After a mid-season coaching change and a late collapse that saw them lose their last five games while scoring only twice during that stretch, the Trigg County girls’ soccer team will look to a large senior class to try to wrestle the 5th-District title back from Lyon County.
The Lady Wildcats finished 8-12 in 2019, falling 2-1 to Lyon County in the district-title game after beating the Lady Lyons in both regular-season meetings. The season ended with a shutout loss to Madisonville-North Hopkins in the opening round of the 2nd-Region tournament.
First-year coach Sean Miller’s first task will be replacing the team’s leading scorer from a season ago. Ashlee Wyatt found the net 18 times, more than double the next-highest total, leaving a large hole at the top of the Lady Wildcats’ attack. Also gone through graduation is defender Isabella Alexander, who moved on to play at Lindsey Wilson College. One loss Miller may not have anticipated is that of junior goalkeeper Mackenzie Young. Young appeared in all twenty games last season, yielding 3 goals per outing, but will be on the field for University Heights Academy in 2020.
With half of the Lady Wildcats’ losses coming by 2 goals or less last year, a mesh of an experienced senior class and an infusion of young talent could change the team’s fortunes. Senior Kara Southwood leads the returning attackers with 7 goals last season, followed by junior Allie Hill with six. DeDe Barbee and Avery Harper combined for 7 goals as juniors, with Barbee’s 4 assists leading the team. Along with Barbee’s ability to use her speed to get up and down the wing and provide crosses, junior Maddie Morrow will also look to supply the forwards after notching 3 assists in 2019.
Senior Adrianna Jimenez can play several positions for the Lady Wildcats, with sophomore Sarah Sink likely to get the nod as goalkeeper after making seven appearances last season, allowing 4 goals and posting a shutout.
A trio of underclassmen is expected to make their mark as well, with freshmen Camryn Boone and Lania Hite adding club-soccer experience to the Lady Wildcats’ seasoned core, while sophomore Olivia Noffsinger lends athleticism to the lineup after leading the Lady Wildcats’ basketball team in scoring on the way to All-Region recognition as a freshman.
After a late cancellation of an opening-night district tilt at Crittenden County, the Trigg girls now open on the road at Caldwell County on September 8. A test against one of the region’s top teams comes on September 19 with a visit from UHA, followed by a preview of a probable district-title matchup with Lyon County. A second meeting with the Lady Lyons awaits on October 1, before an emotional clash with former coach Matt Harper and the Todd County Central Lady Rebels two days later.
Assistant coach Haley Joiner previews the upcoming season.
