2023 Greater Cincinnati high school soccer storylines to watch
High school soccer season is almost here. Regular-season games begin in the second week of August, with Kentucky games beginning Aug. 7 and Ohio Aug. 11, plus Indiana that weekend.
The Enquirer has been preparing for the season by listing players to watch in the four main position groups: Forwards, midfielders, defenders and goalkeepers.
As the season approaches, here are five boys soccer and five girls soccer storylines to watch.
Boys soccer
Can Ryle go back to the state tournament?
Ryle is the defending Ninth Region champion after going 19-5-2 overall for the season. The Raiders advanced to the Kentucky state semifinals, where they lost 4-1 to Paul Laurence Dunbar.
The Raiders have been one of Northern Kentucky’s premier programs, also reaching the state semifinals in 2020 and 2017. Ryle’s path to success has always revolved around defense. The 2021 regional champions only allowed six goals and the 2022 team only 15. That number went up last year as the Raiders allowed slightly more than a goal per game last season, 29 in 26 contests, but more than half of those, 16, came in five games against top-flight opponents.
Ryle graduated four starters, all defensive-oriented players in front of keeper Landon Barth, a senior who returns as one of the top netminders in the state. Ryle returns its top two scorers who combined for 40 of the team’s 62 goals. Senior Diego Hoenderkamp had 24 goals and nine assists, and sophomore Brice Denigan posted 16 and 8.
Ryle will face no shortage of challengers in the deep and competitive Ninth Region. Highlands, 14-5-3 last year, graduated one of the region’s top scorers in Colin Pieper (21 goals) but is always a contender. Covington Catholic, the 2021 regional champion, was 12-11-1 last year against a brutal schedule and is always in the mix. Ryle’s city rival Cooper, 12-2-3 last year, graduated a lot of its scoring, as did Dixie Heights, who went 16-3-3 last year but graduates one of the top players in the region, Bennett Gerak.
In the 10th Region, local teams in the 37th District will try to unseat Montgomery County, who was won the last three regional championships and four of the last five. Bishop Brossart (13-6-2) won the 37th District last year and returns one of Northern Kentucky’s top offensive players in Tyler Smith.
In the Eighth Region, Simon Kenton and Walton-Verona had solid seasons last year but couldn’t get through the Oldham County juggernauts in the regional tournament. North Oldham has won the past three regional championships, and one of the three schools in Oldham County have won the region every year in the current alignment.
Moeller prepares to hold off challengers in Division I
Moeller was the last local team playing in Division I last year, reaching the Division I state semifinals, where the Crusaders lost in overtime to New Albany. Moeller finished 16-2-4.
Moeller returns a high percentage of its scoring from last year, led by senior Bradley Poppell, who had 21 goals and 6 assists. Jonah Arszman, the No. 2 option last year, graduated. The defense, which allowed only 14 goals all season, should be strong again, led by senior keeper Austin Nowak.
One of Moeller’s biggest challenges will come from within its own league, as St. Xavier won the Greater Catholic League-South last year after beating Moeller 3-2 and tying the Crusaders 0-0 during the season. St. X was a defensive-minded team, only scoring 32 goals last year but allowing 16 before losing to Springboro in the district tournament. St. X graduated players who scored over 70 percent of the goals last season (23/32). Elder and La Salle were also competitive in GCL play last year.
Can the CHL make another run at a state title?
Wyoming was the Cincinnati Hills League champion last year, finishing 16-3-3 and falling in the Division II state semifinals.
The CHL has been hard to beat in the postseason in recent years. Wyoming won the DII state title in 2021 and Madeira went to the Division III state semifinals that year. Mariemont was the DIII state champion and undefeated for the season in 2020.
Wyoming will have to rebuild from last season after graduating a high percentage of its scoring, including Van Carmichael, who had 17 goals. Wyoming also graduated Gus Peacock, a first-team all-CHL pick and defensive leader, and keeper Noah Popovitz.
Indian Hill finished a half-game behind Wyoming in the CHL. The Braves return their top two scorers in CHL Player of the Year Connor Wilkes (19 goals) and Gavin Johnson (14). Mariemont, third place in the CHL at 4-1-2, reached the regional semis in the Division III Playoffs and finished 11-7-2, while Madeira was fourth in the league and 11-7-3.
Can Anderson win the ECC again?
The Eastern Cincinnati Conference has been a tightly competitive league in recent years. Anderson won the league title last year with a record of 8-0-1, a half-game ahead of Walnut Hills (8-1) and a game ahead of third-place Milford (7-1-1). Anderson lost to Centerville in a district championship game.
The Raptors were undefeated in the league in 2021, but to win a third-straight championship they will have to replace their top three scorers, including ECC offensive player of the year Bennett Painter (28 goals, 13 assists). Walnut Hills graduates a lot of its scoring as well.
In 2020, four teams finished within a half-game of first place, and possibly a similar scenario unfolds this season.
Can Mason win the GMC championship for the sixth-straight year?
Mason has been the team to beat in the Greater Miami Conference in recent years. The Comets have won the league championship for the past five seasons, going 42-2-1 in league games over that span. Mason was 9-0 in league play and 14-3-3 overall, winning a district championship and losing to Springboro in penalty kicks in the regional semis.
Mason, as well as the rest of the league, will undergo some transition as senior Kellan Ren is the only one of the 22 first-team all-GMC players from last year who didn’t graduate. Mason had six first-team honorees last year. Ren had 10 goals and eight assists last year. He and senior Brian Gorski (11 and 7) are the only two returnees among five double-digit goal-scorers from last season for the Comets.
