As the KHSAA girls’ soccer season approaches, Woodford County High School’s senior class started their journey long before preseason practice began this month.
For many, it began years ago on youth soccer fields across Woodford County.
Some of the players have been teammates since elementary school, while others have played club soccer together for years. They’ve celebrated wins, faced tough losses, and grown from young kids into experienced leaders for one of the area’s most steady programs.
Now, they’re heading into their final season together.
This fall, the Lady Jackets have 10 seniors, a district title to defend, and almost all their key players back from a team that went 13-6-2, scored 72 goals and allowed only 21. Expectations are high, but inside the team, the focus isn’t on records or rankings.
Instead, the team keeps talking about leadership. That starts with trust, communication and building bonds.
These are the qualities the seniors hope will define their last season together.
“It’s definitely sentimental,” Coach Brandon Cummons said.
“The size of the class matters, but I think it’s what they’ve done from first year on. The majority of them have been pretty big contributors since they were freshmen. Five of the 10 were playing in a region semifinal their first year.”
For Cummons, his connection with these players goes back even further.
“I’ve coached a good portion of them since they were eight,” he said. “Some of the juniors, too. It means a lot. It’s definitely going to be a large void next year, but we’re really just focusing on this year.”
Woodford County’s optimism isn’t just about experience.
The Yellow Jackets return the majority of the offensive production from last season’s district championship squad.
Junior Abby Lowe leads the returning attack after producing one of the team’s most complete offensive seasons. She scored 12 goals and added 11 assists for a team-best 35 points in 20 matches.
Senior Sacoyia Garcia follows after totaling 11 goals and five assists for 27 points, while junior Addison Cummons added eight goals and four assists for 20 points.
Junior Annastyn McIntosh returns after recording three goals and six assists. Senior Erin Myers finished with three goals and five assists, Madison Henson contributed three goals and four assists, and Ivy Porter added four goals. Chloe McElwain, Addison Greenwell, Anna Dorough and Michelle Gomez also return after contributing points last season.
In goal, senior Evie Hall provides stability after playing every match a season ago. Hall recorded 81 saves, posted 11 complete-game shutouts and helped anchor a defense that allowed just one goal per match on average. Hall will also compete for playing time with Emma Dorsey, who can play multiple positions, including keeper.
On paper, everything seems to be in place.
The players know that. The coaches know that. Now, the challenge is to bring it all together.
For Addison Cummons, success this fall will be measured by much more than goals.
“One of the goals I’ve been definitely thinking of is making it further than we did last season,” she said.
“Another goal is I want everyone to improve, (do) better than they did last year. I want this season to be more fun and happy than stressful and having to worry about winning. Those are definitely the big goals I’ve been thinking of.”
Last season, Cummons became one of Woodford County’s top attacking threats. This year, she hopes to bring even more to the team.
She wants to be a leader.
“I want to set an example, be a good role model and be a good teammate,” she said. “It’s a mental game sometimes, and you’re going to need one person on the field to keep people’s heads up and try to stay together when things get hard.”
As the daughter of the head coach, Cummons understands there are often outside perceptions she has had to overcome.
“I have to show other people that I’m myself,” she said. “I don’t get what I get just because I’m the coach’s daughter. I try to show that I am a hard worker. I put people first. I show a good example, and I’m a good teammate.”
She smiles when people ask what it’s like playing for her father.
“My dad’s hard on the team and definitely hard on me,” she said. “But it’s a fun relationship, and I honestly love it.”
Nearly every senior talks about the importance of leadership.
Hall believes the Yellow Jackets’ biggest obstacle isn’t another team. Their biggest challenge is themselves.
“Our team is capable of a lot,” Hall said. “But ourselves and our attitudes get in the way of it.”
Hall knows her role is about more than just making saves.
As the player with the best view of the field, she wants to become one of the team’s loudest voices.
“I need to step up more around this team,” Hall said. “That’s something our team is always looking for: more leadership. By being a leader, you can encourage others to step up and be one too.”
