Girls’ soccer 2022: Lexington’s top teams, best players and biggest games this season
Even by Lexington Catholic standards, the run the Knights have had in 11th Region girls’ soccer over the last three seasons has been special.
Three straight region titles, two straight 43rd District championships and an unblemished 20-0 record against region competition over the last two years in which the Knights allowed only one goal to a region foe in 2021 and only one goal each to three different opponents in 2020.
LexCath Coach Terry Quigley takes nothing for granted, however, especially as the 11th has traditionally been one of the toughest, most competitive regions in the state.
“Soccer makes you insecure and humble at the same time because the best team doesn’t always win,” said Quigley, who has a state record 475 wins and nine state finals appearances to go with one state championship in 30 seasons as the Knights’ head coach.
Lexington Catholic has unquestionably been the 11th’s best team recently with a consistently balanced mix of sensational scorers and tenacious defenders ranging from freshmen to seniors and a relentless, attacking style that puts the majority of its opponents on their heels for the full 80 minutes.
When the Knights lose possession, they press to get the ball back immediately wherever it is on the field. When they win it, their opponent’s goal comes under threat in an instant with a precise pass through to their sprinting forwards, a dangerous 50/50 lob into the box or just a cannon shot on goal from outside the 18.
“That philosophy is built on the players that we have. We have people that are quick and fast and you want them to go. You don’t want the defense to set up,” Quigley said. “When you fail and you’re in the attacking third and you’re a forward, don’t worry about it. I’m not going to yell, just take them on. Because you can fail 10 times, but if you get through once, the game’s over.”
Lafayette has been runner-up to LexCath in the last two district finals and was the 2020 runner-up in the 11th Region Tournament. Generals Coach Taylor Roden knows the Knights well and knows what it will take for a region team to beat them.
“It’s always motivation,” Roden said. “We know the minute we lose focus, there’s not a single chance to beat them. But if we do all the things the right way, and we keep working hard, and we keep staying focused, there’s definitely a chance with the talent that we have. We know that they have a lot of talent too, so we’re not going to beat them with talent alone. We’ve got to do things together as a team and do things the right way.”
The season is already underway and the opening week is highlighted by the Fayette County Soccer Spectacular tournament that culminates with a championship game on Saturday at Henry Clay.
This season also features a number of new head coaches. Haydon Warren jumped from Tates Creek to Henry Clay, Marcel Simo steps in at Paul Laurence Dunbar, Stephanie Durbin takes over at Bryan Station and Scott McKelway comes over from Scott County to lead Tates Creek.
Here’s a look at Lexington girls’ soccer for the 2022 season with teams ordered according to their approximate finish last year. Player honors and stats are from the 2021 season. Quotes are coaches’ comments.
Lexington Catholic
Coach: Terry Quigley (31st season).
Last season: 24-4. 43rd District and 11th Region champions. Lost 2-1 to Notre Dame in the state quarterfinals.
Standing out: Katherine Truitt, sr., all-city first team (4 goals/1 assist), “Wonderful athlete. I think she can do anything”; Olivia Bretz, sr., all-city first team (13 goals/13 assists), “Can strike the ball as well as anybody I’ve ever coached”; Mary Martin Hampton, sr., (12 goals/8 assists) “Incredible acceleration”; and Kylie May Stephenson, sr., (15 goals/16 assists).
Coach says: “Every year I just hope we get to the region final and play our best. That means winning district games because district seeding means everything when you get to the region.”
Notes: Truitt announced her commitment to play soccer for Kentucky on Tuesday. She was named region soccer player of the year by coaches as a sophomore and co-region player of the year as a junior. Truitt was also a first-team all-city basketball selection last season. Among LexCath’s 11 seniors, Truitt, Hampton, Stephenson and Rachel Stevens started for the Knights as freshmen. The Knights have eight returning starters.
Henry Clay
Coach: Haydon Warren (first season).
Last season: 11-8. 42nd District champion and 11th Region runner-up. Lost 3-1 to Lexington Catholic in region finals.
Standing out: Addison Kenney, sr., all-city first team (4 goals/10 assists), “High technical ability,” combined with strength and speed; Grace Plummer, jr., (2 goals/4 assists), “Deep understanding of the game … ability to play anywhere”; Ava Wilson, so., (2 goals, 6 assists), “Versatile player that always plays on the front foot”; Natalie Hoten, so. (1 goal), “Solid middle back who plays with confidence”; Callie Bowes, fr. “incredible work rate.”
Coach says: “These girls have taken this year of transition in stride. They all have been eager to learn, have approached the preseason with full effort and are gaining team chemistry with each and every practice.”
