The Hopkinsville boys’ soccer team laid waste to 2nd Region competition in 2017 on the way to a 19-5-1 overall record and 8th District and 2nd Region titles. The Tigers’ one regional blemish was a 5-5 regular season draw with Henderson County that they avenged in the regional semifinals with a 4-3 shootout victory. After the formality of a 5-0 win over Madisonville-North Hopkins in the regional title game, the Tigers bowed out with a 3-2 shootout loss to Warren Central in the first round of the state tournament. The Dragons would advance to the final four before falling 6-0 to eventual state champions St. Xavier.
The Tigers were an offensive juggernaut last season, racking up a state-leading 157 goals while only conceding 36, the third-best margin in the state. Eleven seniors graduated, including the bulk of the Tigers’ attacking talent. First-team All-State selection Ethan Noel was the region’s player of the year and led the state with 47 assists. Caleb Joiner was the target for many of Noel’s passes, banging in 45 goals to finish fifth in the state. Tyler Aldridge battled injury on the way to a 9 goal, 16 assist season.
While the Tigers naturally take a bit of a step back in 2018, no one in the 2nd Region is going to feel sorry for them with the talent that remains. Senior Ryan Roussel can make a claim as the best returning player in the region after scoring 31 goals and adding 26 assists during his junior season, second on the team in both categories and seventh in the state in assists. The Tigers also boast two goalkeepers any team would be happy to have in senior Ethan Bailey and junior Xavier Bussell. Bussell posted 7 shutouts and allowed a minuscule 0.6 goals per game, while Bailey collected 6 clean sheets and yielded only 1.7 goals per outing. Returning starter Zach Moore inherits the keys to the team in the midfield after a 6 goal, 5 assist junior season, and defender Mason Rye started and appeared in every game for the Tigers last season as a sophomore.
Coach Tyler Stallons also has a host of players ready to take their chance, including junior midfielder Welby Horn who put up 6 goals and 4 assists last year. Juniors Preston Durham, Mason Marschand and Edwar Acosta will be counted on as well, along with sophomore Jose Favela.
The Tigers open the season August 14 against 8th District rival Fort Campbell. The match has been spiced up a bit in the off-season as long-time Hoptown assistant Mike Massey has become head coach for the Falcons.
