After posting a 6-12-1 mark in 2017, the Hopkinsville girls’ soccer team boasts a mix of experienced returnees and young talent looking to get the Lady Tigers back to the top of the region. They scored 48 goals while allowing 79, struggling through an eight-game losing streak during the middle of last season. After losing to UHA 11-1 in the 8th District title game, Hoptown ended its season in the first round of the 2nd Region tournament with a hard-fought 1-0 loss to eventual runner-up Caldwell County.
Coach Jeff Addison enters his sixteenth season in charge looking to replace the offense provided by Avery O’Hara. O’Hara notched 57 career goals for the Lady Tigers, before signing to continue her career at Spalding University. Also graduated are Gwendolyn Bell and Libby Steil, but Addison brings back seven returning starters to mesh with some of the program’s young talent.
Junior Danea Richards returns in the goal, along with senior defenders Nora Snyder and Marissa Hester and juniors Anna King and Lexi Cantrell. Senior Kyler Scheben and junior Sarah Johnston are back in the Lady Tiger midfield, and Addison says freshmen Ana Hernandez, Abby Moss, Grasen givens and Haley Cowherd are expected to play a big part. Also, junior forward Keeli Miles will look to take on more of the scoring load.
Hoptown kicked off the season on Monday with a 4-2 win over visiting Trigg County and are back in action on Tuesday with a trip to Bowling Green to face South Warren.