Hendersonville – West Henderson, Hendersonville, and North Henderson are all excelling in girls’ soccer in this spring.
Hendersonville (10-4) leads Mountain Foothills schools at 8-0, ahead of a match this past Tuesday at East Rutherford (4-2-1 MFC) which fights Brevard and Polk for second place. HHS chased Chase off the field, by scores of 10-1 then 8-0 on April 20.
This program has had tremendous success in the past half-decade. The Lady Cats reached 2A soccer regional finals (round five) in 2017 and ‘19, round four in ‘18 and round three a season ago. HHS is 40-10-1 since 2021. They earned a WNC Sports Award in 2019 as the best female team in a major sport, among larger schools.
Kayla Fadden is the head coach, assisted by Melissa Villars-Nitsche who is also the boys’ head coach. Fadden said after a 5-1 home loss to T.C. Roberson that playing such larger powerhouses “prepares us for the playoffs.
Senior goalkeeper Laura Shelton (1.79) charged far out of the goal toward a loose ball, to about her 20 yard line or beyond. As it turned out, a Ram beat her and a defender to the ball and kicked it into the net. Yet Coach Fadden said she encourages such “risk taking” in her goalie.
The balanced HHS attack includes senior Julia Ledbetter, juniors Maggie Bish and Aubrie Retzbach, and seniors Hunter Hill and Emma Jones. Jones opened scoring in the TCR match, booming in a shot from the 15-yard line.
Roberson head coach Josh Martin praised HHS forwards for pressuring his ballhandlers with a “high line in back,” similar to a basketball full-court press.
Falcon Fury
West Henderson (15-2-1) leads a talented Mountain Seven race at 8-0. The Lady Falcons beat two conference local rivals last week to tighten their grip on first place. They won 2-0 at second place North Henderson (7-4; 6-2). They then beat East Henderson (1-12; 0-8) 10-1 — for one of six wins when they scored seven or more goals. West beat NHHS 4-1 on March 6, wiping out a 1-0 halftime deficit.
West won its first 12 matches in 2023, losing only to 4A powers Roberson (by 2-0) and Reynolds (by 4-0).
West is exciting to watch, with two of the area’s premier goal scorers. Reigning all-state Marianne Maxon (57 goals, 23 assists in 2022) and senior Emma Chavez (32 G, 16 A) are at it again for head coach Brian Brewer’s crew.
Maxon leads WNC again, with 34 goals to average 2.4 per contest. She is prolific as a strong ballhandler who gains possession, an adept dribbler who makes sudden moves, and a hard-shooting finisher. She also passes well, and has 13 assists.
West beat Hendersonville 5-0. HHS head coach Fadden said a prime objective on defense is to “not let her turn around. If she turns, she’s very dangerous” as a scorer.
Super fast Chavez has scored 17 times, and has 16 assists. She zooms down the sidelines to ignite runs. Catherine Barton, a tall junior, has contributed 15 goals. Sophomore Lauren Clonch scored to get West on the board at NHHS. Sophomore Rhylie Druskis has ten assists.
Senior tennis and basketball star Ava Heffner (0.65) excels in goal.
Senior midfielder Tatum Brennan complimented NHHS for “stepping in front” of Falcons to get to the ball first, when Brennan and teammates shared game analysis at halftime of their 2-0 road win.
Ricardo Hernandez coaches NHHS Lady Knights. They are paced by athletic seniors Hayley Forbes (10 goals) and Paige Demuth who defensively clog the midfield well, freshman Leticia Uvalle, sophomore Casiah Cordell, and senior goalkeeper Sowanna Phoeun (2.75 GAA). Before falling to West, the Lady Knights won six straight by an average score of 5 to 0.5.