Boys soccer 2024: Lexington’s top teams, best players and biggest games this season

There’s little question when it comes to boys high school soccer, Lexington contains some of the best teams in the state.

Six Lexington teams ranked in the final Maher Rankings top 25 at the end of last season. Defending 11th Region champion Lafayette reached last year’s state finals out of the 43rd District, the same division as Paul Laurence Dunbar, the back-to-back state champion in 2021 and 2022.

Over in the 42nd District, Henry Clay’s most recent state crown came in 2019, and the Blue Devils always field a formidable squad. But Frederick Douglass has developed into a consistent winner and should remain so under new coach Blake Parker, a longtime assistant.

The 2024 season, which kicks off Monday, should be as competitive as ever despite the loss of a few of the city’s top players who recently chose to forego their high school careers and train exclusively with their club team.

Here’s a look at the Lexington boys soccer landscape. Teams are ordered according to their approximate finish last season. Player honors and stats are from the 2023 season. Quotes are from the coach.

Lafayette

Coach: Chris Grimm (17th season).

Last season: 20-4. 43rd District/11th Region champions and state runner-up; lost 1-0 to St. Xavier in the state finals.

Standing out: Meshaki Shendela, sr., all-city honorable mention (7 goals, 6 assists), “Expect him to be one of the best offensive players in the city this year;” Max Jacobs, jr. (8 goals, 3 assists), “Had a fantastic sophomore year off the bench;” David Rodriguez, sr. (1 goal, 2 assists), “Great left foot, strong technical player … incredible work rate;” Layton Coughtry, jr. (1 goal, 4 assists), “Great two-way player who can play multiple positions.”

Coach says: “We will be a very different team with a very different look … We fully expect to be in the thick of it in our district.”

Notes: Four starters return. Junior defender Michael Matsakis played in the state finals with his arm in a cast after breaking it late in the season. Last year’s Generals claimed the school’s first boys region crown since 1990, the year of its lone state championship.

Schedule highlights: Aug. 13 vs. Great Crossing; Aug. 17 vs. McCracken County (at Tates Creek); Aug. 20 vs. Henry Clay; Aug. 27 at Paul Laurence Dunbar; Sept. 10 vs. Lexington Catholic; Sept. 24 at Frederick Douglass.

Frederick Douglass

Coach: Blake Parker (first season).

Last season: 16-3. 42nd District champion and 11th Region runner-up.

Standing out: Beni Shendera, sr., all-city honorable mention (5 goals, 1 assist), “Quick feet on the ball … made many dangerous runs from the back line;” Juan Piedra Figueroa, sr. (4 goals, 5 assists), ”Great soccer IQ coupled with great skill;” Delfin Iteriteka, sr. (140 saves), “His ability, IQ, and vocal leadership kept us in many games;” Keegan Nash, jr. (5 goals, 2 assists), “A dangerous player at the top of the box.”

Coach says: “We want to affirm that we are a serious program and can be a contender for the highest accolades in the state.”

Notes: The Broncos have had postseason runs ended in penalty kick shootouts each of the last four seasons — the last two in the region finals. Parker succeeds Omar Shalash, the 2022 11th Region coach of the year. He had been a Shalash assistant since Douglass’s founding in 2017. His father, Steve Parker, was a former head football coach at Bryan Station.

Schedule highlights: Aug. 27 at Great Crossing; Aug. 29 vs. Henry Clay; Sept. 10 at St. Xavier; Sept. 12 vs. Bryan Station; Oct. 3 vs. Paul Laurence Dunbar.

Paul Laurence Dunbar

Coach: James Wray (fifth season).

Last season: 15-4. 43rd District runner-up.

Standing out: Chaz Rich, sr., second team all-city (14 goals, 4 assists, tied as leading goal scorer before season-ending injury), “We expect him to lead us again this season;” Christian Delgado, sr. (5 goals, 4 assists), “Versatile attacker, he can play on the front line or as an attacking midfielder;” Amir Siddiqui, sr. (2 goals, 4 assists), “Should be involved in plenty of goals this season;” Christopher Calixtro, sr. (2 goals, 3 assists), “Proven lockdown defender.”

Coach says: “The 2024 graduating class left a legacy of two state titles, three region championships and three district championships. We now turn the page and look forward to watching our current group make their mark.”

Notes: Four starters return. Rich was Dunbar’s leading scorer last year, but tore his ACL in the final game of the regular season and missed the playoffs. Dunbar lost last season’s 43rd District finals and 11th Region finals in penalty kick shootouts.

Schedule highlights: Aug. 16 vs. Ryle; Aug. 27 vs. Lafayette; Sept. 10 vs. Henry Clay; Sept. 14 vs. St. Xavier; Sept. 24 vs. Covington Catholic; Sept. 30 at Trinity; Oct. 3 at Frederick Douglass.

Henry Clay

Coach: Jason Behler (ninth season).

Last season: 12-7. 42nd District runner-up.

Standing out: Marco Messerli, sr., first team all-city (13 goals, 14 assists), “Great mix of pace and physicality to go along with a high soccer IQ;” Connor Taylor, jr. (2 goals, 3 assists), “His movement and decision making is top notch;” Ethan Long, sr. (1 goal), “He can anchor a defense as well as anyone in the area;” James Clay, sr. (1 goal, 1 assist), “Will consistently give the best performance on the pitch by doing all of the little things.”

Coach says: “I like our chances to win our district, come out of the region, and make a run at a state title. This team feels like we underachieved last year and feels determined to right some wrongs that plagued us the past two seasons defensively.”

