Wanting to building upon the work done by @FrankNicodemus (and grow the coverage of girls soccer), I decided to make region by region predictions for the up coming season. See something I missed? let me know. I am hoping to put it altogether and come up with a state top 15 in the next few days (and update that weekly).

1^st Region

Marshall Co., coming off winning their 22^nd region championship (and currently on a 5-peat), the Lady Marshalls return their three top scorers, as well as their starting GK. It would seem as though it is Marshall Co.’s region to lose, but I am sure McCracken Co. will want to have a say, interestingly Marshall and McCracken do not play each other until the very end of the season. Key games - Sacred Heart, South Oldham, Owensboro Catholic, Greenwood

McCracken Co. and Graves Co. each lost significant portions of their starting lineups, so they will both likely be playing catch-up to the Lady Marshalls.

 

2^nd Region

Henderson Co. are back following a run to the Final Four. The Lady Colonels return much of their starting lineup and look poised to make a run at repeating as region champions. Ashton Lynam will be a key portion of the attack for Henderson Co. and the Lady Colonels will likely need her to if they are to make another trek into the latter stages of the KHSAA tournament. Key games – Evansville Reitz (IN), Marshall Co., Evansville North (IN), Owensboro Catholic

Madisonville – North Hopkins could challenge Henderson Co. but will only be able to do so if they find ways to replace 100-point scorer Camryn LaGrange, who is playing at WKU this fall.

 

3^rd Region

Owensboro Catholic will look to rebound after falling to Ohio Co. in the Region Finals last season. The Lady Aces will depend on Madeline Hayden’s success to make a run late into the postseason. Perhaps a post-season run can be supported by a deep run into the All-A, but O-Cath’s legs will have to be able to keep them going into late October. Key games – Evansville Mater Dei (IN), Bowling Green, Greenwood, State All-A

As the reigning region champs, Ohio Co. will need someone to step up and fill the void that Carly Embry leaves behind, if they are going to challenge O-Cath.

 

4^th Region

Bowling Green will be looking to repeat as region champions after ending Greenwood’s 4-year reign last season. The Purples return much of their balanced attack and defense, putting them in the top spot to start the season. Last season’s challenging schedule prepared the Purples for postseason and the schedule will need to do so again. Key games – South Oldham, Greenwood, Elizabethtown

Greenwood will need to once again have a balanced, sustained attack to get back to the top of the region. That said, the Gators are not far behind, and BG should not get too comfortable.

 

5^th Region

Bethlehem will look to avenge a region final loss to Bardstown. The Banshees only lost one senior to graduation while returning 60-goal scorer, Carlie Thurmond. Simply put, Bethlehem looks loaded and primed for a postseason run. It is safe to assume that the Banshees have more than an All-A title in mind. Key games- LexCath, South Oldham, Elizabethtown, Greenwood

Bardstown lost 7 seniors to graduation, and many goals with them, so the Lady Tigers will need to find some goal production to challenge Bethlehem. Elizabethtown only graduated one senior but will need to work through the bumps that come with a new coach and quiet preseason.

6^th Region

Whitefield Academy will look to make another run after losing to Mercy in double OT last season. The Lady Wildcats only graduated one senior and return their entire starting lineup. While it may come as a surprise, Whitefield played Mercy to two 1-goal loses in the district and region championships. Sara Ritter will play a significant role in any sort of postseason run for the Lady Wildcats. Key games- Atherton, Mercy, All-A

Mercy has made it to the region finals each of the last four season, expect them to continue this streak, but I think Whitefield has their number this season. If Mercy comes up short, it will likely be due to replacing 11 graduating seniors.

 

7^th Region

Sacred Heart has won every region championship since the 2013 season. Under the new leadership of former Jamaican international player, Shaun Francis, the Valkyries have a strong chance of continuing the streak. Rising Sophomores Caitlin Chase and Ameerah Maamry will look to build off an incredible first high school seasons and lead the Valkyries deep into the postseason. An incredibly challenging schedule will be very intriguing to watch. Key games – LexCath, Highlands, South Oldham, Carmel (IN), Bethlehem, Lakota East (OH), Assumption

Assumption returns much of a very balanced offense and will not be a pushover in region play but will need to find a way to keep Sacred Heart from scoring. Ballard would be a contender, but it sounds like Ella Sanchez has gone the club route to pursue her road to the pros, significantly affecting the Bruins.

