Corbin boys look for repeat of historic 2020 season; Whitley Co. needs young Colonels to step up

High school soccer teams are scheduled to kick off the 2021 season next week.

On the boys’ side, Corbin will be looking to follow up on an historic 2020 that saw the Redhounds go 13-2-1 while advancing to the state final four.

“Things change from one season to the next,” said Coach Armando Cima. “We have, over time set a level of expectation. That is the level that we are trying to get back to.”

Cima said while the Redhounds lost four senior starters from that team, including goalkeeper Joseph Westphal, Jonathan Jackson who saw playing time in net as a junior will be stepping in.

“That experience is a strong point for us,” Cima said.

In addition, Cima said the Redhounds must replace two defensemen.

On the plus side, Cima said the Redhounds will be returning seven starters from 2020, including most of the front six.

“The strongest part of the team will probably be our attack because we didn’t really lose anyone there,” Cima said.

Cima said much of the Redhounds’ success has come from getting the team in the mindset that everyone is playing both offense and defense.

“It makes everyone better,” Cima said noting that defenders, including the goalkeeper, are constantly thinking how do they get the ball forward.

“We have had two defenders score in the preseason,” Cima said.

Cima said he has worked on the schedule in an effort to gear the team up for the postseason run, while also presenting opportunities to have some games under control to allow the younger players to get some varsity playing time.

“I always try to have one-third of the games that will stretch the team, one-third of the games that will be competitive, and one-third of the games that, if we play up to our level, we can have them in hand by halftime,” Cima said emphasizing that the great thing about soccer is that any team can beat any other team on a given day.

Corbin will open the season Tuesday at Perry County Central. The home opener is set for 6 p.m. on Aug. 19.

Whitley County Colonels

Whitley County Coach Michael Branham’s team will be looking to rebound from a 4-5-1 season in 2020 that saw the Colonels bounced out in the first round of the 49th District Tournament.

Branham said the Colonels are going into 2021 trying to replace seven starters.

“We are just figuring things out,” Branham said, noting that despite the heavy turnover on the roster expectations are high.

“We have the ability to beat good teams and make it to a district championship this year,” Branham said.

Branham said the strength of his team is that it is able to change throughout the game.

“If we get down or face a challenge, they are trying to adapt to it,” Branham said.

On the plus side, Branham said the squad includes a group of middle school players that defeated Corbin and South Laurel at the middle school level in 2020.

“We have yet to beat South as a varsity program so that is one win that we are really trying to get,” Branham said. “I think that would make a statement.”

Branham said he has worked in the offseason to add some teams that would make the schedule more difficult, including Danville, Great Crossing and Russell County.

“We are trying to get more exposure and have us ready for the post season,” Branham said.

Whitley County is scheduled to open the season on Aug. 11 at Danville and then travel to Russell County on Aug. 12. The Colonels will play their home opener on Aug. 14 against Garrard County.

It will mark the program’s first regular season game with lights available on the field.

“That helps us grow our program,” Branham said of the new lights noting that it will enable the team to schedule more junior varsity games. “Last year we had to stop a varsity game because it got too dark,” Branham said. “It keeps the foundation going.”