Notes: Six starters return. Henry Clay has three state titles (1991, 2010 and 2019). It last won the 42nd District in 2021.

Schedule highlights: Aug. 16 vs. McCracken County (at Paul Laurence Dunbar); Aug. 20 at Lafayette; Aug. 29 at Frederick Douglass; Sept. 10 at Paul Laurence Dunbar; Sept. 21 at Bowling Green; Oct. 1 vs. St. Xavier.

Lexington Catholic

Coach: Todd Bretz (second season).

Last season: 7-9.

Standing out: Bruno Montero, sr., “Dynamic attacking player who will be very involved in the attacking third;” Carson Witajewski, sr., “Will be the leader in the back;” James Barnett, jr., “Has the ability to play all positions on the field and will be key.”

Coach says: “We will be a young team with a good freshman class coming and a lot of exciting players.”

Notes: Four starters return. Despite its losing record, the Knights earned a No. 3 seed in last season’s 43rd District Tournament by virtue of penalty kick wins over both Tates Creek and Lexington Christian. Lexington Catholic did not report stats to the KHSAA in 2023.

Schedule highlights: Aug. 13 at Boyle County; Aug. 17 vs. Great Crossing; Aug. 22 vs. Lexington Christian; Aug. 27 vs. Tates Creek; Sept. 10 at Lafayette; Sept. 19 vs. Paul Laurence Dunbar; Sept. 26 vs. Henry Clay.

Tates Creek

Coach: Albert Gross (11th season).

Last season: 9-6.

Standing out: Josh Guillen, sr., second team all-city (3 goals, 3 assists), “We will lean on him to be our maestro and orchestrate our defensive and offensive schemes;” Andy Ferring, sr. (5 goals), “Possesses size, strength, and speed and should be a handful to defend;” Edwin Martinez, jr. (1 goal), “Learned central defender position on the fly last season and gained valuable experience to potentially propel him into a top player.”

Coach says: “Our team has some new faces that we anticipate can play a major role. … the guys have done an outstanding job of coming in with the proper attitude and mindset to learn.”

Notes: Six starters return. Tates Creek last won the 43rd District in 2019.

Schedule highlights: Aug. 16 vs. Bryan Station (at Woodford County); Aug. 17 vs. Ryle; Aug. 24 at Frederick Douglass; Aug. 27 at Lexington Catholic; Sept. 3 vs. Lexington Christian; Sept. 5 at Henry Clay; Sept. 12 vs. Paul Laurence Dunbar; Sept. 19 vs. Lafayette.

Bryan Station

Coach: Alex Tungate (first season).

Last season: 9-6.

Standing out: Brennen Kelly, sr. (3 goals, 2 assists), “Creative midfield presence that can get out of trouble;” Max Majors, sr. (2 goals), “High work rate and very coachable;” Joey Hicks, sr., “a stretch winger that can attack downhill.”

Coach says: “We are a much younger side this year at some spots but we have great quality. We fully expect to be up and down early on. … We have 22 learning opportunities to get it to where we want it.”

Notes: Five starters return. Tungate succeeds Manes Preptit who stepped away after 11 seasons. Winning just two games in his first season in 2013, Preptit led the Defenders to the 42nd District title in 2019 and developed them into a consistent winner. Tungate previously coached at Ohio County (boys), Warren Central (girls) and Greenwood (girls). He’s never had a losing season and has a career record of 134-46.

Schedule highlights: Aug. 20 at Paul Laurence Dunbar; Sept. 12 at Frederick Douglass; Sept. 14 vs. McCracken County (in Owensboro); Sept. 17 at Henry Clay; Oct. 1 vs. Boyle County; Oct. 3 vs. Lafayette.

Lexington Christian

Coach: Zachary Barnhart (second season).

Last season: 7-10.

Standing out: Cade Crager, jr., all-city honorable mention (2 goals, 4 assists), “Skilled midfielder who connects our team;” Jackson Haynes, sr. (1 assist), “Great size and work ethic;” Cecil Hollen, fr., “Great foot skills and great runs as a striker. Cecil provides a spark.”

Coach says: “We are really young. With that being said, there is a lot of potential on our team.”

Notes: Two starters return. LCA graduated 13 seniors last year. The Eagles have not advanced past a district tournament since 2003.

Schedule highlights: Aug. 22 at Lexington Catholic; Aug. 31 vs. Frankfort Christian; Sept. 3 at Tates Creek; Sept. 12 at Lafayette; Sept. 21 vs. Paul Laurence Dunbar.

Sayre

Coach: Griffin Miller (second season).

Last season: 6-6.

Standing out: Braeden Collett, sr., second team all-city (15 goals, 8 assists), “Experience, speed and invaluable leadership;” Gannon Rice, jr. all-city honorable mention (6 goals, 7 assists), “Has vision, and technical ability;” Jack Steinberg, so., all-city honorable mention (3 goals, 2 assists), “Comfortable with the ball and physical.”

Coach says: “I believe we will have a stronger team this season, and I look forward to seeing us go as far as we can.”

Notes: Sayre returns to 42nd District play after taking a season away to grow under Miller.

Schedule highlights: Aug. 12 vs. Pendleton County; Aug. 20 at Frederick Douglass; Aug. 31 at Scott County; Sept. 19 vs. Henry Clay; Sept. 24 at Bryan Station.

Girls soccer 2024: Lexington’s top teams, best players and biggest games this season