Boys soccer 2025: Top Lexington teams, best players and biggest games this year
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- Henry Clay returns six starters as it defends its 2024 state title in 2025.
- Paul Laurence Dunbar, Lafayette and Frederick Douglass lead key title challengers.
- Strong senior classes and deep rosters define 2025 Lexington soccer contenders.
Lexington is home to 15 boys high school soccer state champions, including three of the last four titleholders with Henry Clay earning its fourth star for the badge last season.
So, yeah, soccer means a little more around these parts.
Six-time champs Paul Laurence Dunbar, two-time champs Tates Creek and Lexington Catholic and 1990 champ and 2023 state runner-up Lafayette will be knocking it around with the Blue Devils and a slew of other 11th Region contenders trying to make their own mark.
And don’t forget Frederick Douglass, which has been to three consecutive region finals. Twice in that time the Broncos have been just an overtime penalty shootout away from the state tournament.
Monday, we begin finding out who will challenge for district, region and state glory once more as the regular season gets underway.
2025 Lexington boys soccer at a glance
A closer look at Lexington’s boys soccer teams, ordered by their approximate finish last season. Player honors and stats are from 2024, with quotes directly from the coaches.
Coach: Jason Behler (10th season).
Last season: 23-3-4. State champions with 6-1 win over Collegiate; also 11th Region and 42nd District champs.
Standing out: Braden Cundiff led the champs with 26 goals to go with 10 assists for an offense that could score in bunches; Connor Taylor earned first team all-city honors in midfield and “is the most complete player we’ve had in some time”; Shukuru Hamisi scored 17 goals as a pivotal hold-up forward in the attack. Outside back Will Potter showed the ability to go forward and is a “lock-down defender.” All are seniors.
Coach says: “I love our chances and love this group of players. They want to get out of the 11th Region for a second straight year (not an easy task), and they want to win another state championship.”
Notes: Henry Clay graduate Marco Messerli was named 2024-25 Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year this summer. The Blue Devils have been to eight state finals all told and will be trying for their first back-to-back big gold trophies. Six starters return.
Schedule highlights: Aug. 15 vs. Woodford County; Aug. 16 vs. Ryle; Aug. 28 vs. Paul Laurence Dunbar; Sept. 11 vs. Frederick Douglass; Sept. 16 vs. Bryan Station; Sept. 30 at St. Xavier.
Coach: Blake Parker (second season).
Last season: 12-8-1. 11th Region and 42nd District runner-up.
Standing out: Senior forward Keegan Nash scored eight goals with two assists last season to lead the team. Cameron Kashef, a junior, has struggled with injuries but “shown great leadership in the preseason”; Senior Alton Yongbang’s “speed and power behind the ball has made him a very impressive person to watch.”
Coach says: “This is one of the youngest teams we’ve had with the fewest returning varsity players in a while, but that does not mean our team is not striving to be the most successful that it can be.”
Notes: Two starters return. Douglass is in its ninth year as a program and has made the region tournament six years straight.
Schedule highlights: Aug. 19 at Woodford County; Aug. 21 at Paul Laurence Dunbar; Aug. 28 at Bryan Station; Sept. 11 at Henry Clay; Sept. 16 vs. Madison Central; Sept. 25 vs. Lafayette (at Lexington Sporting Club Stadium).
Coach: James Wray (sixth season).
Last season: 16-6-2. 43rd District champions.
Standing out: JT Martin, a senior and second team all-city winger “can create for us with his speed and agility”; Jackson Brooks has made varsity all four years and is “creative in midfield and strong on the ball.” Senior keeper Diego Martinez, who was second team all-city while splitting time in front of goal, has “great shot-stopping ability and has shown he’s ready to lead.”
Coach says: “We have a solid group of high-level guys and we should be pretty deep. We have a large senior class this year with 16 players. Many of them have meaningful game experience, so we are leaning on those guys to step up.”
Notes: Six starters return. Away dates at 7th Region giants St. Xavier and Trinity in Louisville in late September will signal how prepared the Bulldogs are for the postseason.
Schedule highlights: Aug. 15 vs. McCracken County; Aug. 26 vs. Lafayette; Aug. 28 at Henry Clay; Sept. 9 vs. Tates Creek; Sept. 18 at Covington Catholic; Sept. 27 at St. Xavier; Sept. 30 at Trinity.
Coach: Albert Gross (12th season).
Last season: 7-7-2. 43rd District runner-up.
Standing out: Senior midfielder Hesham Elkohli started every game last season and has dual responsibilities in organizing Creek’s defense and springboarding the attack; Durk Mapatano, a senior, and Mustafa Megariaf, a junior, are defenders whose athleticism will allow Gross to use them all over the field. Senior defender Reece Bowling’s “on-ball defending and leadership will be crucial in setting the tone for our team.”
Coach says: “We expect to experience some growing pains at the start of the season as many of our players adjust to the high level and speed of play required in our district and region.”