 

8^th Region

South Oldham lost 8 seniors to graduation but return a significant portion of their goal scorers, as well as their starting GK. Coming off a state runner-up season, the Lady Dragons will look to continue that momentum into the new season, but face a gauntlet of a schedule, facing many schools on this list. The only question will be: can their legs hold out? Key games- Highlands, Notre Dame, Sacred Heart, Bethlehem, Bowling Green, Assumption

North Oldham only graduated one senior and return the talented trio of Frazee, Ebner, and Smith. Questions may be asked of the Lady Mustangs as the schedule might not prepare them well for the postseason. Simon Kenton is likely to be on of the more intriguing teams this season under the guide of a new coach. The Lady Pioneers lost goal production but return the entirety of their defense.

 

9^th Region

Likely coming as no surprise, Notre Dame is still the team to beat. To paraphrase an apt cliché, NDA is not rebuilding following graduation, they are reloading. The Pandas will be led by Clark, Greenwell, and Unkraut, but it is a struggle to find a weak position anywhere on the field. As always, the schedule will be challenging, likely preparing NDA for a strong postseason. Key games – South Oldham, Assumption, Dixie, Zionville (IN) Invitational, LexCath Cup, Highlands

Dixie and Highlands will be chasing NDA. Dixie will be relying on Ashtyn Ivey without graduate senior Grace Gerding, while Highlands will need Laney Smith without Faith Broering around. Cooper, Holy Cross, Conner, and Ryle also should play a role in how this region shakes out.

 

10^th Region

Campbell Co. will be looking to repeat as region champions, returning leading scorers Ruby Dunlevy and Jozie Holmes on a team that lost 5 seniors to graduation. The Camels continue of trend of region favorites scheduling difficult games early and often. Two questions for Campbell Co.: Can they go undefeated in the region again? Can they win challenging games outside of their region? Key games- Lafayette, Bethlehem, Dixie, Highlands, Bishop Brossart, Notre Dame

Bishop Brossart will be chomping at the bit to return the favor to Campbell Co. following their 3 losses to the Camels last season. Brossart returns a strong team that will also likely challenge for a state All-A title. GRC and Montgomery Co. could challenge in the region, but can they keep up with the firepower of the Campbell Co. and Brossart, only time will tell.

11^th Region

Lexington Catholic is looking to lay the groundwork for a 4-peat in the region tournament. The Lady Knights will likely have a balanced attack but look for Oliva Bretz and Kylie Stephenson to play large roles for LexCath. In addition to avenging a postseason lost to NDA, LexCath will be looking to defend its’ state 2A title this season.Key games – Sacred Heart, Bethlehem, Lafayette, Dixie, Assumption

Lafayette has been having an outstanding preseason, with only a 0-0 draw against Simon Kenton standing in the way of a perfect preseason. The Generals only lost 4 to graduation but will need to find a way to beat LexCath for the first time since 2004. Dunbar, Sayre, and Madison Southern could also play a part in answering the question of who comes out on top.

 

12^th Region

West Jessamine has won ever region title since Boyle Co. in 2015 and will be looking to continue the trend this season. The goal scoring trio of Galus, Archer, and Beasley will likely dictate how far the Colts are able to go. Never one to shy away from competition, West Jessamine will be postseason-ready if their legs can survive a very difficult out-of-region schedule. Key games- LexCath, South Oldham, Loveland (OH), Bethlehem, Notre Dame, Sacred Heart, Highlands

Southwestern only lost two games last season, one was the region final to West Jessamine, but they did lose two of their top three scorers to graduation. Somerset could challenge but will need to make a strong run in the All-A to get more difficult games on the schedule. The Warriors and Briar Jumpers likely need to address these issues to have a chance at knocking West Jessamine off the podium.

 

13^th Region

South Laurel is coming off a run to the state quarterfinals and is the favorite in the region this season. The Lady Cardinals return 3 of their top 4 scorers, but will be under the guidance of a new coach. South Laurel will need to make good use of the few difficult games on the schedule if they are wanting to make some noise come late October. Key games – Assumption, LexCath Cup, Southwestern, Somerset

North Laurel and Whitley Co. will do their best to challenge South Laurel, but I think the gap between them might be too big to close this season.

