Soccer at Northwood School does not just develop players for team results; instead, players develop to reach even higher levels. In this case, two Northwood prodigies, Noah Moodey ’26 and Hamish Riddell ’26, are reaching that higher level, committing to Holy Cross and Bucknell University. Once friends, soon-to-be rivals compete in the Patriot League.
Photos: Instagram.
Noah Moodey is an exceptional defensive midfielder. In this position, Noah dictates the tempo of games and controls the entire field. Many people like to say his passing range is like Trent Alexander-Arnold’s, as Noah can deliver high-quality passes no matter what the distance is. His passing, linked to his Pedri-like vision, allows him to break lines and see a whole different game than his opponents do. Defensively, Noah is a brick wall. His defensive ability is comparable to Fabinho’s at Liverpool, as there is simply no way around him.
His soccer journey started when he was just four years old in Massachusetts. He developed his skills at the club level before joining Northwood to reach even higher levels. Northwood allowed Noah to meet players from around the globe, building friendships that will last forever. Constant travel and intense workouts made Noah feel like he was part of a community. That sense of community is one of the reasons Noah committed to Holy Cross. Holy Cross is an exceptional program with a smaller campus and a strong environment, much like the one he found at Northwood School.
Hamish Ridell offers a different type of threat. A gifted right winger from Hong Kong, Hamish uses his pace and technical ability to outmaneuver his opponents. His first step is extremely explosive, comparable to Jeremy Doku’s at Man City. Once Hamish gets his space, there is simply no way to stop him. He attacks with speed and is very unpredictable. A few people from the Northwood U19s like to say that Hamish is the “right-footed Lamine Yamal!”
Together at Northwood, they pushed each other daily. The duo was dynamic on gameday, leaving opponents completely stunned.
When Holy Cross and Bucknell face each other, it will be more than just a conference game. Noah will try to dictate the game while Hamish will amaze the Holy Cross defenders with his range of skill moves and his explosiveness. At the end of the day, the story shows how these young talents have developed and are ready to take the next step in their careers.
