Junior standouts, senior leaders: FHS girls soccer outlook for ’24
Jessie Stephens Burkhart is preparing for her second season as Farragut High School girls soccer head coach.
The former Lady Admirals’ standout forward (Class of 2006) and ex-assistant FHS coach has lofty but simple expectations for her 2024 team.
“Our expectation is just to play hard,” said Burkhart, who made a return to Farragut after a stint as both boys and girls head coach at Hardin Valley Academy. “We want to outwork every team we play and we want to be the hardest working team on the field.
“We just want to be one of the harder working teams out there,” she added.
The Lady Admirals have three returners who earned postseason honors in 2023, as Rowan Unger, Kennedy Dade and Christie George are all back.
Unger, a junior and versatile player who can play forward, midfielder and defender, was named to both the All-District 4-AAA and All-Region 2-AAA teams last season.
George, a junior forward, also earned All-4-AAA and All Region honors last year.
Dade, also a junior, was an All-District performer at forward in 2023.
“Those are my three top players back that made All-District or All-Region last year,” Burkhart said. “Rowan can play forward, midfielder and defender.”
Other key returners include Gabby Mendez (sophomore, midfielder); Addie Lilly (senior, midfielder); Bella Pace (senior, defender) and Allison Schaefer (senior, midfielder).
“I look for Gabby to do big things this year,” Burkhart said. “We have good senior leadership with Addie, Bella and Allison.
“Our senior leadership will be a strength for us,” the coach added. “Our seniors lead both on and off the field.”
Key newcomers include freshman forwards Ava Upshaw and Leana Maier.
The Lady Admirals went 11-4-1 overall last season and posted a 4-1-1 league record before losing, 1-0, to Knoxville West in the district tournament semifinals.
“Our biggest area of concern is just going to be to stay healthy because there’s not an easy game on our district schedule,” Burkhart said.
The coach noted her team’s other strength will be its speed.
“We have a little more team speed this year and that’s kind of nice,” Burkhart said.
The Lady Ads opened its 2024 campaign against Chattanooga Girls Preparatory School at home Tuesday, Aug. 13 (after deadline).
This season will be packed with some big challenges for Farragut, which competes in one of the toughest districts in the Volunteer State.
“You have to show up and be ready to play every night,” Burkhart said.
In 2024, Bearden, which hasn’t lost a match since 2020, is chasing history. The Lady Bulldogs are attempting to become the first girls team to win four consecutive state championships, having compiled a 69-0-2 record the past three years.
West and Maryville also are traditionally strong. HVA is looking to return to prominence, while William Blount will be much improved.
