Greenwood has a tradition of fielding strong girls’ soccer teams, but in recent years the team had fallen into a predictable pattern.

The Lady Gators would post a solid overall record, look strong in District 14 play, advance to the regional tournament – then lose to Bowling Green.

This scenario played out six straight years, with the Lady Purples ending Greenwood’s season in the Region 4 championship every time.

Not last year, though – in 2016, the Lady Gators finally broke through by beating Bowling Green in penalty kick shootouts in both the district and regional championship games to advance to the state tournament for the first time since 2009.

“Last year was huge for us,” Greenwood coach Zach Salchli said. “We finally got over that hump of beating Bowling Green in the region championship. That hadn’t happened in a while. It was a big, big year for us.”

Greenwood finished with a sparkling 17-4-1 record, advancing to the second round of the state tournament. Much of the talent that helped the Lady Gators get there is back, although there are holes to fill with the graduation loss of sisters Abigail Burd (17 goals, 18 assists) and Annie Burd (11 goals). Both are now playing collegiately for Alabama-Huntsville.

Leading scorer Roxanna Saifizadeh, a senior forward/midfielder, is back after tallying 23 goals and 12 assists last year. Sophomore midfielder Anna Haddock (15 goals, 17 assists) was selected over the summer for the Olympic Development Program Region 3 pool.

“She’s a phenomenal athlete,” Salchli said of Haddock. “She’s probably the most gifted soccer player that we’ve had around here in a long, long time.”

Seniors Catherine Gott, plus juniors Kylie Tisdale and Hallie Adams also offer returning scoring punch, but Salchli thinks the real strength of this team might be on the back line. A quartet of juniors – Elizabeth Carter, Sydney Parsons, Elise Fenno and Sarah Scott – are back to make life easier for sophomore goalkeeper Elizabeth DeMarse.

The Lady Gators will be tested early with a trip to defending state champion West Jessamine in mid-August. Greenwood is the last team to beat the state champs, scoring a 4-1 win in their lone meeting last season.

Bowling Green

The Lady Purples lost just four matches last season, and three of those setbacks came against Greenwood.

Bowling Green coach Lisa Correa must replace a ton of scoring off last year’s team, including top scorers Elizabeth Walton and Elizabeth Watts (now playing at Samford).

Juniors Caroline Buchanan (12 goals, 14 assists) and Emma Wilgruber (10 goals, 7 assists) are the top returning scorers to a lineup that Correa said has shown good flexibility as she’s shifted players around during the preseason. Corre plans to move senior Madison Carby (5 goals) into more of an offensive role.

One area with no uncertainty is between the posts, where senior Bailey Cross returns after allowing just 0.7 goals per game last season. The Illinois-Springfield commit and ODP player tallied nine shutouts last season.

“We start defensively with probably one of the best goalkeepers in the state,” Correa said. “She has just really good hands and she’s rarely out of position.”

South Warren

First-year coach Andrew Hutto has been busy getting to know his roster after moving over from his previous job coaching the South Warren Middle School boys’ team.

Last year’s leading scorer Sarah Ortiz (17 goals) graduated, but the Spartans return junior midfielder Laura Hasani (15 goals, 9 assists) and junior forward Kinsey Nelson (7 goals).

“Kinsey and Laura will definitely be weapons for us,” Hutto said. “We want to be balanced in our attack and we’re looking for some other girls to step up and carry the load.”

Last year’s starting keeper, senior Sarah Dennison, has shifted to the back line to shore up South Warren’s defense. Freshman Therese Bohnlein takes over as the Spartans’ starting goalkeeper.

Warren Central

The Lady Dragons produced another sparkling record last year, finishing 14-5-2. But a 1-3 mark in district play showed that Warren Central still has ground to make up in its quest to reach the top of the district standings.

“One of the big things we’re trying to accomplish is to get over that hurdle and beat a South Warren or a Greenwood or a Bowling Green,” Warren Central coach Alex Tungate said. “We’re really trying to take the next step and get into that conversation.”

The Lady Dragons lost top scorer Adalisa Mujic (38 goals, 14 assists), who is now playing collegiately at Campbellsville. Junior midfielder Adelisa Becirovic (28 goals, 21 assists) returns as a dangerous scorer, and Tungate is hoping the rest of the scoring will be a bit more dispersed this year.

Junior goalkeeper Eriona Shabani returns after a strong season last year, with senior Ana Rosales and junior Jacey Bailey providing experience on the back line.

Warren East

Even after losing 11-goal scorer Haylee Glenn to graduation, the Lady Raiders remain a Haley-heavy lineup.

Seniors Haley Elrod (36 goals, 10 assists) and Haley Eller (10 goals, 9 assists) return to provide dangerous scoring threats. Elrod set Warren East’s single-season goal scoring record last year, and needs just 20 goals this season to become the school’s all-time leader.

Warren East took significant graduation losses on defense, but the Lady Raiders have senior goalkeeper Cailyn Howard back for another season.

“We let Cailyn down defensively in a couple games that cost her more shutouts last year,” Lady Raiders coach Will Eller said. “I think for a kid going into her third year ever of playing soccer, she’s made a big jump forward.”

Senior Sarah Hudson, a midfielder last year, is moving to the back line to help out on defense.{&end}