The Madisonville Lady Maroons have owned the 7th District in recent years but could face a challenge from both Caldwell County and Hopkins County Central who are expected to field improved teams in 2024.
MADISONVILLE (10-9-1)
The Lady Maroons have won six straight district titles and have advanced to at least the region semifinals in that time.
Last year, Madisonville had the third-best RPI in the region and was 9-1-1 against region opposition with the only loss coming to eventual champion Henderson County in the region semifinals.
Veteran coach John Tichenor will again have the services of Region Player of the Year Madison Hill, who scored 30 goals and handed out 17 assists.
Hill will be joined up top by another speedster McKinley Wilson, who scored 10 goals, with Tichenor expecting both to be impact players this season.
Senior captain Kailey Barber is expected to facilitate the offense for the Lady Maroons. She was second on the team with 17 goals last year with six assists. She will get midfield help from Taylor Barber, Hannah Davis, and Hadley Hodges.
On defense, the Maroons gave up just over two goals a contest last year with four shutouts.
Goalie Kaytee Parish returns, responsible for the four shutouts in goal.
“She has worked hard in the offseason to improve her skill set,” Tichenor said.
Hannah McKinsey will be the sweeper on defense with Macy Wright, Taylor Nelson, and Brylee Baumgardner all returning to give the Lady Maroons needed experience on the back line.
“We have other players hoping to contribute like Anna Sampson. She is a versatile player that can play multiple positions,” Tichenor said. “Brooklyn McCracken, Katelynn Howard, Carly Gillette, and Lillian Patterson will also be called upon.”
Tichenor, who won 305 games as Madisonville’s boys’ coach, has won 187 in 13 seasons as girls’ coach and is closing in on 500 career coaching wins.
He knows a big key is getting everyone in the right positions as the season begins.
“That was our biggest takeaway from the Bluegrass State Games (last month). We also found out we have a couple of freshmen who can be contributors this season,” Tichenor said. “Our fitness is also a point of emphasis.”
Madisonville-North Hopkins opens its season Monday at First Region contender Marshall County before returning home Saturday to play Christian County.
HOPKINS COUNTY CENTRAL (7-13)
Fourth-year coach Ben Lutz is hoping an undefeated run at last month’s Bluegrass State Games in Lexington serves as a springboard for the 2024 soccer season.
The Lady Storm went 2-0-1 against teams from other parts of the state in a series that didn’t count against the team’s scrimmage limit.
“I was proud of the girls in Lexington. I think playing three games in two days is always tough. In scouting our opponents prior to the games, they seem to be either middle to upper tier in their respective regions so I was glad we came away without a loss,” Lutz said.
It helps that Lutz returns his top three scorers from last year’s team which was 6-5 against region schools and beat Caldwell County in a shootout to advance to the district championship and later the region tourney where they lost to eventual champion Henderson County 4-2.
Lutz believes the finish to last year will translate well to this season.
“I think we are starting to trust each other for the most part. We have been working on not just playing kick and chase. We want to play with a purpose while still being direct,” he said.
Lilly Armour scored 12 goals to lead the Lady Storm last year while Elissa Adams and Emma Vandiver added seven each.
Lutz is also high on Jaci Childress, who will also move to the front after scoring three times last year.
“We return Ashdyn Dugger, our team leader in assists (6) from last year and we also have Mary Grace Starks who will look to up her assist totals from last year,” Lutz said.
Kenzie Tucker will also be a factor at midfield.
One area the Lady Storm figure to be improved will be defense with several key people back from a squad that posted seven shutouts last year.
“We have Elizabeth Phaup, Destiny Caudill, Saylor Larkins, and Kenzleigh Harrison back on defense and we also have some others that could see time back there,” Lutz said.
Goalie Savannah Barnett gave up a little over three goals a game and averaged nearly 10 saves a contest.
Lutz said conditioning has been a priority with this year’s team.
“I think getting in proper playing conditioning is important and something we didn’t do as well last year. We have a lot of games played so far this preseason and that has helped with that.”
With an improved defense and conditioning, Lutz is hoping they both help an offense that scored just over two goals a game last year.
“We are looking to improve our possession a little bit, as well as creating more scoring chances. I want to look at our possession numbers and the scoring chances we create.”
Hopkins County Central lost to South Warren 2-0 last week in their lone preseason scrimmage after the Bluegrass State Games.
They get a chance to avenge last year’s region tourney loss on Tuesday when they open the season at Henderson County.
CALDWELL COUNTY (9-8)
With just one of their top four goal scorers returning from last season, head coach Rhett Miller knows the Caldwell County Lady Tigers will have to develop some scorers to have success in the 2024 season.
“We have to find a way to score. We have to figure out how to score as a group,” he noted. “The game changes in the offensive third, and we just never have been able to get to that place where we can finish.
“You can win the back third and the middle third, but if you can’t score it’s tough to win. But this group continues to improve, and I think we may get there if we keep working.”
Caldwell’s first scrimmage at Owensboro was indicative of that. The Lady Tigers passed the ball effectively and played well, but could never find the net in a 1-0 setback.
“I think this year it’s going to be more than just one or two people scoring goals. It’s going to take a team-organizational approach to trying to score. We’ve got some people who can do some things that we haven’t been able to do so far, we just don’t have that one or two big-time scorers. Lexie (Sullivan) and Aliya (Towns) are going to be a big part of it.”
Towns, a junior, had eight goals and two assists last season. Sullivan, a senior, had four goals and six assists.
While the offense may be a work in progress, the Lady Tigers should be good enough defensively to be in the thick of most matches.
Senior Harper Ritchey anchors the defensive effort.
“She’s a four-year starter and three-year captain,” said Miller. “She’s been to Governor’s Scholars, and immediately everything changed when she came back. She took control and just leads our team.”
Senior Abbey Gill returns in the net for her second year as a starter. She allowed just 26 goals in 17 games a year ago as the Lady Tigers went 9-8.
Senior Cali Traylor returns in the back after being injured last season.
Olivia Baker, another senior, will start at outside fullback while classmate Brooklyn Hillyard will see action at outside mid as Miller expects his six seniors to fill many roles.
“We’re 18 or 19 players strong, so we feel confident in putting just about anyone out there.”
Juniors Hannah Teutsch and Madison French will see action at fullback
Sophomores Addie Middleton, Jayda Miller, and Tatum Fuqua could play key roles as well.
Three freshmen — Nunie Bates, Mariah Vickery, and Paisley Hooks have also earned playing time.
“They pretty much have to play,” Miller said of the freshmen. “They just came in and took their spots.”
Caldwell again figures to have a difficult district path in 2024, with Madisonville-North Hopkins traditionally fielding regional contenders while Hopkins County Central’s program continues to improve.
The Lady Tigers fell 1-0 to Hopkins Central in a shootout last year in the district semifinals.
“You’ve got to start by trying to beat Hopkins Central, then try to beat Madisonville,” said Miller. “As long as John Tichenor is coaching Madisonville they’re always going to be good.
“But we also circle UHA on the schedule too,” Miller added. “And our first game against Trigg County is circled as well. They beat us pretty good last year, and it was the first time they ever beat us. So that’s going to be a big game.
“UHA was regional runner-up last year and they were regional All A champs. They’ve got a strong freshman class that all played club ball, and they’re going to be very good. And we’ve got to get by Lyon County in the first round of the All A, and they’re going to be pretty good.”
Miller said by the end of the season, he expects Henderson County, Madisonville, and UHA to all be in the mix for the 2nd Region championship.
Caldwell is hoping that, as its offense improves, it can close the gap on those teams this season.
