There’s no sign that Bowling Green and Greenwood’s dueling reign atop Region 4 is stopping anytime soon.

Based on talent returning for both schools, the rivalry might be as riveting as ever this fall.

“This is going to be a really exciting year,” Greenwood girls’ soccer coach Zach Salchli said. “Both these classes of kids coming in now have been like the cream of the crop in this area for years.”

Bowling Green defeated the Lady Gators last year for the Region 4 title – its ninth since 2000 – and returns a dynamic goal scorer in sophomore Whitaker Buchanan, who set the school’s single-season scoring record with 34 goals.

Her older sister Caroline, a senior, was also instrumental for Bowling Green with 12 goals and 18 assists.

Across the interstate, Greenwood returns almost 60 percent of its scoring, led by star Anna Haddock’s 39 goals and 25 assists.

The Lady Gators won the region tournament in penalty kicks in 2016 over the Lady Purples to end a six-year state tournament drought. Then last year, the regular season and district tournament matches were decided by one goal.

Bowling Green defeated Greenwood 3-1 in the region final and advanced to the second round of the state tournament.

And now the majority of those returning playmakers who play on the same club soccer team in Tennessee will suit up for their respective schools for a 2018 showcase.

“This is going to be an awesome season for local girls’ soccer,” Salchli said.

The fourth-year Greenwood coach has reason to be excited with 20 upperclassmen filling the varsity roster – nine seniors and 11 juniors.

The biggest problem, Salchli said, is perhaps the best issue to have.

“This is a weird problem to say we have, but we have almost too much talent,” Salchli said. “We have to teach girls how to play different roles on the field. We have a lot of girls who have played big roles for their club teams and even played big roles for us through the years. Now we have to teach them to play as one cohesive group, so team chemistry is going to be huge and getting girls to buy into their roles on the field is going to make a huge difference on the outcome of the season.”

Alongside Haddock as returning scorers are Rachel Heltsley (15 goals), Anne Perkins (11 goals) and Kylie Tisdale (11 goals). Junior Elizabeth DeMarse also returns in net after allowing 0.8 goals per game a year ago.

For Bowling Green, finding its replacement at goal keeper and defensively overall are the biggest questions.

Bailey Cross started 19 games in goal last year and forced seven shutouts. The Lady Purples also look to replace their entire back line.

“We lost basically our starting defense and our goal keeper who was solid for us back there for so many years,” BGHS coach Lisa Correa said. “We’re really looking at those kids who contributed to the playing field last year to step up in leadership roles.”

Correa said sophomore Natalie Mills will step into the goal keeper role this fall while Katie Jo Moore and Erica Smith bring experience to the back line.

“We lost a lot, but we have a lot of young players and we have a lot of heart,” Bowling Green senior Emma Wilgruber said. “That’s one of our strong suits, definitely our passion.”

Warren Central went 17-5 last season with three of its losses decided by one goal. Its other two defeats were 7-0 to Greenwood and 10-0 to Bowling Green.

The Lady Dragons return dynamic forward senior Adelisa Becirovic, who scored 44 goals last year, and 75 percent of its back line.

Warren Central will be senior and freshmen-heavy, but likes the momentum built last year to hopefully give itself a chance to compete in a district with Greenwood and Bowling Green.

“It’s just building the kids’ confidence up to get their mindset up mentally to tackle one of those teams,” Alex Tungate said. “Both of those teams this year are probably going to be top 10 in the state and one could be No. 1 or No. 2. It’s a ginormous challenge.

“I think this year we have the ability to compete against those teams. I think they’re going to possess the ball the majority of the time. I don’t think that will ever change, but we have the kids that have the mentality and the skills to at least give themselves a chance this year.”

South Warren will rest on its “security blanket” in scoring while second-year coach Andrew Hutto works to replace 11 seniors lost from 2017.

Laura Hasani, Sofia Hasani and Kinsey Nelson return after combining for 48 goals last year on a team that went 10-9 with a District 14 tournament loss to Greenwood.

“Laura as a senior is sort of our general on the field, but she’s also the engine that helps us to go,” Hutto said. “We’re really looking for them not only to score goals, but to create for each other. That’s the key for us, can we be dynamic and create for each other?”

Besides having the season end by mercy rule to Bowling Green, Warren East made a push last year with six wins and two draws in its last eight games.

The Lady Raiders are looking for a collective effort to replace its Haley scoring duo between Haley Elrod (24 goals) and Haley Eller (19 goals).

“When you lose good players, it’s always a challenge to figure out how you’re going to get that production back,” said Lady Raiders coach Will Eller, whose team finished 12-6-3. “We don’t have a kid this year who I think is going to go out and score 20 to 25 goals, but I think we have several who can get 15. I think our goal scoring is going to be more a collective effort than it is one person to produce moments of magic.”