Bryan Station
Coach: Kristian Tyler Junker (second season, 0-15-2)
Record: 0-15-2 (lost in first round of district tournament)
Top players: Danielle Kane (sr., midfielder); Meghan Alessi (sr., forward); Lauren Birch (jr., fullback); Luci Lucas (jr., fullback); Joy Arosemena (jr., GK)
Outlook: The Defenders scored just one goal last season and lost 15 games, but Junker says they've "regained a positive attitude" and have already shown they can succeed in games and scrimmages this summer. Several key players return for Station, including Kane, who was injured last season, as well as Alessi at forward. Several freshmen, including Hallie Scanlon and Hanna McGoodwin, should add depth and dimension to Station's attack. The back will have to adjust after losing four-year starter and leader Claire Henkel to graduation, but Lucas and Birch return. Junker said he can see the skill level growing daily and he expects it will translate into some success on the field this season.
Defenders' schedule
Wed.—Estill Co., 6; Sat.—at Paris Relay for Life vs. Berea, 9 a.m. and Villa Madonna, 5 p.m.; Aug. 24—at Tates Creek, 8; 29—Corbin, noon; 31—at Frankfort, 5:30;
Sept. 2—Sayre, 6:30; 12—at Grant Co., 12:30; 15—Lafayette, 8; 16—at Henry Clay, 8; 22—at Estill Co., 7; 23—at Scott Co., 7:30; 24—at Paul Dunbar, 8; 30—at Mason Co., 5:30;
Oct. 3—Owen Co., 11 a.m.; 6—Grant Co., 7:30; 8—Garrard Co., 8; 10—Paris, TBA.
Henry Clay
Coach: Mebit Aragaw (fourth season, 12-17-8)
Record: 11-6-2 (lost in region championship)
Top players: Kayla Price (jr., goalkeeper); Rachel Geil (so., defender); Emily Rodes (so., defender); Allison Graul (jr., defender); Nina Talavera (sr., midfielder); Olivia Max (so., forward/midfielder); Ginny Hoyt (so., forward/goalkeeper)
Outlook: One of the most stingy defenses in the state last season has everyone back, including Price in goal. The Devils' defense allowed just 14 goals all season and had 11 shutouts en route to a trip to the region finals. Rodes, who hurt her knee last season, returns to help make the defense even more potent. Henry Clay will win games with defense, but Aragaw likes the young players he has on the offensive side of the ball. Cassie Ransdell, who led the Devils in assists and goals last year, has graduated and they are still looking for the correct combination up front to create the best scoring opportunities, but there are a lot of options. Max, who had six goals as a freshman, is back and should be a scoring threat.
DEVILS' schedule
Mon.—Fayette Co. Soccer Spectacular at Tates Creek vs. South Laurel, 8; Wed.—FCSS at Tates Creek vs. Lafayette, 8; Sat.—FCSS at Tates Creek vs. Boone Co., 12:30; 26—Scott Co., 7:30;
Sept. 2—at West Jessamine, 7:30; 7—at Sayre, 5:30; 10—Madison Central, 8; 12—at Father Ryan, Tenn., 5; 13—at Pope John Paul II, Tenn., 3; 16—Bryan Station, 8; 23—Anderson Co., 8; 26—Male, noon; 30—Tates Creek, 8;
Oct. 6—Johnson Central, 6; 8—Paul Dunbar, 8.
Lafayette
Coach: Laura Oppegard (second season, 3-17)
Record: 3-17 (lost in first round of district tournament)
Top players: Olivia Gipson (jr., midfielder); Stephanie Willis (sr., defender); Rhiannon Mobley (sr., midfielder); Julia Pergande (jr., midfielder)
Outlook: The Generals didn't have as much success as they would have liked last season, getting just three wins and 12 goals, but they're continuing to improve. They are still a very young team, but "very tenacious and always looking to prove themselves," said Oppegard, who returns for a second season. The program will continue to rebuild, and that effort will be hindered by a lack of a permanent home field this season as the stadium is renovated at Lafayette. Mobely, Gipson and Pergande will help anchor the team in the middle and Willis is expected to lead the defense for Oppegard.Generals' schedule
Mon.—Fayette Co. Soccer Spectacular at Tates Creek vs. Boone Co., 6; Wed.—FCSS at Tates Creek vs. Henry Clay, 8; Sat.—FCSS at Tates Creek vs. South Laurel, 11 a.m.; 29—at Danville, 11 a.m.; 31—at Anderson Co., 7;
Sept. 3—at East Jessamine, 7:30; 9—at Bourbon Co., 7; 10—at Harrison Co., 7:30; 15—at Bryan Station, 8; 17—at Lexington Christian, 7; 21—at Lexington Catholic, 7; 23—at West Jessamine, 7:30; 28—at Tates Creek, 8;
Oct. 2—at Sayre, 6; 7—Madison Central, 7:30; 8—at Boyle Co., 7.