 

14^th Region

Estill Co. will be working toward securing a 4-peat in the region tournament this season. The Lady Engineers will be led by Maci Muncie and Kaylee Powell but look to replace Gracie Rucker (GK) and Hannah Ross (FW). Estill Co. likely needs to make a long run in the state 2A tournament to get more difficult games on the schedule to get ready for October. Key games – Madison Central, Fleming Co., Lincoln Co., Prestonsburg, 2A Tournament

Perry Co. Central and Letcher Co. Central were not too far behind Estill Co. last season. Both the Lady Commodores and Lady Cougars will need to replace significant goals lost to graduation to have a chance at challenging for a region title.

 

15^th Region

Prestonsburg had its hopes for a 3-peat ended last season by Johnson Central on PKs. The Lady Blackcats will rely on Anna Burchett (Ohio U. commit) to power them this coming season. If they are to avenge the lost to Johnson Central, they will likely need a deep run in the state All-A to prepare for October. Key games – East Carter, Russell, State All-A, Estill Co.

Johnson Central and Martin Co. should be able to compete with Prestonsburg this season. To have success against the Lady Blackcats, both the Lady Eagles and Lady Cardinals will need to find ways to replace goal scorers lost to graduation.

 

16^th Region

East Carter will be looking to repeat following its’ first region championship. The Lady Raiders will continue to be powered by the scoring duo of Ellie Thomas and Emersyn Elliott. The schedule has been improved from last season, but we may not know if it was strengthened enough until mid/late October. Key games – Prestonsburg, Montgomery Co., St George’s (TN), Jefferson Co. (TN), Russell, GRC

Russell and Fleming Co. each had their seasons ended last year by East Carter. To have a chance at taking down East Carter, the Red Devils and Panthers will need to come up with a way of stopping East Carter’s Thomas and Elliott, something they were not able to do last October.

5 minutes ago, SanktBear said:

Wanting to building upon the work done by @FrankNicodemus (and grow the coverage of girls soccer), I decided to make region by region predictions for the up coming season. See something I missed? let me know. I am hoping to put it altogether and come up with a state top 15 in the next few days (and update that weekly).

1^st Region

Marshall Co., coming off winning their 22^nd region championship (and currently on a 5-peat), the Lady Marshalls return their three top scorers, as well as their starting GK. It would seem as though it is Marshall Co.’s region to lose, but I am sure McCracken Co. will want to have a say, interestingly Marshall and McCracken do not play each other until the very end of the season. Key games - Sacred Heart, South Oldham, Owensboro Catholic, Greenwood

McCracken Co. and Graves Co. each lost significant portions of their starting lineups, so they will both likely be playing catch-up to the Lady Marshalls.

 

2^nd Region

Henderson Co. are back following a run to the Final Four. The Lady Colonels return much of their starting lineup and look poised to make a run at repeating as region champions. Ashton Lynam will be a key portion of the attack for Henderson Co. and the Lady Colonels will likely need her to if they are to make another trek into the latter stages of the KHSAA tournament. Key games – Evansville Reitz (IN), Marshall Co., Evansville North (IN), Owensboro Catholic

Madisonville – North Hopkins could challenge Henderson Co. but will only be able to do so if they find ways to replace 100-point scorer Camryn LaGrange, who is playing at WKU this fall.

 

3^rd Region

Owensboro Catholic will look to rebound after falling to Ohio Co. in the Region Finals last season. The Lady Aces will depend on Madeline Hayden’s success to make a run late into the postseason. Perhaps a post-season run can be supported by a deep run into the All-A, but O-Cath’s legs will have to be able to keep them going into late October. Key games – Evansville Mater Dei (IN), Bowling Green, Greenwood, State All-A

As the reigning region champs, Ohio Co. will need someone to step up and fill the void that Carly Embry leaves behind, if they are going to challenge O-Cath.

 

4^th Region

Bowling Green will be looking to repeat as region champions after ending Greenwood’s 4-year reign last season. The Purples return much of their balanced attack and defense, putting them in the top spot to start the season. Last season’s challenging schedule prepared the Purples for postseason and the schedule will need to do so again. Key games – South Oldham, Greenwood, Elizabethtown

Greenwood will need to once again have a balanced, sustained attack to get back to the top of the region. That said, the Gators are not far behind, and BG should not get too comfortable.

