Week 1 Outlook for 4th Region Girls Soccer
By Perry Swack
Since 2000, crosstown rivals Bowling Green and Greenwood have met in every 4th Region championship game. With titles in 2021 and 2022, the Lady Purples eclipsed the Lady Gators with 12 titles while GHS has won 11. Will the BG win its thirteenth in 2023? Will Greenwood get its twelfth, or will a new program etch its name into 4th Region lore?
Take a look at some of the top games in the 4th Region during the season’s opening week!
Bowling Green @ Henderson County
Thursday, August 10 @ 7:00pm
The two-time defending region champions kick off the season’s opening week with three games, including a road date with the 2nd Region champions Henderson County. The Lady Purples and Lady Colonels met in the opening round of the 2022 state tournament as BG defeated Henderson 3-0. Zippi Willgruber scored a brace in that October 2022 meeting, and the now-sophomore will return to the lineup after scoring 29 goals last season. Maggie Morris also returns for coach Lisa Correa after totaling 16 goals in 2022, as does Adelyn Drane and her nine goals and 16 assists. The Lady Purples will use their depth to overwhelm opposing teams, as the club returns ten players who played in at least 20 matches in 2022.
The Lady Colonels return their top three scorers from a season ago, including Ashton Lynam who tallied 39 goals and 14 assists. Kacee Butler will join her in the attack after scoring 13 goals and dishing out 10 assists, as will Taylor Dunn and her 10 goals and team-leading 18 assists. Although Henderson County fell to BG in the state tournament, they defeated the Lady Purples in the regular season by a score of 5-2. With many contributors returning to the pitch, it should make for an exciting match on Henderson on Thursday evening.
Prediction: Bowling Green 3, Henderson County 1
Kentucky 2A Championships
Monday, August 7 @ 5:30pm – Edmonson County @ Warren East
Wednesday, August 9 @ 5:30pm – Glasgow @ Warren Central
Thursday, August 10 @ 7:00pm – Hart County @ Franklin-Simpson
Friday, August 11 @ 5:30pm – Logan County @ Allen County-Scottsville
Six teams in the 4th Region kick off their quest for a 2A state championship starting on Monday as Warren East hosts Edmonson County. The Lady Raiders have never met the Lady Cats on the pitch as Edmonson County is only in its second season of having a soccer program. Warren East won the 15th District championship in 2022 and reached the 4th Region semifinals. Junior goalscorer Deca Burr will again head the Lady Raider attack after scoring a whopping 58 goals in 2022. Abbie Rigsby also returns to the lineup after scoring 12 goals and assisting on 16 more a season ago.
Prediction: Warren East 8, Edmonson County 0
Glasgow travels to Warren Central on Wednesday where Monika Lopez and Presley Compton will host the Lady Scotties. Compton is the team’s senior goalkeeper after making 297 saves in 2022. Lopez leads the attack and is the team’s leading returning goal scorer from a season ago. Glasgow returns its keeper as well in junior Audrey Crain (78 saves in ‘22).
Prediction: Warren Central 5, Glasgow 0
Franklin-Simpson hosts Hart County on Thursday as the Lady Wildcats look to reverse a two-game losing streak against the Lady Raiders. Senior attacker Kennedi Alexander returns for Franklin after leading the team with 11 goals in 2022. Goalkeeper Madison Slate also returns for F-S and recorded 195 saves last season. Junior Kaycee Pedigo will be in the lineup for Hart County after scoring four goals against the Lady Wildcats in their meeting in 2022.
Prediction: Hart County 4, Franklin-Simpson 1
The 13th District runners-up start their 2A championship run by traveling to Scottsville for a Friday evening affair with Allen County-Scottsville. The two clubs met in the Lady Patriots’ inaugural season of 2022 as the Lady Cougars won 4-1. Senior goalkeeper Elana Edler returns for Logan County after making 126 saves last season and allowing only 37 total goals in 20 games. Calista Peterie also returns in attack, as does Kyla Bilyeu. Allen County-Scottsville will look to Kynleigh Shultz (16 goals in ‘22) and Gabrielle Corbett (139 saves) to lead the team in 2023.
Prediction:Logan County 3, Allen County-Scottsville 1
