Following an ominous 0-6-1 start to the regular season, Trigg County boys soccer might be rounding into form.
And at just the right moment.
Third-year coach and former alumni Kyle Bleidt moved to 4-7-4 Thursday night, following a tough 0-0 draw at Hopkins County Central.
Since an even home scrum September 1 against Logan County, the Wildcats are 4-1-3 — their lone defeat a 3-0 tussle against Hopkinsville in Cadiz.
That’s nine goals surrendered in the past eight games, and a keynote Bleidt keeps harping to his crew.
“Defense has been a huge part of our turnaround this season,” he said. “They have started to gain more and more confidence. They are communicating and committed to playing as a unit, which is how we have to continue to be going into this final stretch.”
Bleidt said Thursday’s effort was more impressive not only because the two teams opened the year in a 3-3 shootout and draw, but because the Wildcats did it without one of their top players in Alex Hurt, who has nine assists in 12 games.
“He’s always been on our set pieces,” Bleidt added. “And he’s our leading assists guy. We will be glad to hopefully have him back soon.”
Trigg County’s junior keeper, Cameron McCormick, notched 13 saves — some Bleidt called “unbelievable.”
That brings him unofficially to 148 saves in 15 games, nearly 10 per contest, and just his second shutout of the season. For comparison, McCormick made 146 saves in 14 games last year.
NEXT UP FOR TRIGG: Trigg County gets a rematch on the road against Logan County Monday, September 30. The Fourth Region, 13th District Cougars are 3-10-2 pending results from Thursday’s matchup against Edmonson County, but have a trio of players in Andrew McCall, Lorenzo Cellai and Kevin Hernandez who each have 10 or more points.
On Tuesday, October 1, the Wildcats will host Third Region, 10th District foe Muhlenberg County, for their final home game of the year. The Mustangs fell to 6-7-1 Thursday night after a tough 6-0 home loss to Christian County. Lincoln Drury (11 goals, one assist), Brock Guffy (four goals, 10 assists) and Levi Coin (five goals, two assists) have the ability to change the game, each with 12 or more points on the year.
And then, on Thursday, October 3, the Wildcats will travel to visit Fourth Region, 13th District power Todd County Central — whose Rebels are a terrific 12-3-1. Their only losses have come against Franklin-Simpson (twice) and Oneida Baptist Institute, whom they faced in 2024 All “A” State Tournament.
Tanner Henderson (55 points, 20 goals, 15 assists), John Ross Cardwell (20 goals, 11 assists, 51 points), Chris Salazar (36 points, 10 goals, 16 assists), Samuel Perez-Camillo (14 points, five goals, four assists) and keeper John Mark Campbell (82 saves, six shutouts) could be just the kind of testy matchup Trigg County needs before the district tournament.
NEXT UP FOR HOPKINS COUNTY CENTRAL: This was the second defensive shutout for the Storm (6-4-4) this season, but only the third time in 14 games they didn’t score.
Coming into Thursday’s matchup, they had been winners of four straight: against Grayson County, Caldwell County, Shawnee and Russellville.
Now, they close the regular slate with a pair of regional foes at Christian County (9-6; Monday, September 30) and University Heights Academy (11-6; Thursday, October 3).
The Colonels, coached by former Kentucky New Era reporter Avery Seeger, have four stars with 12 or more points: Christian Lopez, Alexander Hale, Noah Davis and Leland Creamer.
The Blazers, coached by former Trigg County skipper and longtime Your Sports Edge reporter Josh Nichols, boast five players with at least 13 points: Hayden Hunt, Griffin McCoy, Lincoln Hauret, Calvin Givens and Logan Miller.
