Coach Shannon East enters her first season with the Christian County Lady Colonels soccer team, replacing the previous coach, Krista Bonino. She inherits a team that struggled to a 3-15-2 record, including a 1-8-1 regional mark and a winless (0-4) district campaign. The Lady Colonels managed 21 goals while allowing 104 in 2016, and their season culminated in a 10-0 mercy rule loss to UHA in the first round of the 8th District tournament.
Unfortunately, Christian County is also facing the daunting task of replacing nine graduates, including its leading scorer, forward/midfielder Sara Stokes (8 goals), and 2nd leading scorers and assist leaders, Lacie Mohon (3 goals, 3 assists) and Alyssa White. Also moving on is All 8th District team selection, defender Chelsey Wills.
However, the Lady Colonels will welcome back junior goalkeeper Payton Hale, who posted 1 shutout in 2016, and junior Mackenzie Almy, who with 3 assists was also tied for the team lead. Coach East describes Hale as one of the team’s most valuable players and an excellent leader, resulting in her being chosen as one of the team captains. Almy will once again be deployed on the right wing for the Lady Colonels in the hopes that her strong crossing ability will provide goal opportunities for the forwards. Coach East also brought up a pair of Briannas, a sophomore and a junior, as players who will be big contributors. Junior Brianna Rubio is an offensive midfielder who can also play as a striker. Described as another strong leader, she will partner with Payton Hale as the other team captain. Coach East feels Rubio possesses “spectacular” ball skills and has the ability to bring her teammates together as a unit. Sophomore Brianna Igo will be a mainstay in the center of the defense, and East praises her fearlessness and willingness to do whatever it takes to protect the goal. Youth will be served at the point of attack for the Lady Colonels as two freshmen, Sarah Watkins and Lexi Hendrix, are expected to start. According to Coach East, the two are an excellent duo that work extremely well together. East may have been initially hesitant to field such a young attack, but says, “their skill sets leave me no choice.”
Coach East expects the top of the district to once again be populated by Hopkinsville and UHA, but feels work has been done and improvements have been made in the preseason that will help to close the gap between her team and the Lady Blazers and Lady Tigers. The Lady Colonels have set a team goal to be the 2nd or 3rd seed in the district tournament, and Coach East stresses, “we have a new team and we are new coaches, and with that comes a fresh start.”
The Lady Colonels will get that start August 14th at the Stadium of Champions against Warren Central High School. The Lady Dragons beat Christian County 8-0 last season in Bowling Green. The Lady Colonels open their season August 17 against Madisonville.
