High school boys soccer capsules

BOYLE COUNTY

Coach: David Ritchie

2023 record: 14-9 (45th District champion, 12th Region semifinalist)

Top returnees: Micah Brown, Sr. MF; Andrew Carr, Sr. D; McClain Denny, Sr. GK; Maximus Kilby, Sr. D; Bo Little, Sr. MF; Jaxon Pool, Sr. D; Alan Wireman, Sr. F.

Outlook: Boyle features a strong core of seven seniors who return to the starting lineup and who are two years removed from a run to the state quarterfinals and who Ritchie said have the experience and knowledge of how to win and will provide the leadership that he said will be a strength of the team. Denny will start in goal for a fourth season, and Wireman and Little were the top two scorers last season. Carr, Kilby and Pool are among the top defenders for a team that gave up more than two goals only once in its final 18 games last season.

Sophomore midfielders Chandler Durham and Zac Kirchner lead the young players expected to contribute as the Rebels try to win a fifth straight district title and return to the top of the region.

Coach’s comments: “As soon as the talent of the underclassmen learns how to mesh with the leadership of the seniors, I’m not sure what the ceiling will be for this team. I expect this to be a team by the end of the season that will be able to compete with anyone in the state.”

Schedule

August

13 – LEXINGTON CATHOLIC, T 2-2; 17 – COOPER, 6; 20 – BOURBON COUNTY, 8; 22 – at Corbin, 7:30.

September

3 – at Woodford County, 7:45; 5 – at Danville, 6; 7 – LINCOLN COUNTY, 6; 10 – MERCER COUNTY, 8; 26 – GARRARD COUNTY, 8; 28 – NORTH HARDIN, 12:30.

October

1 – at Bryan Station, 8; 5 – at Covington Catholic, 1.

DANVILLE

Coach: Brent Beauman

2023 record: 12-6-2 (45th District runner-up, 12th Region semifinalist)

Top returnees: Sam Finke, Sr.; Abel Goodwin, Sr.; Fox Spears, Sr.

Outlook: Danville is positioned well for this season and the future. First the present: The Admirals return most of their starters from last season, when they won nine of their last 11 games and reached the regional semifinals. They lost their leading scorer and their goalkeeper, but the returnees include Finke, the top returning scorer, and fellow all-region honorees Goodwin and Spears, as well as another scoring threat in Tyler Clarkson and backup goalkeeper Henry Tubb.

As for the future, Danville has doubled its roster size thanks to the largest freshman class in the program’s 42-year history. There are 17 freshmen in the program, as well as three eighth-graders, and Beauman said he’s looking forward to watching their development.

Coach’s comments: “We are returning the majority of our starting lineup from last year. This is a great group of young men ready for the challenge of producing another winning season for the Admirals.”

Schedule

August

13 – at MERCER COUNTY, 7:30; 15 – at Bethlehem, 7:30; 17 – at Madison Central, 7:30; 20 – WALTON-VERONA, 6:30; 22 – at Somerset, 6; 31 – at Hopkinsville, 12; 31 – at Christian County, 4.

September

3 – THOMAS NELSON, 8; 5 – BOYLE COUNTY, 6; 10 – at Garrard County, 6; 12 – MADISON SOUTHERN, 7; 17 – at Lincoln County, 6; 19 – WESTERN HILLS, 7:30; 26 – MODEL, 7.

October

1 – PULASKI COUNTY, 7:30; 3 – SOUTHWESTERN, 7:30.

LINCOLN COUNTY

Coach: Carl-Lewis Cummins

2023 record: 3-11-4

Top returnees: Tucker Elkins, Sr. D; Lane Sargent, Jr. GK; Hunter Stafford, Jr. F; Zeke Wallin, Sr. MF.

Outlook: Lincoln returns many of the top players from last season but will still field a young team with only seven upperclassmen. Senior Zeke Wallin was the leading goal scorer for a team that will look to improve its offensive production after scoring only 25 goals in 18 games. Junior Hunter Stafford will also be a top offensive threat once again. Senior Tucker Elkins will anchor the defense, and junior Lane Sargent returns in goal.

The number of players in the program has ballooned to 29, but 14 of them are freshmen or middle-schoolers.

Schedule

August

15 – at Anderson County, 7:30; 17 – at Nelson County, 3:30; 20 – WAYNE COUNTY, 6; 22 – at Madison Southern, 7:30; 27 – at Mercer County, 7:30; 29 – at Southwestern, 7:30.

September

3 – at Somerset Christian, 6; 5 – at South Laurel, 6; 7 – at Boyle County, 6; 10 – at Casey County, 7:30; 12 – GARRARD COUNTY, 7:30; 17 – DANVILLE, 6; 21 – TAYLOR COUNTY, 1; 24 – at Lexington Christian, 7:30; 28 – SAYRE, 5.

October

3 – at East Jessamine, 7:30.

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