It’s been a while since University Heights Academy and Owensboro have played in a state soccer tournament – over a decade for both.
They will meet Monday night at 7:00 in the first round at Russell Shifley Park in Owensboro.
Since losing All-Region forward Lincoln Hauret to a season-ending injury on Sept. 29, the Blazers are 6-1 with their only loss coming to Hopkinsville in the district championship.
“We kind of morphed into a team after Lincoln got hurt, which wasn’t aesthetically pleasing, but we worked really hard and looked for their chances and spots and the guys, you know, they built the game plan as a team,” UHA coach Josh Nichols said. “I think it’s just hard work, just banding together, having each other’s back, and just going a hundred miles an hour when they’re out there. Losing one of the best players in the region, not only the player we lost, but the personality. He’s such a big part of our team, such a great kid. He’s had the guys back. He’s the biggest vocal supporter over there. And I’m just so impressed with him more and more every day.”
HOW THEY GOT HERE
UHA (18-6) won its first region title since 2011 with three straight 2-1 wins in the Second Region Tournament over Trigg County, Madisonville-North Hopkins, and Henderson County.
Cal Givens’ 25-foot free kick in double overtime gave the Blazers the region title win on Henderson County’s home field.
The Blazers came into the region tournament as the 8th District runner-up after a 2-1 loss to Hopkinsville.
Owensboro (18-2-2) had to beat defending region champion Daviess County twice, once in the 9th District championship (3-1), and scored four straight second-half goals to beat the Panthers 4-1 in the Third Region championship.
The Red Devils beat Apollo 2-0 in the district semifinals and Muhlenberg County 6-0 in the region semifinals.
GETTING THE ‘MONKEY’ OFF THEIR BACKS
UHA had lost to Henderson County in the region championship in both 2020 and 2024, with their first two wins over the Colonels coming in the 2025 season.
Owensboro had lost to Daviess County in the region championship three straight years before last week’s win. The region title was the first for the Red Devils since 2012.
WHO TO WATCH
UHA is led in scoring by Hayden Hunt (28 goals) and Cal Givens (17 goals). Freshman Graham Conrad has a team-high 14 assists, while Givens has nine.
Peter Mbayo leads Owensboro with 27 goals, while Denis Juma has 20. Jackson Sigler has 16 goals and a team-high 17 assists.
DOING IT WITH DEFENSE
University Heights has held 20 of its opponents to two or fewer goals, including the last 10. The Blazers have eight clean sheets.
UHA goalie Hayden Fitzsimmons has allowed 31 goals in 24 matches and averages 3.8 saves in net with a solid defense in front that includes All-Region defender Clayton Lester.
Owensboro has held its opponents to two or fewer goals in 18 games, which includes 10 clean sheets.
Red Devil goalie Kaleb Davidson has allowed 20 goals in 22 matches and averages only three saves a game due to the solid defensive unit in front of him.
SERIES HISTORY
The schools last met in 2021, with Owensboro getting a 10-0 mercy rule win. In 2019, the Red Devils defeated the Blazers 8-0. The only other match played between the schools in the past 25 years was a 0-0 tie in 2013.
COMMON OPPONENTS
Calloway County – UHA beat the Lakers 4-2 on Sept. 11, and Owensboro beat them 6-0 on Aug. 16
Daviess County – Daviess County beat the Blazers 4-2 on Sept. 2, while Owensboro beat the Panthers three times (5-0, 3-1, and 4-1)
Murray – UHA lost to Murray 3-2 on Sept. 16, while the Tigers and Owensboro tied 0-0 on Aug. 23.
Webster County – UHA beat Webster County 1-0 on Sept. 9, while Owensboro picked up an 8-1 win on Sept. 6
Ohio County – Both teams scored 4-1 wins over the Eagles during the season.
Henderson County – UHA beat the Colonels 3-1 on Sept. 25 and 2-1 in the region championship on Thursday. Owensboro defeated Henderson County 4-1 on Sept. 29.
WHO’S NEXT?
South Oldham (15-2-1) or Central Hardin (17-4-1) will come to either Owensboro or Hopkinsville in the state quarterfinals on Saturday, with the time to be announced later this week.