Lexington Catholic
Coach: Terry Quigley (18th season, 297-142-13)
Record: 14-5-2 (lost in region championship)
Top players: Chelsea Smith (sr., f); Awbrey Wahle (sr, defender); Ciara Thomas (sr., goalkeeper); Amy Ghibaudy (sr, midfielder); Selena The (sr., midfielder); Sara LeBrun (sr., midfielder); Kerry LeBrun (sr., midfielder)
Outlook: The Knights lost five three-year starters, but they return a sound group that has a No. 3 pre-season ranking and looks like the team to beat in the city. Most of the graduations were in the midfield, but Quigley has had some depth at that position and has solid players that were once backups ready to prove themselves as starters. "We have so many new starters, but the new starters aren't exactly rookies," he said. "They've been on varsity, just waiting their turn." Wahle will anchor a strong defense that allowed only 12 goals last season and recorded 12 shutouts. The Knights often struggled to score goals last season (just 38 total), but Quigley expects that to come easier this year with some speedy newcomers to help Smith up top.
KNIGHTS' schedule
Aug. 17-22—at Oldham County Tournament, TBA; 26—at Sacred Heart, 6:30; 31—Highlands, 7;
Sept. 3—at Paul Dunbar, 8; 5—at Notre Dame, 4; 9—at Assumption, 7; 14-19—Lady Knights Challenge Cup, TBA; 21—Lafayette, 7; 23—at Lexington Christian, 7; 28—East Jessamine, 7;
Oct. 1—Anderson Co., 7; 3—at West Jessamine, 7; 5—Woodford Co., 7.
Lexington Christian
Coach: Steve Fugmann (first season at LCA)
Record: 12-4-3 (lost in district tournament semifinals)
Top players: Casey Jackson (sr., midfielder); Lauren Taylor (sr., forward); Meredith Morey (sr., defender); Alison Braun (jr., defender); Maddie Boone (jr., midfielder)
Outlook: Fugmann returns from a coaching hiatus to take over an LCA program with a pre-season No. 18 rating. They're ranked for a reason, returning a big group with a lot of depth. The players that are back also are also quite versatile. Even though he has put in a new system and says the team has a lot to learn still, he's been impressed with their willingness to do so. They've picked up the new scheme quickly. "It's fun to show up at practice everyday because they can't wait to see what we're going to do next," he said. Boone, who led the team in scoring (14 goals) and assists (12) last season, is back as is most of a defense that allowed only 20 goals. Once the wrinkles get ironed out, Fugmann could have a good team that will make noise not only in the All "A" tournament but also in the post-season.
EAGLES' schedule
Mon.—at Newport Central Catholic, 7:30; Fri.-Sat.—All "A" Regionals at LCA, TBA: 25—at Paul Dunbar, 8; 31—at East Jessamine, 7:30;
Sept. 3 —at Boyle Co., 8; 8—Bishop Brossart, 7; 10—Montgomery Co., 7; 14—West Jessamine, 7; 17—Lafayette, 7; 19-20—All "A" Classic at Sower Field, Frankfort, TBA; 23—Lexington Catholic, 7; 29—Anderson Co., 7;
Oct. 1—at Woodford Co., 7:30; 7—at Harrison Co., 6; 10—Perry Co. Central, 10:30 a.m.
Paul Dunbar
Coach: Emily Coleman (11th season, 99-80-13)
Record: 10-5-3 (lost in district semifinals)
Top players: Sydney Golden (sr., midfielder); Abby Kovacs (so., midfielder); Molly McLaughlin (so., forward); Dawn Pittman (sr., forward); Rachel Curd (sr., midfielder);
Outlook: The Bulldogs lost another big class of seniors, eight in all from last season, and will try to replace them with young, but talented players. Golden, a four-year starter, will serve as a leader and anchor for the team with the other seniors. Despite their youth, Coleman likes the chemistry of this group. "Even as a young team, it's nice to see them jelling together and coming along and building something together," she said. Coleman has a collection of players with scoring potential, including Kovacs and McLaughlin. "Hopefully it's not going to come from one individual," she said. "We'd like to have everyone participating to make us more of a threat overall."
