Each week, YourSportsEdge.com will release our Second Region Rankings. The rankings are compiled and argued by our staff. Be sure to look for our region rankings every Monday.
1. Hopkinsville High School Tigers
The defending 2nd Region champions are the clear favorite to repeat. Seven seniors graduated, but 1st Team All Region, 2nd Team All State and KNE Boys’ Soccer Athlete of the Year, senior midfielder Ethan Noel returns, along with All 8th District, 1st Team All Region and Honorable Mention All State selection, senior forward Tyler Aldridge. Senior forward Caleb Joiner and junior forward Ryan Roussel also return to the formidable Tiger lineup. 25-5-1 record last season. Lost to eventual champion Daviess County in the round of 16 at the State Tournament.
2. Henderson County High School Colonels
Since joining the 2nd Region in 2012, Henderson County High School has engaged in a tug of war with Hopkinsville at the top of the region, with one or the other winning every regional title. Once again, the scene is set for 2017 to see the Western Kentucky heavyweights renew their rivalry. While Hopkinsville is the favorite, Henderson has the size, skill and pedigree to push the Tigers, and will no doubt want nothing to do with an underdog label.
Henderson comes off a 13-6-6 season, where they went 8-2 within the region and 3-0 in district play. The Colonels scored 90 goals and only allowed 48, playing a brutal schedule. They ended their season with a 4-1 loss to Hopkinsville in the 2nd Region championship game, ending their quest to defend their 2015 title. The Colonels saw eight players graduate, including 2nd Region Player of the Year, Brett Royster. Royster scored 26 goals and had 17 assists, earning 1st Team All Region and 1st Team All State honors. Royster has signed to continue his soccer career at NCAA Division 1 Belmont University in Nashville, TN. Also departing are 2nd Team All Region and 3rd leading scorer, Enzo Maciel (11 goals), and 1st Team All Region and 2nd Team All State selection, Juan Sosa (10 goals). 2nd Team All Region member Brendon Bennett will also need to be replaced.
However, much like Hopkinsville, the Colonels are still well stocked with game changing players. Coach Benson Pryor enters his 9th season welcoming back his second leading scorer, senior Armando Zamarippa. Zamarippa recorded 12 goals and will be complemented by fellow senior and assist leader, Michael Carron. Also returning is 2nd Team All State junior, midfielder Max Wawrin.
3. Madisonville-North Hopkins Maroons
Madisonville North Hopkins High School is coming off a 9-0 7th District championship win over Hopkins County Central and a close, season ending 4-2 loss to regional runner-up Henderson. The Maroons posted a 12-10-0 record, scoring 78 goals and allowing 52. They achieved a regional record of 9-4 and were a perfect 5-0 in district play. Eight seniors graduated, including leading scorer and 1st Team All Region forward Noah Cunningham. Along with Cunningham’s 15 goals, the 13 goals and 7 assists contributed by 2nd Team All Region selection Christian Crowell must be replaced as well. Also leaving the program is Tate Burris, who led the team with 14 assists and scored 10 goals. On the plus side for 6th year coach Andrew Self, 3rd leading scorer, junior Cade Cunningham returns after recording 11 goals and 9 assists. Also, senior goalkeeper Will Sanderson will anchor the defense again after keeping 7 clean sheets in 2016.
4. Lyon County High School Lyons
Two starters graduated for the Lyons, but sophomore, 2nd Team All 2nd Region selection, forward Bryson Penn, returns along with senior forward Austin Duff. 10-11-0 record last season. Lost to Henderson County in the 2nd Region semifinals.
5. University Heights Academy Blazers
Graduated three seniors. Senior midfielder Taylor Daniel, junior midfielder Ian Calvert, and sophomore midfielder Tanner Thomas return, and joining them is freshman midfield/forward William Bryan. 8-9-2 record last season. Lost to Hopkinsville in the first round of the 8th District tournament.
6. Fort Campbell High School Falcons
Graduated five seniors. Sophomore All 8th District Team selection Rafael Cerritos returns along with senior midfielder James Manning, and freshman speedster Kenyon Ward will also join the attack. 7-10-1 record last season. Lost to Madisonville in first round of 2nd Region tournament.
