Hopkinsville High School head girls’ soccer coach, Jeff Addison, enters his 15th season with the Lady Tigers coming off a 13-8-2 campaign in 2016. Addison oversaw a team that posted a 12-2 region record and a 3-2 district mark, scoring 88 goals and allowing 53. The Lady Tigers lost the 8th District championship game 3-1 to UHA, but rallied for a run all the way to the 2nd Region championship game, before losing to Henderson County 4-0. Hopkinsville hasn’t failed to reach the regional tournament since 2006, also the same year they last weren’t district champions.
The Lady Tigers lost seven seniors to graduation, including All 8th District, All 2nd Region First Team and team leading scorer, forward Kinley Waldrop. Along with Waldrop’s 31 goals and 9 assists, 2nd leading scorer and fellow All 8th District and 1st Team All 2nd Region selection, midfielder Meredith Kessler (13 goals, 12 assists), and All 8th District Team defender Mary Glen Powell (1 goal, 7 assists), also leave the program. Goalkeeper Meredith Pace, an All 8th District and 2nd Team All 2nd Region selection, will also need to be replaced. Pace recorded 4 shutouts last season for the Lady Tigers.
Coach Addison welcomes back five starters, including two time All 2nd Region selection Avery O’Hara, who was 3rd in goals (12) and 4th in assists (5) for the team last season. Addison also expects big seasons from senior defender Libby Steil, senior forward Gwendolyn Bell, junior forward Nora Snyder (5 goals, 2 assists), and sophomore defender Anna King. Forward Keeli Miles, defender/midfielder Lexi Cantrell, and midfielder Greer Givens are three sophomores Addison says are in contention for increased playing time. Junior defender Kyler Scheben should also see more minutes for the Lady Tigers in 2017. Addison is also pleased with what he’s seen from transfer Sarah Johnston and feels she can provide “a big boost” in the midfield. Also, incoming freshman Peyton Lewis is expected to be a solid contributor. Natajea Badd and Danea Richards are waging a preseason battle to replace the steady hands of Meredith Pace in the Hoptown goal.
Hopkinsville opens its 2017 slate traveling to Paducah to face Paducah Tilghman. In their second regular season game last season, the Lady Tigers mercy ruled the Blue Tornado, 10-0. On September 23-24, Addison will lead the team to Warren Central High School to compete in the Lady Dragons Lair Classic, where the Lady Tigers will test themselves against traditional 4th Region powers Bowling Green and South Warren, and Region 5’s John Hardin Lady Bulldogs.