Meet the top high school girls soccer teams in the Louisville area in 2023

After winning its record eighth state championship last season, the South Oldham High School girls soccer team will have a new look in 2023.

The Dragons return just four players who competed in the postseason last year, and one of them – senior forward Kate Hallin – is out indefinitely with a knee injury.

“Our motto through came was, ‘New year, new us,’” coach Kenny Burke said. “It’s not fair to compare this team to the past teams. We just have to be the best versions of ourselves and try to be competitive every game.”

The Dragons finished 23-2 after whipping Elizabethtown 5-0 in the state final. They allowed just one goal in eight postseason games on their way to a title.

South Oldham’s experience comes in the back, where senior goalkeeper Katie Feeney and senior defenders Breanna Dardano and Addison Welsh return. Feeney (17 shutouts) was a first-team All-State pick last season, and Dardano was MVP of the state tournament.

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Senior midfielder/striker Maddie Campbell returns after missing last season with a knee injury. Burke is excited about a talented freshman class that could have four members in the starting lineup – striker Abigayle Hammons, midfielder Blair Hartman and defenders Maggie Murphy and Celia Falco.

“Everything until October is preseason,” Burke said. “We just need to find out who we are.”

Here’s a look at other girls soccer teams from the Louisville area. All statistics are from last season.  (Note: several coaches did not respond to requests for information):

Other regional contenders

Assumption (18-5-3 last season) won its first Seventh Region title since 2012 and returns first-team All-State pick A.G. Gibson (23 goals, 14 assists). The University of Louisville-bound Gibson is one of four senior midfielders on the roster who have committed to colleges, joining Josie McRae (Eastern Kentucky), Riley O’Bryan (25 goals, South Carolina Upstate) and Olivia Thomas (Transylvania). Junior midfielder Olivia Hass (10 goals, 12 assists) and junior goalkeeper Hannah Hayden (five shutouts) also return to a formidable lineup.

Ballard (11-6-3) has a pair of senior leaders in striker Sophie Gyimesi (24 goals, 10 assists) and midfielder Sam Stinnett (23 goals, 12 assists). Gyimesi earned honorable-mention All-State honors last season. Also back are juniors Ellie Vander Pol and Abby Luttrell (five goals, eight assists) and sophomore midfielder Amber Day.

Bullitt East (9-8-3) lost 11 seniors to graduation and will rebuild around senior goalkeeper Ashley Burbrink (four shutouts) and sophomores Anna Tinelli (seven goals, 11 assists), Savannah Mooney (five goals, seven assists) and Sadie Isaacs.

Christian Academy (15-7-2) was a Seventh Region semifinalist and returns a trio of senior leaders in defender Elise Michael (four goals, 11 assists) and midfielders Luna Guarin and Ella Mast (six goals, five assists). Junior striker Taylor Touche (16 goals), junior defender Addison Chandler (10 goals, 12 assists) and junior midfielder Hadley Snowden (15 goals, seven assists) also are back.

Holy Cross (15-7-1) reached the Sixth Region semifinals last year and has a record 29 players in the program. Senior striker Kenzie Trusty (28 goals, four assists) and senior defenders Payton Miller, Raelyn Lawless and Trinity Howard lead the Cougars. Juniors Sydney Dunn (27 goals, 10 assists), Kelsey Ellis (six goals, five assists) and Rylie Hartlage also return.

Manual (12-9-2) was the Seventh Region runner-up last year and returns senior forward Amelia Jones (25 goals, eight assists), an honorable-mention All-State pick. Junior striker Jane Mundell (15 goals, seven assists) also returns.

Mercy (12-6-2) was the Sixth Region runner-up last year and has a new head coach in Eric Wong. He will lean on senior midfielder Nikki Burba (14 goals, seven assists), who earned honorable-mention All-State honors last year. Junior midfielder Kyndall Wintergerst-Weston (seven goals) and senior goalkeeper Peyton Arnold (nine shutouts) also return.

Sacred Heart (20-4) saw its run of nine straight Seventh Region titles end last year and this season will be without second-team All-State junior Caitlin Chase (31 goals, seven assists), who has chosen to play solely with Racing Louisville’s academy team. The Valkyries still have plenty of offensive firepower in seniors Aubrey Nolan (12 goals, 10 assists) and Christine Very (10 goals, six assists) and juniors Ginger Mooser (16 goals, five assists) and Nora Dimmitt (10 goals, 10 assists). Sophomore goalkeeper Amira Hendrick (nine shutouts) also returns.

Whitefield Academy (20-4) won its first-ever Sixth Region title last season and returns second-team All-State selection Sara Ritter (67 goals, 27 assists). She ranked second in the state in goals scored. Also back are senior Madi Harned (five goals, three assists) and junior Noel Smith.

Others to watch

Atherton (13-6-1) features senior forward/midfielder Emily Paul (48 goals, 18 assists). The Miami (Ohio) commit was a second-team All-State pick last season. Senior center back Sylvana Herrera-Shiffler (four goals) also returns.

Brown (13-6-2) set a school record for victories last season and is led by sophomore twins Taylor Morris (60 goals, 14 assists) and Trista Morris (21 goals, 16 assists). Taylor Morris was an honorable-mention All-State pick last year and ranked third in the state in goals scored.

Butler (8-12-2) returns a quartet of leaders in senior midfielder A’Niya Haskins (four goals, four assists), junior midfielder Alicia Grimaldo (three goals, five assists) junior goalkeeper Ashlyn Poole (three shutouts) and sophomore center back Emily Huitron (10 goals, seven assists).

Collegiate (13-4-3) has a senior-laden roster led by midfielder Gabbie Schulten (11 goals, nine assists), center defender Ainsley Lowe, midfielder Marie Wilson and outside back Sally Goldstein.

Eastern (6-9-2) has a first-year coach in Fahuwu Momoh, who will lean on senior center back Julia Shoemaker (22 goals, four assists). Junior goalkeeper Hannah Sullivan and a trio of sophomores – midfielders Savannah Coomes (five goals) and Ellie Henderson and striker Abigail Johnson – also return.

Fairdale (4-8-2) will be led by junior forward Valerie Solache (23 goals).

Male (4-13-1) hopes to improve behind a trio of center midfielders – seniors Cam Collins and Kelsey Lee and junior Estefany Farias (three goals). Collins missed last season with a knee injury.

North Bullitt (8-13) will be led by senior center back Taylor McKnight, junior center back Kaylee Badgett, junior forward/midfielder Annie Grigsby and sophomore midfielders Emma Bolt (four goals, five assists) and Kotey Hill (six goals, nine assists).

Oldham County (9-9-1) reached the Eighth Region semifinals last season and returns eight starters, including senior midfielder Peyton Guarascio (eight goals, four assists) and senior goalkeeper Katelyn Wagner (seven shutouts).

Presentation (2-11-2) will look to improve behind senior defender Aria Suggs (three goals), junior defender Sydney Ohlmann and junior forward Bridgette Olash (four goals).

Seneca (3-14) has a quartet of senior leaders in forwards Kusum Ghimire (four goals, eight assists) and Geraldine Tolentino (seven goals), sweeper Cherrish Slaymaker and midfielder Priti Chhetri.

Spencer County (8-9) returns its top three scorers in junior striker Hawley Johnson (10 goals) and junior midfielders Ava Klaus (nine goals, eight assists) and Natalie Wimsatt (seven goals). Striker Drew Mallory and defender Elizabeth Penrod are senior leaders.

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Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @kyhighs.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KHSAA girls soccer: Top teams, players in Louisville area for 2023