Hopkinsville and University Heights took the winner and runner-up positions in this year’s YourSportsEdge.Com/First Financial Bank Boys soccer “Fan Faves.”
Hoptown’s Mason Rye was the top vote getter in boys soccer this year. Rye posted 6 goals and 7 assists for the Tigers as a senior, but those numbers don’t tell the story of what he meant to the team. He led the Tigers to a 16-8-1 record in 2019 and was a part of 75 wins over his four-year career. He had the game-winning goal in a 5-4 overtime win over UHA in the 5th-District title game, before adding an assist in the Tigers’ narrow 1-0 victory over Hopkins County Central in the region tourney opener. Rye’s time with the Tigers yielded four district titles and three region championships, and he took home All-District and All-Region honors after his senior season. He recently signed to continue his soccer career at NCAA D3 Centre College.
UHA’s William Bryan finished in the runner-up slot. Bryan’s 38 goals during his junior campaign topped the 2nd Region and were fifth in the state, while he led the Blazers to an All-A region title and to within an inch of its first 5th-District championship since 2013. He had a goal and an assist in the district final loss to Hopkinsville, before tallying two goals in a 3-1 victory over Trigg County in the opening round of the region tournament. The victory over the Wildcats was the program’s first region-tourney win in six seasons. Bryan capped the season with All-District, All-Region, and All-State Honorable Mention honors.