returns seven starters from last year's squad, including M Matheus Martins Silva, F Andre Shinyashiki, D Zack Waitman, D Jabari Newton and F Lucas Fagotti.

CATHEDRAL (Los Angeles, Calif.)

2014 FAB 50 Final Rank: No. 6

2014 Team Highlight: Southern California Regional semifinalist

NOTES:Cathedal won the Nike SoCal High School Classic, De La Salle Soccer Showcase and Southern Section Division 4 titles. … The team returns six starters from a squad that went 27-2-1 last season. Key returners include seniors D Saul Reyes, M Elmer Guerra, GK Kris Guerra, F Daniel Huizar and junior M Maximilliano Valdivia.

COPPELL (Coppell, Texas)

2014 FAB 50 Final Rank: No. 8

2014 Team Highlight: Texas Class 5A state runner-up

NOTES: Coppell went undefeated in Texas until losing in the state final in 2014. … Depending on club commitments, Coppell expects between six to eight starters back from last season’s 22-2-2 squad. … Top returning players include All-State selection Austin Michaelis, Stephen Tower, Ryan Brinda, Drew Brinda, Colten Clark and Jake Shumate. Shumate has committed to Harding Universiy, and Michaelis and Tower are entertaining a number of offers.

SUNLAKE (Land O’Lakes, Fla.) 

2014 FAB 50 Final Rank: No. 14

2014 Team Highlight: Florida Class 3A state semifinalist. 

NOTES: Sunlake is coming off a 29-2-1 season, a season that ended with a 1-0 state semifinal loss to Merritt Island, which finished ranked No. 3 in the FAB 50. … Top projected returner will be junior forward Remi Pemm, who had 64 goals and 39 assists as a sophomore.

GULLIVER PREP (Miami, Fla.)

2014 FAB 50 Final Rank: No. 15

2014 Team Highlight: Florida Class 2A state champion. 

NOTES: Gulliver cruised to the 2A title last year, winning the final 5-1 over Bishop Moore. … Coach Matias Asorey has led two different Miami high schools to state titles in the past eight years. ... Gulliver lost 14 seniors from last year's team, yet returns some top talent in North Carolina commit midfielder Alexander Moztarzadeh, midfielder Alberto Poleo, forward Adriano Castro and keeper Esteban Sapetnitzky. Poleo is deciding between UCLA and SMU, according to Asorey.

HAMILTON (Chandler, Ariz.) 

2014 FAB 50 Final Rank: No. 23

2014 Team Highlight: Arizona Class 5A state runner-up

NOTES: Hamilton is the first public school in the U.S. to launch a soccer academy that includes training, referee certification and NSCAA coaching education. … Hamilton has reached the state final four of the past five years. … The team returns Zack Lipman, Ryan Banyai, Pedro Garcia, and Kalvin Parr. Lipman, a defender, was a first-team all-state pick in 2014.

ALIEF ELSIK (Houston, Texas)

2014 FAB 50 Final Rank: none

NOTES: Elsik, with a steady stream of foreign-born players, has emerged as a consistently strong program in the Houston area. … The team returns only three starters from last year’s squad: GK Pablo Torres, M Ali Kromah and D Herberth Calderon. … With the new classification system in Texas starting for the 2015 season, Elsik has been moved into the same district with defending state champion Clements (Fort Bend, Texas).

AUBURNDALE (Auburndale, Fla.)

2014 FAB 50 Final Rank: none

2014 Team Highlight: District 11 champion, region semifinalist

NOTES: Auburndale advanced to the region semifinals, where it was eliminated by eventual state champion Merritt Island in a 5-1 contest.