Bulldogs' schedule
Mon.—Fayette Co. Soccer Spectacular at Tates Creek vs. Tates Creek, 8; Sat.—FCSS at Tates Creek vs. Madison Central, 9:30 a.m.; Aug. 25—Lexington Christian, 8;
Sept. 3—Lexington Catholic, 8; 9—Sayre, 6; 12—Ballard, 6; 16—West Jessamine, 8; 19—at Russell, 3; 24—Bryan Station, 8; 29—at Boyle Co., 7:30;
Oct. 1—East Jessamine, 8; 5—at Madison Southern, 7:30; 8—Henry Clay, 8.
Sayre
Coach: Erik Johnson (first season)
Record: 13-7-2 (lost in first round of region tournament)
Top players: Anne MacNeil (sr., midfield/forward); Sally Henkel (sr., defender); Bea Cameron (jr., forward); Maddie Mitchell (so., midfielder); Emma Mullins (jr., sweeper)
Outlook: The Spartans are on their third coach in three seasons and will have the usual learning curve with that, but Johnson is a big fan of their work ethic and chemistry. "They're getting better every day," Johnson said of his group. "We're plugging in a lot of new players and new faces, but they're coming together." He has solid leaders in MacNeil and Henkel, who will anchor the team on both sides of the ball. MacNeil led the team in scoring last season. Johnson, a lacrosse coach, is working to instill added toughness in his group. Like many Sayre teams, there is not a ton of depth, but Johnson likes the core group he has and thinks they could be a strong team by season's end.
spartanS' schedule
Tues.—at Bath Co., 6; Fri.—All "A" Classic Regional at Lexington Christian vs. Owen Co., 6; 24—at Bethlehem, 7:30; 26—at Madison Central, 6; 29—at John Hardin, 2;
Sept. 1—Tates Creek, 5:30; 2—at Bryan Station, 6:30; 4—Scott, 6:30; 7—Henry Clay, 5:30; 9—at Paul Dunbar, 6; 11—Menifee Co., 6:30; 16—Scott Co., 6;
Oct. 2—Lafayette, 6; 5—Harrison Co., 6; 7—at Shelby Co., 7:30
Tates Creek
Coach: Bo Lankster (first season as girls' coach; 152-84-20 in 12 seasons as boys' coach)
Record: 13-8 (lost in first round of district tournament)
Top players: Kathryn Murray (sr., goalkeeper); Meredith Chinn (so., midfielder); Alyssa Kruse (jr., midfielder); Jessica Carter (jr., midfielder/forward); Megan Poage (so., midfielder); Kayla Willis (so., forward)
Outlook: After 12 seasons as the boys' coach at Creek, Lankster takes over the girls' program, which returns a lot of young talent and has earned a No. 22 pre-season ranking. He was immediately impressed with the team's cohesiveness and chemistry, which has helped it stay unified as it learns a completely new system and style of play. Like his boys' teams, Lankster focuses on defense first. But he doesn't expect the offense will be too shabby either behind players like Poage and Kruse. "I expect them to be pretty consistent, but I think we have four or five people that can score goals for us," he said. A solid freshman class from last season gained valuable experience and the freshmen coming in could make Creek a contender for the next few years.
Commodores' schedule
Tues.—Fayette Co. Soccer Spectacular at Tates Creek vs. Madison Central, 8; Thurs.—FCSS vs. Dunbar, 8; Sat.—FCSS vs. Franklin Co., 8 a.m.; Aug. 24—Bryan Station, 8; 26—Bourbon Co., 8; 29—at Russell, 3;
Sept. 1—at Sayre, 5:30; 9—Scott Co., 7:30; 10—West Jessamine, 8; 14-19—Little Caesar's Classic at Boyle Co., TBA; 23—Boyle Co., 8; 26—South Oldham, 8; 28—Lafayette, 8; 30—at Henry Clay, 8;
Oct. 3—Ashland, 2; 7—at Woodford Co., 7:30; 10—at Anderson Co., 3.
Jennifer Smith
