Hopkins County Central goalkeeper Savannah Barnett signed to play soccer at Spalding University in Louisville, continuing her steady rise over her three seasons as a starter for the Lady Storm.
As a junior in 2024, she recorded 160 saves and posted seven shutouts. By her senior season in 2025, that number dropped to 109 saves (5.7 per game) as the Lady Storm’s defensive unit improved, while her impact remained evident with eight shutouts.
Over her career, Barnett totaled 474 saves and 22 shutouts, earning All-District and All-Region honors in 2025.
“I don’t think I could have been where I was without the work I did,” she said. “I was training with a varsity goalkeeper when I was in eighth grade, and then training with Jennifer Duggar, and then I was training at my club place. It took a lot to get to where I was.”
She said the demands of the position require consistent effort and a willingness to improve.
“It takes a lot of effort. You have to want to be there. You have to put in the work. You have to show up,” Barnett said. “That’s what I did, and I was able to do what I am today.”
Barnett said finding the right college fit was also important, particularly one that allowed her to stay closer to family.
“I was looking for something closer to my family. I have a niece, and she’s young, I didn’t want to miss out on all of it,” she said. “They were super inviting, asked me to come to a game. They were very welcoming. They had me hang out with one of their teammates, took me to their dorm, and made sure to talk to me after. They were just overall super nice, and that’s what I was looking for.”
Spalding University’s women’s soccer program competes at the NCAA Division III level in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The program has continued to build in recent years, offering opportunities for players to contribute early in their careers.
Barnett said she is both excited and nervous about the transition to the next level.
“I’ve been very nervous about it because I’m a very schedule-oriented person,” she said. “For four years I’ve been coming here and coming to practice at the same time, and now I’m going to have to learn a whole new schedule at a whole new place.”
In the classroom, Barnett plans to study radiology with the goal of becoming an X-ray technician.
Barnett was one of four Lady Storm players to sign to play soccer in college on Wednesday. Her teammates, Destiny Caudill, Lilly Armour, and Jaci Childress, signed with Brescia University.
