A pandemic and a brutal schedule to start off her first season were probably not at the top of the list of the plans for Hannah Ambrose in her first season as the head girls’ soccer coach at Christian County High School. Still, by district tournament time, the Lady Colonels found a way to take down crosstown rival Hopkinsville and advance on to the 2nd Region tournament. With a large senior class, Christian County figures to have some of the tools needed to take a big step forward during the 2021 season.
Christian County finished the 2020 season in better shape than many programs across the area. The Lady Colonels were able to get in 13 matches, more than six other schools in the 2nd Region over the course of the pandemic-impacted season.
As the Lady Colonels look towards the 2021 season, there is one thing that is clear. Christian County will have a large number of familiar names when they take to the pitch. The Lady Colonels are set to return twelve players that saw action in at least 12 matches last year. While there are several returnees, there will be what Coach Ambrose calls a whole new look as there are several position changes headed into the season for the Lady Colonels. Coach Ambrose notes she is looking for some big strides to be taken by Megan Lacy, Taylor Dunn, Lilly Larkins, and Alayah Lander.
The loss of Jordan Alder will impact the Lady Colonels defensively, but there appears to be speed and enough returning experience to help fill her cleats. Likely the biggest question for Christian County will be can they find enough offense to relieve some pressure off their goalie and the rest of the defense. Watch for junior Addison Piatt to play an increased role for the Lady Colonels defensively during the 2021 season. Ambrose also points to players like Cayleigh Clay and Zemoriah Love as candidates to help turn other teams away from the goal.
The offensive attack will be led by senior Autumn Bell. Bell, who is “scary” fast-moving down the pitch, has led the Lady Colonels in scoring each of her three previous seasons on the team and, barring injury, figures to do so for a 4th consecutive year.
Lillian Larkins and Alayah Lander will look to add some scoring punch for Christian County, Each finished the abbreviated 2020 season with 5 goals, and both will need to step up their pressure on defenders to alleviate some of the focus that teams place on Autumn Bell. Megan Lacy saw action in 12 matches last year and should help with the offensive attack for the Lady Colonels.
Ambrose likes the depth of this year’s team. She points out that with the talent level of this year’s team, it could be a different player every night that steps up and gives a surprising performance for the Lady Colonels.
Two things that must change for the Lady Colonels to see progress this year are goals scored and goal differential. Christian County scored only 27 goals last season, and 11 of those came in one match against Union County. So, putting more pressure on opposing defenses is priority one, and the Lady Colonels have some tools with which to do that.
Secondly, closing the gap on scoring differential is huge. If the offensive attack can generate more goals, and the defense can tighten things down a bit, the Lady Colonels can find themselves in the match, deeper into the second half, where one break then suddenly becomes a game-changer, especially with as much returning experience as the Lady Colonels have. A more normal off-season should help in both of those directions for Coach Hannah Ambrose and her team.
The opener for the season on August 9th is a tough one, as the Lady Colonels will take on the defending region champion Madisonville-North Hopkins. Other matches in the early part of the season will include Lyon County, Todd County Central, Trigg County, and Union County.