 

5^th Region

Bethlehem will look to avenge a region final loss to Bardstown. The Banshees only lost one senior to graduation while returning 60-goal scorer, Carlie Thurmond. Simply put, Bethlehem looks loaded and primed for a postseason run. It is safe to assume that the Banshees have more than an All-A title in mind. Key games- LexCath, South Oldham, Elizabethtown, Greenwood

Bardstown lost 7 seniors to graduation, and many goals with them, so the Lady Tigers will need to find some goal production to challenge Bethlehem. Elizabethtown only graduated one senior but will need to work through the bumps that come with a new coach and quiet preseason.

 

3 minutes ago, SanktBear said:

6^th Region

Whitefield Academy will look to make another run after losing to Mercy in double OT last season. The Lady Wildcats only graduated one senior and return their entire starting lineup. While it may come as a surprise, Whitefield played Mercy to two 1-goal loses in the district and region championships. Sara Ritter will play a significant role in any sort of postseason run for the Lady Wildcats. Key games- Atherton, Mercy, All-A

Mercy has made it to the region finals each of the last four season, expect them to continue this streak, but I think Whitefield has their number this season. If Mercy comes up short, it will likely be due to replacing 11 graduating seniors.

 

7^th Region

Sacred Heart has won every region championship since the 2013 season. Under the new leadership of former Jamaican international player, Shaun Francis, the Valkyries have a strong chance of continuing the streak. Rising Sophomores Caitlin Chase and Ameerah Maamry will look to build off an incredible first high school seasons and lead the Valkyries deep into the postseason. An incredibly challenging schedule will be very intriguing to watch. Key games – LexCath, Highlands, South Oldham, Carmel (IN), Bethlehem, Lakota East (OH), Assumption

Assumption returns much of a very balanced offense and will not be a pushover in region play but will need to find a way to keep Sacred Heart from scoring. Ballard would be a contender, but it sounds like Ella Sanchez has gone the club route to pursue her road to the pros, significantly affecting the Bruins.

 

8^th Region

South Oldham lost 8 seniors to graduation but return a significant portion of their goal scorers, as well as their starting GK. Coming off a state runner-up season, the Lady Dragons will look to continue that momentum into the new season, but face a gauntlet of a schedule, facing many schools on this list. The only question will be: can their legs hold out? Key games- Highlands, Notre Dame, Sacred Heart, Bethlehem, Bowling Green, Assumption

North Oldham only graduated one senior and return the talented trio of Frazee, Ebner, and Smith. Questions may be asked of the Lady Mustangs as the schedule might not prepare them well for the postseason. Simon Kenton is likely to be on of the more intriguing teams this season under the guide of a new coach. The Lady Pioneers lost goal production but return the entirety of their defense.

 

9^th Region

Likely coming as no surprise, Notre Dame is still the team to beat. To paraphrase an apt cliché, NDA is not rebuilding following graduation, they are reloading. The Pandas will be led by Clark, Greenwell, and Unkraut, but it is a struggle to find a weak position anywhere on the field. As always, the schedule will be challenging, likely preparing NDA for a strong postseason. Key games – South Oldham, Assumption, Dixie, Zionville (IN) Invitational, LexCath Cup, Highlands

Dixie and Highlands will be chasing NDA. Dixie will be relying on Ashtyn Ivey without graduate senior Grace Gerding, while Highlands will need Laney Smith without Faith Broering around. Cooper, Holy Cross, Conner, and Ryle also should play a role in how this region shakes out.

 

10^th Region

Campbell Co. will be looking to repeat as region champions, returning leading scorers Ruby Dunlevy and Jozie Holmes on a team that lost 5 seniors to graduation. The Camels continue of trend of region favorites scheduling difficult games early and often. Two questions for Campbell Co.: Can they go undefeated in the region again? Can they win challenging games outside of their region? Key games- Lafayette, Bethlehem, Dixie, Highlands, Bishop Brossart, Notre Dame

Bishop Brossart will be chomping at the bit to return the favor to Campbell Co. following their 3 losses to the Camels last season. Brossart returns a strong team that will also likely challenge for a state All-A title. GRC and Montgomery Co. could challenge in the region, but can they keep up with the firepower of the Campbell Co. and Brossart, only time will tell.

