After winning its first district championship in school history, Warren East hopes to build on its strong 2022 campaign
By Perry Swack
15th District Boys Preview
Warren East Raiders
2022 Record: 12-5
Won 15th District
Coach: Luis Cano, third season
Having won the school’s first district championship in boys’ soccer, the Warren East Raiders enter 2023 hungry for more. Coach Luis Cano’s squad are expected to return some of its strongest contributors from 2022, including leading scorer Misael Giron. The incoming senior scored 33 goals and tallied 15 assists as a junior. Goalkeeper Stevan Rodriguez helped anchor a stout defense as the Raiders posted seven shutouts on the season. After losing only four seniors from the ‘22 roster, Warren East will be primed to make more noise across the 15th District and 4th Region.
Watch Out For
Senior David Alfaro. As a junior, Alfaro scored six times and assisted on four other goals as the Raiders had a banner season on the pitch.
Circle the Date
September 21 – Warren East travels to Greenwood, who eliminated the Raiders from the 4th Region Tournament in 2022.
Glasgow Scotties
2022 Record: 6-14
15th District Runner-Up
Coaches: Ken and Laura Mahung, 10th Season
Glasgow may have seen its run of eight-consecutive district titles come to an end in 2022; however, the Scotties qualified for an eleventh-straight 4th Region Tournament. Improvement was the name of the game for coaches Ken and Laura Mahung. GHS went 0-4 against Barren County and Warren East in the regular season but defeated Barren in the district tournament and nearly toppled East before falling in penalties. Senior Nick Bower returns to the lineup after scoring six goals and assisting on six more a season ago. Goalkeeper Richard Crowe will be expected to get the nod in goal, after making eight saves in a 2-0 loss to Franklin-Simpson in the 4th Region Tournament.
Watch Out For
Junior Darwin Hernandez who tallied five assists a season ago. Jared Malagon scored four goals as a freshman and will play a larger role in ‘23.
Circle the Date
August 17 — Glasgow travels to Warren East for a rematch of last season’s district championship game
Barren County Trojans
2022 Record: 12-8
Coach: Bobbie Nyekan, 11th Season (1st since 2014)
After an eight-season tenure for coach Joe Mercer, former head man Bobbie Nyekan (2005-14) returns to the Barren County dugout. In his first run with the program, the Trojans went to five-straight 4th Region Tournaments and won two district titles in 2012 and 2013. The task will be tall as Barren County graduated one of its most prolific scorers in program history, Micah Wilson, who bagged 40 goals in 2022. Alan Edberg is the team’s top returning scorer after scoring seven goals and handing out six assists a season ago. Nyekan will be looking for players to fill in the gaps left by a talented senior class
Watch Out For
The Trojans’ experienced back line which featured Colton Boone, John Edberg, Osmar Casas, and Logan Gerber a season ago. The quartet combined to play in nearly every game and all return for the ‘23 campaign.
Circle the Date
August 24 – The Trojans travel to Warren East for an early-season district showdown that will show both teams exactly where they stand two weeks into the 2023 season.
Allen County-Scottsville Patriots
2022 Record: 4-16
Coach: Josue Ramirez, 4th Season
There is much room for optimism among the Allen County-Scottsville boys’ soccer program as the team has improved its win totals in each of its first three seasons as a program. After debuting in 2020 with zero wins, the Patriots won once in 2021, and four times in 2022. Although the program’s all-time leading scorer Aaron Shain (29 goals) has graduated, coach Josue Ramirez returns talent that he hopes will allow his team to continue its improvement. Blade Workman will feature in the ACS lineup after scoring 12 goals and assisting on six more in 2022. Goalkeeper Ashtyn Ballinger also returns after making an astounding 268 saves a season ago.
Watch Out For
Junior Sammy Jines. Jines scored four goals in 2022, while leading the team with eight assists. His connection with Workman and others will be key for success on the pitch in 2023.
Circle the Date
August 10 – Allen County-Scottsville opens the season with Logan County in the Kentucky 2A Tournament. The two clubs split in 2022 and this early-season matchup is a major opportunity for the Patriots to play well as the ‘23 season kicks off.
