The HC Boys’ Soccer team ended the 2025 season with a loss in the Region 11 tournament finals to Bryan Station High School, a team that the Blue Devils defeated the previous week in the 42nd District tournament finals. The game ultimately ended in a penalty kick shootout, with the Bryan Station Defenders winning 4-2. Though HC did not bring home the region championship title, the Blue Devils have much to celebrate, including the 18 graduating seniors and the legacy they will leave behind.
In addition to defeating Bryan Station in the 42nd District tournament finals, HC had also beaten the Defenders in the regular season. One difference between the district and region championship games was the increase in injured HC players.
“We had a couple juniors get some more playing time than normal,” senior Connor Taylor said in conversation with the Devils’ Advocate last semester. “We had a couple of people start that didn’t normally start. So, obviously, it was a little bit different, but for the most part, we still had our core squad of people who started. We still, I think, had nine starters out of our 11.”
HC head coach Jason Behler, who has led the program to two state titles, looked down on the penalty kick ending of the game.
“If I would have had my way, we would have played another 40 minutes,” Behler said in an interview with the Lexington Herald Leader. “But that’s how it goes. We played well — everything but the final piece was there. […] Scoring goals is the hardest thing in soccer. We couldn’t do it tonight. Bryan Station played a terrific game.”
Taylor expressed his satisfaction with this season, while also reflecting on the success that HC had last year when the team took home the state title after defeating Louisville Collegiate.
“Well, it’s definitely one of the better seasons,” Taylor said in conversation with the Devils’ Advocate last semester. “Obviously, last year, we won state, so not the best. I feel like this group is definitely really talented [and] definitely could have won it all. But it’s just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes – you don’t always win.”
Despite an unexpected close to the season, HC experienced victory with three seniors being named to the 2025 Region 11 All-Tournament team: Nathan Harvey, Jose Flores-Cruz, as well as Taylor. All in all, the Blue Devils rank this season high among others at HC.
