By Matt Turer – mturer@ky3.com
@Matt Turer
Springfield Catholic will be strong again this year after a disappointing end to 2016 in a Class 2, District 11 semifinal loss to Fatima in double overtime. There’s a lot of talent here as the Irish look for a way to get back to state for the first time since 2014.
Catholic graduated a six-player senior class that included Keegan Randell (MF) and Michael Sallee (GK), but they’ll return two of their top-three goal scorers in senior all-region selections Zac Straus and Kaueh Huttenlocher, as well as several sophomores and freshmen in the offensive positions that saw a lot of varsity action.
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Huttenlocher boasts great technical skills and awareness and was formerly a defensive center mid for the Irish. He shifted up to attacking mid late in the season and thrived, finishing with seven goals and seven assists in the final 10 games of the season and eight goals and nine assists overall. He was rewarded with a second-team all-state selection in Class 2 for his efforts.
Straus was a second-team all-state selection in Class 2 for a team that was good enough to win a district championship last year and is again this fall. Straus had 12 goals entering district play and ended as Catholic’s leading scorer in 2016.
The Irish open their season on the road at Kickapoo on Aug. 19. Their home opener is Aug. 22 against Carthage. Two big early tests.
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