After back-to-back region runner-up finishes, the UHA girls’ soccer team brings back a talented core to go with senior Kate Cansler’s return from an injury that wiped out her junior season. The Lady Blazers will hope to get over the hump against five-time defending region champs Henderson County this season, with the Lady Colonels ending UHA’s season in the region tournament each of the last five years, three times in the title game.
Four seniors graduated off the Lady Blazers’ fourth-straight 8th-District title team that finished the season at 11-7-2, including goalkeeper Lainey Burman and second-leading scorer Ashlyn Parker. Burman anchored the region’s third-stingiest defense, recording six shutouts and emerging victorious in three penalty-kick shootouts during her senior campaign. Parker will be missed as well after leading the team with 5 assists and finding the net 7 times.
In addition to Cansler, who scored 18 goals and chipped in 9 assists as a sophomore, senior Grace Pape leads the attack. Pape is lethal from distance with both feet, leading last year’s team with 23 goals on the way to All-District and All-Region recognition. Seniors Sarah Covington and Molly Bennett combined for 7 goals as juniors, while Bennett also added a trio of assists. Emma Perry also returns after 3 goals and 2 assists as a sophomore.
Defensively, junior All-District and All-Region pick Piper Hancock highlights the returning players. Coach Mike Parker also welcomes a large freshman class and says as many of four of those girls could find their way into the starting lineup.
UHA will begin defense of its All-A region title when they open the season against Lyon County on Tuesday. A showdown with nemesis Henderson County comes on September 17, with Madisonville-North Hopkins making its way to Givens Field on September 28. District play begins with a visit from Hopkinsville on October 3, before the Lady Blazers and Caldwell renew their rivalry after a 2-2 draw in Princeton in 2019.
Coach Parker recently spoke about the upcoming season.
