Harlan County girls soccer coach Hannah Pittman doesn’t mince words when discussing her 2024 expectations for a youth-laden Lady Bears squad that includes just two seniors.
“Being realistic, we’re going to lose a lot of games this year, and that’s OK,” the second-year coach said. “I made our schedule tough, intentionally. We could play teams just in our district, and we could have a beautiful record, but that’s not how you grow and that’s not how you get better.”
With four freshmen inserted into key roles, and a handful of starters who are playing competitive soccer for the first time this season, Pittman has assembled a roster of players whose youth, coachability, energy and enthusiasm could pave the way to success for the HCHS program.
“We’re playing tough games,” Pittman said. “We’re going to build our skill, we’re going to get better and by the time the district tournament rolls around in October, hopefully, we’ve learned from playing those harder teams.”
Senior strikers Amelia Kanzy and Callie Smith are expected to lead the Lady Bears’ offensive corps this season, and recently needed just 26 seconds in combining to score the first HCHS goal in a district win over Bell County.
Pittman smiled as she remembered back to that moment in the match against the Lady Cats.
“It made a huge difference that Amelia and Callie came out and scored in the first 26 seconds,” Pittman said. “For us to start out at that fast pace and start out on a positive note, that set the pace for everybody else the rest of the day.”
Along with Kanzy and Smith, Pittman is also counting on freshmen Adriana Rowe and Makenna Dillman to spark the Lady Bears’ offensive attack, along with junior Rileigh Duff.
Rowe scored four times in just her second match, while Dillman and Duff are settling into their respective roles and already emerging as strikers with whom to be reckoned.
“She’s a firecracker out there,” Pittman said about Rowe. “If we get the ball to her it’s going to hit the back of the net.
“Kenna has a great foot and she’s got a great shot, too. There’s times where we’re trying to get it into her head that she’s close enough to shoot and she doesn’t need to pass there, because she can shoot all day from outside the box. Along with Callie, she has the strongest foot on the team, we’ve just got to get them comfortable.
“And Rileigh is going to make a huge difference for us this year. It’s her first year playing and she is just like (Rowe). She’s been a volleyball player. She’s getting that transitioning through and is actually starting to understand what it means to be ‘in’ a game and not just at practice. Once it clicks for her, she will become someone to worry about and watch for.”
Defensively, the Lady Bears will be counting on junior Savannah Hickey, sophomore Braelynn Langley, and freshmen Madlyn Burkhart and Shawnee Peace to anchor a unit that lacks experience, but has already shown promise.
“A month ago, (Hickey) had never touched a soccer ball,” Pittman said. “She has come in and has been a huge impact on our team. She’s a voice for that defensive line. Beside her is Madlyn, and she holds down the line great for us; nobody gets through there.
“On the outside we have Braelynn and Shawnee, so we have some youth back there. We’re going to have that defensive line locked down for a few years.
“We worked all summer building that line, so if the ball does get down there, it’s not getting through to (goalkeeper) Willow (Peace). We want our goalie to do the least amount of work possible.”
Peace made 14 saves in the recent win over Bell County and Pittman was quick to credit the early performance by her junior keeper.
“Willow is our savior. She is amazing back there,” Pittman said. “She gets on the ground, she gets in the air, and whatever we need from her, she does.
“She has one of the best punts I’ve ever seen. She’s playing outstanding ball, and she’s just a junior, as well, so I’m looking forward to having her for another year.”