Mason has a veteran defense that allowed only 14 goals last season and will have to replace keeper Zach Cochran. Gorski is another all-GMC returner along with senior midfielder Youssof Mitiek.
Sycamore was Mason’s closest challenger last year, going 7-2 in league play and 8-9-1 overall. The Aviators had five all-league performers but graduated all of them.
Lakota West was 6-2-1 in league play. The Firebirds graduated four of their five All-GMC selections but return junior Tyson Hagaman, who had eight goals last season.
Girls soccer
Can an older Highlands team repeat in the 9th Region?
The Highlands Bluebirds won the Ninth Region last season with a win over Notre Dame in penalty kicks. Highlands lost 5-0 in the state round of 16 to a powerhouse Lexington Catholic team that went 26-2.
The Bluebirds won with a young roster, graduating only three seniors. Two of them were key parts of the back line. The Bluebirds return their top three scorers who accounted for 60 of the team’s 84 goals last year: They are senior Laney Smith (31 goals, 9 assists), senior Katelyn Jamie (15 and 6) and senior Claire Cavacini (14 and 7). Smith has 72 career goals and Jamie is committed to DePaul.
The Ninth Region has been a constant tug-of-war between Highlands and Notre Dame in the current alignment, which dates back to the 2012 season. Notre Dame has seven regional titles in that span and Highlands, four. Those four have come in the last five seasons after the Pandas won six straight from 2012-17.
The Pandas, 2021 state champions, were 17-4-2 last year. The Pandas graduated 10 seniors, including all-time assists leader Ellie Greenwell, who had 25 of them last year with 15 goals, but always reload with depth. Junior Riley Robertson returns after scoring 15 goals last season.
Brossart won the 10th Region last year, losing to eventual state runner-up Lexington Catholic in the state quarterfinals. The Mustangs graduated a few key players including all-state performer Jill Planeaux but bring back a lot of talent. Campbell County, 13-4-7 last year, graduated all-time leading scorer Ruby Dunlevy but is usually a regional contender, last winning the regional title in 2021.
Simon Kenton, 14-5-4 last year, is a regular winner and contender in the Eighth Region. The Pioneers lost to eventual state champ South Oldham (4-0) in the regional final and hope to make another run led by senior Campbell Ruble (26 goals, 7 assists in 2022).
Can CCD win another state championship?
Cincinnati Country Day won its second state championship in four seasons last year, winning the Division III state title and finishing 19-5 overall.
The Nighthawks graduated three starters from that team. They will have to replace goalkeeper C.J. DeBra, who started the last four seasons, including with the 2019 state champs. She graduated with 48 career shutouts, including 18 last year, and allowed 41 goals in 87 career games.
CCD also loses Sydney Bortz (13 goals, 6 assists) and defender Sami Hess from its starting lineup.
The Nighthawks return three superstar offensive players. Senior Piper Farris had 24 goals and 18 assists and has 45 career goals and 46 assists.
Senior twin sisters Elizabeth Zimmerman (18 goals, 24 assists) and Megan Zimmerman (10 goals, 20 assists) also pace the attack.
Can Seton win again in Division I?
Seton won its first Division I state championship last season, winning its last 11 games to finish 20-3-1 for the season, including a 1-0 win over Strongsville in the state final.
Seton graduated four starters from the state championship game but returns three of its top four scorers from a squad that averaged 3.2 goals per game last season.
Junior Lexi O’Shea (14 goals, 9 assists), senior Kenzie Carle (14 goals, 12 assists) and senior Millie Cluxton (13 goals, 14 assists) are three of the top players in Cincinnati this season. Senior keeper Riley Tarvin returns in the net. Seton graduated one player from its starting back line.
At least one of Seton’s biggest challengers will come from within its own league. Mount Notre Dame, the 2021 state champion, won the GGCL last year, including a 1-1 draw with Seton and a 5-0 win before the Saints turned the tide and won 4-3 in the regional finals.
The Cougars graduate superstar Peyton Kohls and return Riley Marques and Avery May, who combined for 17 goals a year ago. They are returning all-league picks along with Danielle Charleston and Allison Charleston. Senior keeper Allie Lammers, a Division I recruit, also returns after missing most of last season.
Waynesville Spartans charge after another title
Waynesville’s run for a second consecutive state championship was going perfectly last year as the Spartans were undefeated 21-0 before falling to Copley 1-0 in the Division II state championship game.
Waynesville, Division III champions in 2021, graduated three starters from last year's state championship game, including keeper Gracyn Armstrong, defender Laine Kuhns and midfielder Allie Freese.
Waynesville returns one of the state’s top players in Samantha Erbach, a senior who scored 43 goals with 18 assists last year. The Xavier University commit has 104 career goals.
Senior Brooke Woody had 14 goals and 9 assists last year, and junior Baylee Williams had 12 goals and 9 assists.
Will Milford continue to reign in a tightly competitive ECC?
Milford had a season to remember last year, winning the Eastern Cincinnati Conference and finishing 19-2 overall. Milford lost to eventual Division I state champion Seton in the regional semifinals after both won district titles.
Milford returns its top two scorers. Ana Manning, a senior, had 29 goals and 10 assists. The senior was named the Division I Southwest Coaches Association Player of the Year and is an Eastern Kentucky University commit.
Senior Marlee Scanlon had 17 goals and six assists. Milford scored four goals per game last season and allowed only 16 for the season.
Loveland, Anderson and West Clermont were right behind Milford last year in the always-competitive ECC. Milford and Loveland tied for the championship in 2021, and Loveland won it in 2020.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 2023 Greater Cincinnati high school soccer storylines to watch
