Bowling Green and Greenwood look to return to the winner’s circle for the first time since 2015
By Perry Swack
From 2000-2015 Bowling Green and Greenwood won sixteen out of sixteen 4th Region boys’ soccer titles. Bowling Green won ten championships (most recently a four-peat from 2012-15), while Greenwood took home six trophies (with a four-peat from 2008-11 as well). However, the last six seasons have seen neither program claim what used to be theirs without question. South Warren won represented the 4th Region in the state tournament in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2021, while Warren Central were region champions in 2017 and 2019.
Things have been different this season. While South Warren and Warren Central put together outstanding seasons on the pitch, the Purples and Gators clipped their crosstown rivals in the district tournament. Now only four teams remain with a chance to hold the trophy Thursday night at Warren Central.
The second semifinal on Wednesday night (7:30pm) will see the 14th District runner-up Greenwood face off with the 13th District runner-up Todd County Central. Greenwood is in its first region tournament since 2013 and will be looking to continue its hot streak against the Rebels. Heading into the event, the Gators were led by junior Andy Alfaro’s 15 goals, while he and fellow junior Carlos Hercules each had assisted on five goals. Greenwood’s 10-10-2 record doesn’t jump out on the page; however, coach Luis Llontop’s club has been in nearly every game this season, losing seven games by a single goal. With ten games decided by a single goal, the Gators will be able to draw upon their experience in tight games if a game comes down to the wire in the region tournament.
Greenwood’s opponent, Todd County Central, is also appearing in its first region tournament since 2013. Fourth-year coach Mike Smith has the Rebels atop nearly every defensive category in the state. The Elkton club has allowed the fewest goals in the state at 11 and senior goalkeeper Jonah Rager ranks third statewide with 13 complete game shutouts. Junior defender Zack Robinson leads the team with 17 goals, while midfielders Chris Salazar and Horacio Herrera have each tallied 11 and 10 assists respectively. The trio will be called upon to come through for the Rebels on Wednesday evening.
Interestingly enough, these two teams met back in the 2013 4th Region semifinals as Greenwood won 6-0 behind two goals from Edin Hasanovic and a clean sheet from keeper Mitch O’Kelly.
The first semifinal at 5:30pm pits 13th District champion Franklin-Simpson (16-6-1) with 14th District champion Bowling Green (15-2). The Wildcats are the highest scoring team in the 4th Region with 97 goals on the year and have allowed the second-fewest goals in the entire state per game (0.7). Freshman midfielder Oscar Lopez leads the team with 25 goals on the year, while sophomore Griff Banton has netted 23 on the season. Senior defender Gabe Jones has scored 17 goals and leads the team with 20 assists. Senior goalkeeper Connor Vincent leads the state with 15 complete game shutouts and will be called upon in a big way on Wednesday evening against the Purples. In a 6-1 loss to Bowling Green in late September, Vincent made ten saves.
The Purples are in fine form, winners of ten matches in a row. Senior striker Yaredi Yaredi leads the team with 12 goals, while fellow senior and midfielder Shukurani Makiwa has scored ten goals and leads the team with seven assists. Of Bowling Green’s 65 goals this season, only 15 have been unassisted. Five players have at least five assists, led by Makiwa’s seven and sophomore Braden Widener’s six. As noted above, the Purples and Wildcats met on September 29 and BG won 6-1 behind Tomas Gonzaga’s two goals and Widener’s two assists.
One of the most accomplished coaches in Kentucky state high school soccer history, Craig Widener will look to win his eighth region tournament in thirteen tries. His first stint at Bowling Green started in 2005. His second in 2021. What happened in 2006? The Purples won the state title. Might we be in store for another second season state championship? Only time will tell.
