Since the current format came about in 2012, a 37th District team has played for the 10th Region championship in all but one season.
Over the last three seasons, that crown has gone through Alexandria. The Bishop Brossart Mustangs have two region titles, the Campbell County Camels with one. While the Camels have won 11 of the last 13 meetings, Brossart’s two wins have come in postseason games, including a 1-0 region championship win last year.
Campbell County won all three meetings, including the region championship two years ago. In 2020, Brossart won the district and region championship after eliminating Campbell County, 2-1 in the district semifinals.
Scott drove all the way to the region championship in 2018 losing to George Rogers Clark after winning its last district crown. The Eagles last made the region tournament in 2020.
Bishop Brossart Mustangs
The Mustangs had a huge breakthrough in Andy Smith’s fourth season as head coach. Brossart not only won the region championship, but beat East Carter to record the first state tournament win in program history.
Bishop Brossart graduated seven seniors from last year’s 14-9-4 team. The biggest graduation losses were goalkeeper Lauren Gooderson, defender Brooke Shewmaker and senior midfielder Jill Planeaux. Planeaux led Brossart with 21 goals and 15 assists. Shewmaker will be playing softball at Bellarmine University.
“The group we have this year I feel is going to be pretty solid,” Smith said. “We’re going to miss a few of our seniors from last year. But I feel like with the younger group, we should be able to match the same intensity and level that we did last year.”
Brossart does return plenty of firepower from last year with nine seniors. The Mustangs did receive a tough blow in the Bluegrass State Games when their second-leading goal scorer last year with 12 goals in senior forward/midfielder Emma Sandfoss suffered a season-ending injury. Sandfoss said she’ll make the most of the situation.
“Obviously, it’s still such a blessing to be able to come out here every single day,” Sandfoss said. “It’s honestly just a huge opportunity for me. I know what it takes to be a leader on the field, so now I get to assume the role off the field. I’m just so excited to see these girls grow all season. I’m excited to be that person to give them that extra push on the sideline.”
Senior forward/midfielder Abby Lloyd and sophomore midfielder Rachel Shewmaker return after scoring 10 and seven goals last year, respectfully. Senior Leah Malay, junior Kennedy Parks and freshman Larah Callahan will help up front. Senior Kiersten Key and junior Zoey Woosley will help in the midfield.
“We have to come into it being humble knowing that we’re going to have to put in the work to be good and have that same team camaraderie,” Avery Schaefer said. “I was a captain last year – very lucky to be that. Coming into it, you see some of the other girls step up and you can see them coming into those captain roles and really leading the team.”
Sophomore Madeline Broering looks to take over at goalkeeper with senior team captain Avery Schaefer and junior Kaitlyn Kramer pitching in at defender and midfielder. Seniors Kylie Kremer and Sarah Oergel will contribute on defense.
Brossart travels to Notre Dame Aug. 9 to open the season.
Campbell County Camels
Veteran head coach Dave Morris enters his 17th season watching the team transition from a veteran team last year with 10 seniors to a young one with just a combined five juniors and seniors this year.
Nine of last year’s seniors had been on varsity since they were freshmen. Two big losses are dynamic forward Ruby Dunlevy and goalkeeper Morgan Rawe. Dunlevy had 19 goals and 12 assists last year and is continuing her soccer career at Eastern Kentucky University.
The Camels do return four starters in junior forward/midfielder Jozie Holmes, senior captain and midfielder Valerie Stephens, in addition to two defenders in senior Alexandria Powell and junior Emma Westlund. Holmes had 14 goals and 10 assists last season.
“Even though we have a young team, I think they’re a hard-working team,” Stephens said. “Our team chemistry is really good. We always go on team bonding events, and I think that really helps. There is no drama on the team. It helps us connect more when we play.”
Two sophomores in Abi Medaugh and Morgan Roomes look to take over at goalkeeper. Morris listed two sophomores in forward Kennedy Crowley and midfielder Ryan Weghorn as key to filling in huge roles.
Morris said he likes the team speed. They will employ a single striker attack this year.
“The key is we’re learning to play together now,” Morris said. “But we’re still a very fast, athletic team, so I think we’ll surprise people. We may not be the favorites in our district. But I think we can challenge for the district and region championships in my opinion. Every year, we seem to get more and more skilled players. The most exciting thing about it is the upside is potentially high.”
Campbell County once again opens the season in the Fayette County Soccer Spectacular on Aug. 7 against Henry Clay.
Scott Eagles
Allie Ast takes over a program that has won four games in each of the past two seasons.
They last beat Campbell County and Bishop Brossart during the regular season in 2020.
“Obviously, it’s going to be different this year. With a new coaching staff, we’ve kind of changed a lot of things on these girls,” Ast said. “Going to the basics with building their confidence is my first starting point. That confidence is something that me and other coaches have really been focusing on right now.”
The Eagles graduated five seniors off last year’s team and a few more have not returned or are unable to play this year.
The Eagles plan to run a 4-4-2 (defender-midfielder-forward) attack this year. Senior forward Kayla Hermann and junior midfielder Josie Puthoff are the two leading returning goal-scorers with five each last year. Puthoff also had a team-high five assists. Freshman Ava Karl looks to make an impact at forward with senior Hayley Hensley and junior Addy Wolf looking to contribute at midfield spots.
Freshman Savannah Black will take over at goalkeeper this year. Sophomore Reese Hendrickson and junior Brooke Hoerlein will anchor the defense in front of Black.
“I really like the positivity that comes through them,” Ast said. “They’ve had a couple good seasons and they’ve had a couple rough seasons. They push it all past them. They want to push each other, and that’s something that you don’t really see in girls sports sometimes, so to see that they really cheer each other on to be the best is really something that you can’t coach.”
Scott plays host to Ryle on Aug. 7 to open the season.
Calvary Christian Cougars
The Cougars finished 4-11-1 last year, deciding to forfeit the 37th District semifinal game against top-seeded Campbell County to end the season.
Calvary graduated four seniors from the team. The biggest loss is the leading goal-scorer with 13 points and six assists in Faith George, in addition to forward Meredith Gilbert.
Key returning players include junior goalkeeper/midfielder Ellie Gray and junior defender/midfielder Maria Schoster. The only listed senior is Audrey Carpenter.
Calvary opens the season at Dayton on Aug. 7.