Notes: Four players with starting experience return after the Commodores graduated eight seniors. Tates Creek pulled a stunning 2-1 overtime win over defending region champion Lafayette in the district semifinals after losing their regular-season battle 4-2 three weeks earlier.
Schedule highlights: Aug. 12 at Bryan Station; Aug. 26 vs. Lexington Catholic; Sept. 4 vs. Henry Clay; Sept. 9 at Paul Laurence Dunbar; Sept. 18 at Woodford County; Sept. 23 at Lafayette.
Coach: Chris Grimm (18th season).
Last season: 12-3-3.
Standing out: Max Jacobs led the Generals with 15 goals and earned first team all-city honors — “one of the best attacking players in the region”; Justice Oladeji “can play all over the field”; defender Zayvier Chenault in his third year on varsity “has always been one of the ‘glue guys. … We will need him to step into a leading role in 2025. Aiden Stark “can be one of the best goalkeepers in the region.” All are seniors.
Coach says: “In 2025 we expect to be in the thick of things both in our district and within the region. … We will need to find some scoring options other than Max, and if we do I think the potential of this team is very high.”
Notes: Five starters return among the Generals’ 27 rostered players, though only 24 can dress for any given game. That includes 17 seniors. Lafayette had an incredible 148 hopefuls turn out for tryouts, a number coaches somehow whittled to 70 for one varsity and two junior varsity squads.
Schedule highlights: Aug. 15 vs. Ryle; Aug. 16 vs. McCracken County; Aug. 21 at Henry Clay; Aug. 26 vs. Paul Laurence Dunbar; Sept. 23 vs. Tates Creek.
Coach: Alex Tungate (second season).
Last season: 12-6-3.
Standing out: Second team all-city as a sophomore, Rafael “Rafa” Pimentel led the team with nine goals last season and “has a strong understanding of the game”; Senior defender Joaquin Guerrant “is the guard dog for our team … a fearless leader”; Steven Green “has become one of the more dynamic wide players in the region.”
Coach says: “I have coached varsity for 10 years across the state and I can say this team is the deepest team I have ever coached. I come into the office each day and see young men ready to put a shift in.”
Notes: Six starters return. Like Lafayette, the Defenders saw huge numbers at tryouts with 120 showing up in mid-July.
Schedule highlights: Aug. 12 vs. Tates Creek; Aug. 14 vs. Madison Central; Aug. 28 vs. Frederick Douglass; Sept. 2 vs. Paul Laurence Dunbar; Sept. 16 vs. Henry Clay; Sept. 23 at Ryle.
Coach: Griffin Miller (third season).
Last season: 10-7-1.
Standing out: Junior Jack Steinberg “is our strongest defender but also contributes offensively”; senior Will Woodworth has shown “noticeable gains in both accuracy and power”; senior Roman Abedi has “a motor that never ceases to amaze me.”
Coach says: “We’ve seen several players step up in a big way this preseason. They’ve matured not just as athletes but as leaders. … Our goal is to win the All ‘A’ region finals and to compete in every game.”
Notes: The roster includes 12 seniors and seven returning starters.
Schedule highlights: Aug. 19 vs. Bryan Station (at Lexington Sporting Club); Aug. 21 vs. Scott County (at Transylvania); Sept. 23 at Henry Clay; Sept. 30 at Frederick Douglass.
Coach: Todd Bretz (third season).
Last season: 6-9-3.
Standing out: James Barnett, who ranked second on the team with six goals last season, “has a tremendous work rate and will be a vital part of the midfield”; fellow seniors Charlie Morris and Lee Hill will be important attacking players; junior Kalin Osting will anchor the defense.
Coach says: “We are young in many key areas, but our goal is to be able to compete and challenge for the district by the end of the season.”
Notes: Five starters return. Longtime Bretz assistant Jeff Stone returned to Paul Laurence Dunbar this year to coach the girls team that includes his daughter. Bretz ranks second on Kentucky boys high school soccer’s all-time wins list behind St. Xavier’s Andy Schulten.
Schedule highlights: Aug. 12 at Henry Clay; Aug. 14 vs. Boyle County; Aug. 26 at Tates Creek; Sept. 4 vs. Lafayette; Sept. 11 at Paul Laurence Dunbar; Sept. 23 vs. Lexington Christian.
Coach: Zachary Barnhart (third season).
Last season: 3-13.
Standing out: Cecil Hollen led the team in assists last year as a freshman; senior Cade Crager “is a smart player with a strong desire to compete”; junior Lane Brown “is an important connector for the entire team with a tireless work ethic.”
Coach says: “We are looking to grow from last year now that we have some guys with varsity experience, and we are excited to compete in the All ‘A’ tournament this year to see if we can put it together.”
Notes: The players helped design the team’s alternate uniforms this season.
Schedule highlights: Aug. 21 vs. Tates Creek; Sept. 11 vs. Lafayette; Sept. 18 vs. Berea; Sept. 23 at Lexington Catholic.
This story was originally published August 11, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