Notes: Warren takes over after two seasons at Tates Creek and brings along an all-star lineup of assistants, including husband Tom Morgan, who led Paul Laurence Dunbar’s girls’ team to a region title in 2014. Tim Bernardi led the Blue Devils’ boys’ team to five region titles and the 2010 state championship over 10 seasons before taking a break from the game in 2016. Henry Clay returns seven starters.
Lafayette
Coach: Taylor Roden (seventh season).
Last season: 11-7-2. 43rd District runner-up. Lost 3-2 to Henry Clay on penalty kicks in region semis.
Standing out: Campbell Tippey, jr. all-city first team (11 goals/5 assists), “Will be a consistent threat this year”; Piper Schweder, sr., all-city honorable mention, “She is fast, strong in a tackle, and has really emerged as a leader on our back line”; Grecia Lara Martinez, sr., (3 goals/3 assists), “Her touch and creative skill on the ball will really open up the offense this season.”
Coach says: “Our team has really bonded so far early in the season and we are playing together very well. We like our chances in the district to get into the championship and advance to the region tournament for a third season in a row.”
Notes: Lafayette will be without 2021 city and co-region player of the year Brooke Dawahare, who is foregoing her junior season to focus on her college search and take advantage of national level playing opportunities. She is a three-star recruit, according to TopDrawerSoccer.com. Lafayette returns eight starters.
Sayre
Coach: Michael McKinney (ninth season).
Last season: 14-7. 42nd District runner-up. Lost 2-1 to Madison Central in region quarters.
Standing out: Katherine Monohan, so., all-city second team (39 goals/7 assists), “Ready to pick up where she left off”; Gigi Cornett, sr., all-city honorable mention (2 goals/1 assist), “Tenacious style of play at defensive midfield and her team leadership will give Sayre a big advantage”; Juliette Longbottom, jr., all-city honorable mention (14 goals/9 assists), “Returns with an upgraded scoring mentality.”
Coach says: “We want to again contend in our district and advance deeper into regionals. A whole group of talented sophomores including LC Musgrave, Zeia Fannuchi, Avery Luring will add a level of depth that we haven’t had in past seasons.”
Notes: Sayre returns eight starters. Senior Abby Clark takes over in goal replacing four-year starter and multi-sport athlete Cat Graves, a first-team all-city keeper now at the University of Findlay.
Frederick Douglass
Coach: Megan Adkins (sixth season).
Last season: 14-4-3. Lost 2-1 to Sayre on penalty kicks in the 42nd District semifinals.
Standing out: Haley Flynn, jr., all-city first team for Henry Clay, (16 goals/4 assists), “Looking forward to seeing her making an impact”; Brittany Bylund, sr., “Going to anchor the defense this year”; Sydney Cox, sr., (3 goals/2 assists), “Look to her to score and create opportunities”; Olivia Johnson, sr., (1 goal), “Our work horse”; Julianne Fisher, sr., “Looking for her to guide the young players on the new back line.”
Coach says: “Excited for a new season but we will have many challenges ahead as we graduated our top goal scorers and goalkeeper. It will take time for us to adjust and figure out the new pieces of the puzzle.”
Notes: Lexington Catholic grad Kennedy Tranter is among Adkins’ assistants along with longtime Tates Creek standout Destinie Graves. Both were sensational high school players. Tranter reached two state finals as LexCath’s leading scorer. Graves helped lead Creek to the 2012 state championship. Douglass has five starters back.
Lexington Christian
Coach: Michael Fulton (fourth season).
Last season: 10-10-1. Lost 5-0 to Lexington Catholic in the 43rd District semis.
Standing out: Marin Wills, sr., all-city second team, (8 goals/9 assists), “Good game intelligence. Her experience will drive our team”; Katie Landfield, sr., (1 goal/1 assist), “Probably the most improved player from last year”; Hayden Hart, jr., all-city honorable mention, (7 goals/2 assists).
Coach says: “This team will be the best group we have had in the last four years. They are the most experienced group we have had and that experience will benefit this team. The All “A” state championship is on our radar.”
Notes: LCA won the 11th Region title of the All “A” Classic and finished runner-up to Bethlehem in the small-school tournament championship game. The Eagles have six starters returning.
Paul Laurence Dunbar
Coach: Marcel Simo (first season).
Last season: 8-9. Lost 2-0 to Lafayette in the 43rd District semis.
Standing out: Eva Blackman, jr., all-city first team (2 goals/1 assist), “She’s struggling with a bit of an injury, but she’s one of the key players we have in our center midfield”; Amber Brandon, jr. all-city second team (7 shutouts), “She has vision and her distribution of the ball, playing with her feet is exceptional for a keeper”; Riley Heasley, sr., all-city honorable mention (1 assist), “She has a true sense of leadership. She’s a team player and a go-getter.”