 

1 minute ago, SanktBear said:

11^th Region

Lexington Catholic is looking to lay the groundwork for a 4-peat in the region tournament. The Lady Knights will likely have a balanced attack but look for Oliva Bretz and Kylie Stephenson to play large roles for LexCath. In addition to avenging a postseason lost to NDA, LexCath will be looking to defend its’ state 2A title this season.Key games – Sacred Heart, Bethlehem, Lafayette, Dixie, Assumption

Lafayette has been having an outstanding preseason, with only a 0-0 draw against Simon Kenton standing in the way of a perfect preseason. The Generals only lost 4 to graduation but will need to find a way to beat LexCath for the first time since 2004. Dunbar, Sayre, and Madison Southern could also play a part in answering the question of who comes out on top.

 

12^th Region

West Jessamine has won ever region title since Boyle Co. in 2015 and will be looking to continue the trend this season. The goal scoring trio of Galus, Archer, and Beasley will likely dictate how far the Colts are able to go. Never one to shy away from competition, West Jessamine will be postseason-ready if their legs can survive a very difficult out-of-region schedule. Key games- LexCath, South Oldham, Loveland (OH), Bethlehem, Notre Dame, Sacred Heart, Highlands

Southwestern only lost two games last season, one was the region final to West Jessamine, but they did lose two of their top three scorers to graduation. Somerset could challenge but will need to make a strong run in the All-A to get more difficult games on the schedule. The Warriors and Briar Jumpers likely need to address these issues to have a chance at knocking West Jessamine off the podium.

 

13^th Region

South Laurel is coming off a run to the state quarterfinals and is the favorite in the region this season. The Lady Cardinals return 3 of their top 4 scorers, but will be under the guidance of a new coach. South Laurel will need to make good use of the few difficult games on the schedule if they are wanting to make some noise come late October. Key games – Assumption, LexCath Cup, Southwestern, Somerset

North Laurel and Whitley Co. will do their best to challenge South Laurel, but I think the gap between them might be too big to close this season.

 

14^th Region

Estill Co. will be working toward securing a 4-peat in the region tournament this season. The Lady Engineers will be led by Maci Muncie and Kaylee Powell but look to replace Gracie Rucker (GK) and Hannah Ross (FW). Estill Co. likely needs to make a long run in the state 2A tournament to get more difficult games on the schedule to get ready for October. Key games – Madison Central, Fleming Co., Lincoln Co., Prestonsburg, 2A Tournament

Perry Co. Central and Letcher Co. Central were not too far behind Estill Co. last season. Both the Lady Commodores and Lady Cougars will need to replace significant goals lost to graduation to have a chance at challenging for a region title.

 

15^th Region

Prestonsburg had its hopes for a 3-peat ended last season by Johnson Central on PKs. The Lady Blackcats will rely on Anna Burchett (Ohio U. commit) to power them this coming season. If they are to avenge the lost to Johnson Central, they will likely need a deep run in the state All-A to prepare for October. Key games – East Carter, Russell, State All-A, Estill Co.

Johnson Central and Martin Co. should be able to compete with Prestonsburg this season. To have success against the Lady Blackcats, both the Lady Eagles and Lady Cardinals will need to find ways to replace goal scorers lost to graduation.

 

16^th Region

East Carter will be looking to repeat following its’ first region championship. The Lady Raiders will continue to be powered by the scoring duo of Ellie Thomas and Emersyn Elliott. The schedule has been improved from last season, but we may not know if it was strengthened enough until mid/late October. Key games – Prestonsburg, Montgomery Co., St George’s (TN), Jefferson Co. (TN), Russell, GRC

Russell and Fleming Co. each had their seasons ended last year by East Carter. To have a chance at taking down East Carter, the Red Devils and Panthers will need to come up with a way of stopping East Carter’s Thomas and Elliott, something they were not able to do last October.

Thank you and I missed your first post last week, welcome to BGP @SanktBear!

@SanktBear welcome to the party!!!  

Should be a fun season statewide!

Great work!  Thank you!

Nice preview SanktBear. I think Russell will come out as 16th Region Champs this season when all is said and done. Ashland,Boyd,Rowan,Russell will contend to dethrone East Carter.

Should be a great season of Soccer.