Relying on some key returning players and experience, the University Heights Academy Blazers soccer team is focused on winning another District 8 championship and challenging for a Region 2 title in 2024.
Second-year head coach Josh Nichols said his team suffered some heart breaking losses a year ago, but they are using those lessons to motivate them this season.
“We feel like we took some licks las year against some good competition,” Nichols said. “We think we should have a good year, but we are still looking up at Madisonville-North Hopkins and Henderson County.”
Senior Griffen McCoy is back this year after leading the team in goals and assists last year with 19 and nine, respectively. McCoy has not played much during the preseason as he has been rehabbing an injury from the spring. However, Nichols said the All-Region forward should be ready by the opening week of the season.
Senior forward Logan Miller and sophomore center midfielders Cal Givens and Hugh Sisk are going to be counted on to help bolster the Blazers’ offense.
Meanwhile, the defense will be led by senior All-Region defender Harlow Hampton and junior Clayton Lester.
Junior Lincoln Hauret will also be in the mix at midfield.
“We only graduated two that played a lot for us last year, so we have nine starters back,” Nichols said. “We have a good group coming up, so we are excited about this season.”
Senior Eli Finch, who missed last year with a knee injury, and sophomore Hayden Fitzsimmons will be splitting time in goal for the Blazers, who went 13-9 and were ousted in the Region 2 semifinals by Madisonville a year ago.
“We learned last year about the effort it takes to beat good teams,” Nichols said. “We found out that if you drop your focus just a little, the good teams will take advantage of that. So we are wanting to stay focused throughout the game. That is something we feel like we have improved on.”
UHA will get an early shot at the Maroons as it opens the season Monday night on the road at Madisonville.