7. Trigg County High School Wildcats
Graduated nine seniors, eight starters. All 2nd Region Tournament Team, junior midfielder Daniel Martin, junior defender Derek Frazier, and senior defender Carter Boyd return. Offensively, freshman midfield/forward Will Jolly, sophomore midfielder Cristian Llarena, and senior midfielder Javier Llarena will share the scoring burden. 14-8-0 record last season. Lost to Hopkinsville in the 2nd Region tournament semifinals.
8. Webster County High School Trojans
2016 was a surprising and historic season for the Webster County Trojans. After going winless in 2015, Coach Heath McVay took over and led the team to a 16-6-0 record. The Trojans went 11-4 in the region and 3-2 in district play. They lost a close, 4-3 battle in the 6th District championship game to Henderson, and ended their season with an 8-1 loss to Trigg County in the regional quarterfinals. Led by state-leading scorer Hilcia Urrutia’s 58 goals, the Trojans led the state in average goals per game, scoring 150 in 22 games for an average of 6.8.
However, much like Trigg County, a lot of that scoring won’t be back for 2017. In addition to Urrutia, who was 1st Team All 2nd Region, All State Honorable Mention and State Golden Boot Winner (most goals), the Trojans also lose the 20 goals and 20 assists of 1st Team All 2nd Region and 3rd leading scorer Fabian Torres. Felix Apolinar and David Deodanes also graduate, after posting 7 goals and 14 assists and 11 goals and 6 assists, respectively. Returning for the Trojans is talented wing player, senior Josue Martinez, who will look to improve on his impressive 30 goals and 9 assists from 2016.
9. Union County High School Braves
New Union County High School boys’ soccer coach Chad Robison takes over for Robbie Greenwell, who coached the Braves for six seasons. Coach Robison inherits a team that struggled to a 2-14-0 record in 2016, including 1-12 in the region and 0-4 in the district. The Braves scored 16 goals and allowed 95, finishing their season with a 10-0 loss to Webster County in the first round of the 6th District Tournament.
Much of the 2016 struggles can be attributed to youth, as the Braves fielded a team with only one senior. That will change in 2017 with the Braves boasting 20 upperclassmen, including 9 seniors and 11 juniors.
10. Hopkins County Central High School Storm
Hopkins County Central High School made its first trip to the boys’ 2nd Region tournament in 2016 and will be looking to improve even further this season. Coach Ben Lutz enters his 4th season, after leading the Storm to a 12-10 record, their only winning record since the KHSAA began compiling scores online in 2001. They posted a 7-6 record in the region and a 4-2 mark in district play, while scoring 41 goals and allowing 75. The Storm lost the 7th District championship game 9-0 to Madisonville and finished their season with a 10-0 loss to Hopkinsville in the regional quarterfinals. Six seniors graduated, but the three leading scorers return. Junior Juan Rivera Mena recorded 16 goals and 8 assists and earned a 2nd Team All 2nd Region nomination. Seniors Isaac Evans and Luis Hernandez tallied 14 goals and 5 assists and 7 goals and 5 assists, respectively. Their dramatic improvement last season and the return of their scoring punch make the Storm an interesting team to watch in 2017.
11. Caldwell County High School Tigers
Graduated four seniors and would-be senior Beckett Schultz did not return to the team. Return 2nd Team All 2nd Region goalkeeper, junior Barett Schultz and senior Mitchell Scott, who will likely be their go-to guy. 5-14-1 record last season. Lost to Hopkins County Central in the first round of the 7th District tournament.
12. Christian County High School Colonels
Graduated four seniors. Junior midfielder Luke Ferrell returns and junior Ben Settle will move from goalkeeper to the field. Sophomore McKay Dunn moves into the goal. 7-14-0 record last season. Lost to Fort Campbell in the first round of the 8th District Tournament.
*Dawson Springs High School will not be fielding a boys’ soccer team in 2017.
