Big week for a lot of local teams as division races get tighter. Little Miami makes its initial appearance this week while East and Fairfield continue to battle for the top spot. Badin is on a roll and Hamilton notches a big win on the road at Oak Hills to move up a spot.
BOYS SOCCER
5. Little Miami (4-3)
After dropping their first two games, the Panthers have won four of five and sit atop the Eastern Cincinnati Conference standings with a 3-0 mark. Little Miami eked out a hard-earned 1-0 win over Lebanon, setting the stage for a big upcoming week.
The Panthers travel to Hamilton Monday and host Kings Thursday. The Panthers also have SCD next Saturday. Little Miami has allowed 13 goals, an area that needs shoring up, especially with the upcoming week.
Senior Connor Picard is tied atop the ECC with 12 goals, while senior Sam Onipko has five assists.
4. Hamilton (4-2-2)
Big Blue are off to a 4-2-2 start, the best beginning to a season since 2016. Hamilton gave up late goals to drop a 4-3 decision at Fairfield before rebounding with a 2-1 win at Oak Hills.
The Big Blue have a massive week, hosting Little Miami Monday, traveling to Greater Miami Conference leader Sycamore before hosting Lakota West Thursday.
Senior Gabe Prado leads HHS with six goals, while fellow senior Adam Hill is tied atop the GMC with five assists.
3. Badin (7-1)
The Rams have won seven straight, including two in decisive fashion this past week. Badin went on the road twice, beating East Central 3-0 and Landmark Christian 9-0.
The start has the Rams ready for Greater Catholic League Coed Division action, hosting unbeaten Dayton Carroll on Tuesday. The game will be the first meeting since Badin’s penalty-kick win over the Patriots in the 2025 regional semifinals.
Junior Charlie Hall had a huge week, notching six goals in the two wins. Hall sits atop the GCL Coed leaderboard with 10 goals. Freshman Caleb Smith leads the GCL Coed with six assists, with Hall right behind him with five assists.
Jacob Aichele continues to fill the shoes of the graduated Cole Parr, totaling 29 saves and four shutouts.
2. Fairfield (7-1-1)
The Indians had a huge week. Fairfield came from behind late to knock off Hamilton 4-3 before pulling the magic act again, scoring two late to knock off Mason 2-1. The win over the Comets was the Indians’ first since 2017.
The win also kept Fairfield very much in the Greater Miami Conference league race with a 3-1 mark.
Senior Mekhi Waters sits atop the GMC with 10 goals. Waters had two goals against Hamilton and two more, including the game-winner against Mason.
1. Lakota East (5-1-3)
The Thunderhawks maintained the top spot after holding off Oak Hills 2-0 and tying rival Lakota West 1-1. The solid week keeps East firmly in second in the GMC with a 3-0-1 mark, setting the stage for a huge match Thursday at league leader Sycamore.
The five wins equal last year’s win total for East, which has rebounded nicely following a down year.
Junior Miles Polachek leads East with six goals, while senior Nick Maslin tops the GMC with four shutouts.
GAMES TO WATCH THIS WEEK
Monday: Little Miami at Hamilton; Talawanda at Monroe.
Tuesday: Carroll at Badin; Harrison at Fairfield; Hamilton at Sycamore.
Wednesday: Bellbrook at Talawanda.
Thursday: Kings at Little Miami; East at Sycamore; Lakota West at Hamilton; Ross at Monroe.
GIRLS SOCCER
We have changes at the bottom and top this week, with Badin and Fenwick making the rankings and the Ross Rams holding on to the top spot.
5. Badin (4-5)
Badin enters the rankings, rattling off four wins in its last five games. The Rams have faced a brutal schedule but rebounded with wins over Liberty Creek, Tennessee, and Ursuline. Badin has another tough week upcoming with games against Loveland, CJ and Seton.
Sophomore Lucy Nieman and senior Avery Schermer lead Badin with three goals. Bella McFarland and Audrey Rhodis each have three assists, while goalie Morgan Byrne has 43 saves and one shutout.
4. Fenwick (5-3)
Fenwick is off to its best start since 2024. The Falcons are looking for their first Greater Catholic League Coed Division since 2020, dropping 24 of their last 25 league games with a tie against CJ last season.
Sophomore Clair Coch leads the Falcons with three goals. Senior Emma Yeager has three shutouts.
3. Lakota East (4-2-2)
East only had one game last week, earning a tie against Oak Hills. The Thunderhawks are 2-0-1 in the Greater Miami Conference.
East has a huge GMC tilt on Thursday, hosting Sycamore. The Aviators sit atop the league with Mason with 4-0 records.
Senior Bailey Bacher has seven goals and five assists to lead East. Senior Emmaline Slusher has three shutouts and 55 saves.
2. Mason (6-1-1)
The Comets held on to the second spot, notching a pair of GMC wins last week, 8-0 over Middletown and 1-0 over Fairfield.
Mason stands 6-1-1, 4-0 in GMC play, tied at the top with Sycamore. Mason travels to Oak Hills Thursday for a big GMC game.
Senior Bella Anderson leads Mason with seven goals and five assists. Junior goalie Ella Krimpenfort has three shutouts for Mason.
1. Ross (8-0)
The Rams maintain their hold on the top spot after crushing Edgewood 10-0 and Talawanda 6-0 last week. Ross is 3-0 in the Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division.
Ross has two SWBL games this week, setting its sights on a 10-0 start. Sophomore Maci Taylor leads Ross with nine goals. Sophomore Ava Bush leads the SWBL with 13 assists while notching five goals. Junior Mia Michel leads the SWBL with seven shutouts in goal.
GAMES TO WATCH THIS WEEK
Monday: Cincinnati Christian at Fenwick.
Wednesday: Carroll at Fenwick; Badin at CJ.
Thursday: Sycamore at East; Mason at Oak Hills.
Reporter Eric Hickey is a five-time City Coach of the Year, taking Badin to the state semifinals in 2025. Questions, please contact Eric at Coach_Hickey@yahoo.com or Chris Vogt at Chris@thereportoh.com.
