‘She’s going to find a goal.’ Lexington soccer star closing in on career scoring record.
There are no secrets when it comes to facing Sayre’s girls soccer team.
If opponents somehow don’t know who the Spartans’ No. 10 is, Katherine Monohan will introduce herself to the back of their net in short order.
“Katherine is one of those players every coach dreams of having. She’s a great leader, not just a goal scorer. … I can’t tell you how special of a kid she is,” Sayre coach Michael McKinney said of his senior striker. “She can score from distance. She can take people on and score up close. And, I mean, it’s every game we come out here. She gets double- and triple-teamed, and she still finds a way.”
Through Wednesday’s senior night game against 42nd District rival Bryan Station, Monohan has scored 190 goals since her freshman year, making her one of the most prolific goal scorers in Kentucky girls high school soccer history. She scored six of Sayre’s seven goals against the Defenders in a shutout.
“I know I can count on my midfield and my wings,” Monohan said. “I know they are going to play a good through ball to me. And I know I can run onto it. I can always trust them.”
With just 12 more goals, Monohan will tie the 11th Region record for career goals scored set by Berea’s Hannah Wallhauser (202) in 2017. Only two other girls players have topped the 200-goals mark in KHSAA competition, Prestonsburg’s Anna Burchett (275) and Henderson County’s Maddie Griggs (217).
Monohan has 44 goals this season, an average of 3.7 per game. She admits she’s aware of her goals mark out on the field. Personally, she’d like to get to 200 because of the milestone it represents.
But she’s also proud of the Spartans’ 10-1-1 record going into this weekend’s All “A” Classic tournament quarterfinals. The Spartans are 11th Region All “A” champs for the second year in a row. Fellow senior Zeia Fanucchi ranks among the state leaders in assists with 18 to go with four goals of her own. Six other Spartans have scored, led by Hadley Luring’s five goals.
“I’ve been really, really proud of these girls because our record this year is one of our best,” Monohan said. “I think we’re going to keep doing good. We’ve been working really hard in practice, and I think it’s really shown up.”
The road ahead won’t be easy. Sayre opens with 2nd Region contender University Heights in the All “A” on Saturday morning in Louisville with a potential semifinals match that evening and finals on Sunday.
Then comes the bulk of the Spartans’ 42nd District slate with games against Scott County (6-6-3), Frederick Douglass (13-2-1) and Henry Clay (4-5-3) ahead of their regular season finale against Bourbon County on Oct. 2.
“I know it’s going to get harder, but I know I can count on my teammates,” Monohan said.
Douglass ranks No. 7 in the latest top 25 coaches’ poll, a list that Sayre misses out on, perhaps, because of a perceived weaker schedule. In the KHSAA’s RPI standings, however, Sayre ranks No. 11, while Douglass is No. 3.
Broncos coach Megan Adkins knows firsthand how dangerous Monohan and the Spartans can be. Sayre upset top-seeded Douglass in the 42nd District Tournament semifinals in 2021, ending the Broncos’ season. Monohan was a freshman on that team. She had an assist and was part of the penalty kick shootout win. She scored 39 goals as a freshman, 53 as a sophomore and 54 as a junior.
“She’s got lots of speed. If you let her go, she’s going to find a goal. She’s one of the best finishers we have in the city,” Adkins said. “I don’t think she gets the recognition she deserves, because they don’t play some of the bigger schools. But I can’t say enough about her. That’s who we always have to shut down when we face them.”
Sayre junior goalkeeper Lucie Pitman can attest to Monohan’s speed. Pitman has four assists on the season, a rarity for a goalie.
“It’s been amazing,” Pitman said of having Monohan as a teammate. “I love it. I can just boot it up the field and she’s down there. I assisted her twice today. I was wishing it could be more.”
This story was originally published September 19, 2024 at 11:02 AM.
