Girls' soccer: 27th District shapes up as doozy

Lexington catholic, w. jessamine among four ranked teams

Herald-Leader Staff Report

There are a lot of competitive, nearly impossible-to-get-out-of region soccer tournaments around the state, but advancing out of a local girls' district might be just as difficult.

As tournaments start around the state this week, the six-team 27th District boasts four teams ranked in the state's top 25, including No. 3 West Jessamine and No. 4 Lexington Catholic.

26th District
at Bryan Station
Monday: Bryan Station (0-14-2) vs. Sayre (11-4-2), 7 p.m.
tuesday: Tates Creek (11-7) vs. Henry Clay (8-5-2), 6 p.m.; Scott Co. (16-1-2) vs. Sayre-Bryan Station winner, 8
Thursday: Championship, 7 p.m.
27th District
at Lexington Christian
Monday: Paul Dunbar (9-4-3) vs. East Jessamine (3-17), 6 p.m.; Lexington Christian (11-3-3) vs. Lafayette (3-15), 8
Tuesday: Dunbar-East Jessamine winner vs. Lexington Catholic (12-3-2), 6 p.m.; Lexington Christian-Lafayette winner vs. West Jessamine (13-1-3), 8
Thursday: Championship, 7 p.m.

"A lot of schools can complain about how hard their region is, but our district is as tough as most regions out there," Coach Kevin Wright said after his Colts came back from two goals down to tie Catholic 2-2 on Oct. 4.

Those schools would love to meet again in the district finals this week at Lexington Christian, but they're going to have to get around No. 18 Lexington Christian and No. 25 Paul Dunbar.

West Jessamine won 10 of its first 11 games and has outscored opponents 51-11 this season, including 11 shutouts. The Colts have ended in ties in three of their last five games, including against district foes LCA and Catholic.

The Knights have 10 shutouts and have given up a region-low 10 goals all season, including just three in their last 11 games. Two of those goals were to West in the tie.

If rankings hold up, then No. 22 Tates Creek is a slight favorite in the 26th District at Bryan Station, but the Commodores will face Henry Clay in the semifinals.

The winner of that game probably will face Scott County, which has flown under the radar this season despite going 16-1-2 and being undefeated in the district. The unranked Cardinals have given up just 10 goals.

The Devils tied Scott County in the regular season, but fell to Tates Creek 2-0.