She has a simple challenge for her teammates.
“Our biggest obstacle is within this team and within what we believe we can do and what we want to do, even when it’s hard.”
If the Yellow Jackets can overcome that hurdle? She said, “More victories will come.”
Senior Avery Sayre sees another strength developing every day in practice.
“I think the vibe’s been really positive this year,” she said. “The team’s just been really close, and closer than it’s been. We’re able to work hard and have a good time.”
She believes team chemistry gives Woodford County a real shot at doing something special.
“I think we’ll be capable of a lot of things this year. We’re capable of going as far as we want to go. It’s up to us,” she said.
Sayre also thinks communication and trust will determine if the team reaches its potential.
“Communicating on the field is really important,” she said. “Putting the work in at practice is always important because practice reflects how the field goes. I think having more trust in each other to make the plays and score the goals is really important.”
For Ivy Porter, the team’s chemistry just happened naturally.
“I feel like our team is very collaborative, and we’ve done well bonding,” she said. “It’s felt very natural this year. I feel like there’s good energy all around between all the girls.”
A lot of that comes from how well the players know each other.
“Most of us have all played high school together all four years,” Porter said. “A lot of us play club together too. So it’s a lot of familiar faces. It’s a very tight-knit group.”
She also knows closeness goes beyond practices and games. Spending time together off the field is important too.
Porter believes those moments strengthen their relationships, which shows during tough games.
Senior Chloe McElwain has seen that team culture grow over her four years, and knows the expectations for the program are always high.
“I think the toughest thing is just the expectation is really high every year,” McElwain said. “It takes a lot of work and a lot of hours to maintain the expectation that our team has held for so long.”
She credits the coaches for teaching lessons that go beyond soccer.
“Obviously, we’re all here to play soccer, but you’re also here to build friendships and learn how to work with people of all different ages,” McElwain said. “You have to do that in a respectful and friendly manner.”
Garcia brings something extra to the team’s personality.
Ask her which district opponent she most wants to beat, and the answer comes quickly.
“Probably Collins,” Garcia said with a smile. “They’re so good, but at the same time, they’re just kind of mean.”
Garcia believes the Lady Jackets have what it takes to win another district title.
“I think we can win districts for sure,” she said. “Honestly, we can go farther than that. We have a really strong team technically. I think everyone gets along.”
She and her teammates also know winning won’t be easy.
Coach Cummons has put together one of the toughest schedules the team has seen in years.
“Our schedule is not for the faint of heart,” he said.
Regular-season games against strong teams, including Sacred Heart, Lexington Catholic, South Oldham and Bethlehem, will get Woodford ready for the post-season.
“I think our early-season tests are going to help drive us,” Cummons said. “When they see different situations and different teams, they adapt well. I’m really hoping those early-season tests prepare us.”
He knows getting through the region will be tough again this year. South Oldham remains a power. North Oldham presents another challenge.
So every postseason game will require the Yellow Jackets to play their best.
Still, if the team makes it to a regional championship, Cummons believes they’ll have achieved something special in one of Kentucky’s toughest regions.
Woodford’s team is full of experienced players like Erin Myers, Bailey Green, Madison Henson, Annastyn McIntosh, Michelle Gomez and more that will provide a spark to Woodford’s tough roster.
The Lady Jackets are down one senior this year after Addison Greenwell injured her knee and is lost for the season.
When opening night finally arrives, Cummons hopes he can spend less time coaching and more time appreciating what he sees.
“I’d love just to sit back and enjoy it,” he said. “I don’t want to have to give too much direction because there are a lot of strong personalities in this group.”
More than anything, he wants them to remember why they started playing.
“I just want to see them have fun,” Cummons said.
“High school sports go super fast. There are going to be ups and downs. They’re going to be challenged mentally, emotionally and physically. But they’ve got to remember they started playing this sport because it was fun. Regardless of our record, I hope they can look back and enjoy the moments they are creating.”