Coach says: “Coming to a high school that has a great history and a good culture in sports in general, especially soccer, … there’s definitely an excitement, but at the same time pressure, as well. … We have a group of girls that are very committed and willing to take their game to another level.”
Notes: Dunbar has a full junior varsity squad a season after not having the numbers to maintain one. Simo has been a successful club coach in Central Kentucky for a number of years and has two daughters on the varsity squad.
Bryan Station
Coach: Stephanie Durbin (first season).
Last season: 3-12-1. Lost 6-0 to Sayre in the 42nd District first round.
Standing out: Kiersha Wilson, sr., all-city honorable mention (5 goals), “Can hold the middle and create plays”; Cate VanMeter, jr., all-city honorable mention (7 goals), “Most versatile player I’ve had as a coach”; Celina Wilondja, sr. “Huge impact player”; Isa McNear, jr. “Always rises to the occasion.”
Coach says: “Our upperclassmen are very connected and ready to show the district they can play and keep up with the best of them. I am excited about this team and their dedication to get better.”
Notes: Bryan Station broke a 35-match losing streak early last year, and the Defenders continue to rebuild after redistricting decimated their numbers when Douglass was founded in 2017. Its junior varsity roster numbers 26 players this season, a strong sign for the future.
Tates Creek
Coach: Scott McKelway (first season).
Last season: 1-12-2. Lost 1-0 to LCA in the 43rd District first round.
Standing out: Aoife Healy, sr., all-city second team, (3 goals), “Strong possessive player, good vision and awareness”; Dani Hacker, sr., (2 goals), “Aggressive attacking player … contains a really clean strike”; Hadley Jones, jr. “A contender for top junior keeper in the city”; Brynn Metzler, sr., “Strong defensive player, great in 1 vs. 1 situations.”
Coach says: “Having three seniors who have been through the ringer these past years sticking around and providing leadership for what will be their last season with Tates Creek is a pretty cool thing to see day in and day out. … Aspirations are to outperform the previous two years — more goals for, less goals against.”
Notes: It’s been a long rebuild for Tates Creek after its 2019 district title. Thirteen seniors graduated from that team and left a gap in their wake that the program has struggled to overcome. McKelway takes over after four seasons at Scott County where he was 27-33-6, but had his best mark of 9-7-1 last season.
The biggest games
Here’s a look at what should be some of the best games for Lexington teams this season. Complete soccer schedules including kickoff times and scores can be found at KHSAA.org.
Saturday: Fayette County Soccer Spectacular — Semifinals at 9 a.m. at both Henry Clay and Douglass with consolation rounds at 8 and 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m. at those two schools plus Lafayete. The championship kicks off at 6 p.m. at Henry Clay. This year’s field features the host teams along with Bethlehem, Campbell County, Clark County, Conner, Dixie Heights,, Lexington Christian, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Scott County and Tates Creek.
Aug. 15: Dunbar at Lexington Catholic.
Aug. 17: Henry Clay at Lexington Catholic.
Aug. 18: LCA at Tates Creek.
Aug. 22: Lafayette at Dunbar.
Aug. 24: Lafayette at Douglass; LCA at Dunbar.
Aug. 25: Bryan Station at Sayre.
Aug. 29-Sept. 3: All “A” Classic 11th Region Tournament at Model. LCA and Sayre among teams.
Sept. 5-10: Lady Knights Challenge Cup — Featuring host Lexington Catholic, defending state champion Notre Dame, Highlands, Simon Kenton, Manual, Elizabethtown and Dunbar.
Sept. 7: Lafayette at Henry Clay.
Sept. 12: Lexington Catholic at Lafayette.
Sept. 14: Henry Clay at Douglass; LCA at Lafayette; Dunbar at Tates Creek. Scott County at Bryan Station.
Sept. 17: West Jessamine at Dunbar; Lafayette at Highlands.
Sept. 21: Sayre at Douglass; Lexington Catholic at Dixie Heights.
Sept. 24: South Oldham at Dunbar; Sayre at Henry Clay.
Sept. 25-26: All “A” Classic State Tournament in Frankfort.
Sept. 26: West Jessamine at Lafayette; Clark County at Henry Clay.
Sept. 28: Tates Creek at Bryan Station.
Oct. 1: Assumption at Lexington Catholic.
Oct. 3: District tournaments begin.
Oct. 10: 11th Region Tournament begins.
Oct. 17: State tournament begins.
Oct. 29: State championship match.
This story was originally published August 10, 2022 at 12:27 PM.
