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Harpeth’s season over after quarterfinal loss to Merrol Hyde




Harpeth’s soccer season ended just like it did last season; losing to Merrol Hyde in the first round of the state tournament. 

The difference between last year’s game and this year’s was the score. Last season’s thriller ended in a shootout while the loss this season came by a score of 1-0.

Merrol Hyde’s Braden Evans scored in the 17th minute to score the only goal of the game.

The goalkeeping duo of Jack Leppert and Noah Mendenhall was Harpeth’s strongest performance of the entire game. Leppert ended the first half with seven saves while Mendenhall finished the second half with 11.

“Those guys were outstanding,” Harpeth coach Lou Jenkins said. “(Mendenhall) just did a great job of seeing what they were doing and playing against it. I think Jack (Leppert) got caught off guard. They took the kick, but I warned my guys to be ready as soon as they sit the ball down if the ref doesn’t blow the whistle.”

The Harpeth offense never could find a rhythm and Merrol Hyde made sure of that. The Hawks’ offensive pressure made it difficult for the Indians to get into their own offensive attack. Merrol Hyde finished the game with 31 shots total while Harpeth mustered just six total.

Harpeth’s leading scorer, Jasper Tharpe, was covered by usually three Hawks on every play. The Indians’ offense did get a final shot at the goal, but the last-second prayer wasn’t answered.

The loss marks the end of the season for Harpeth. The Indians finish the season with a final record of 15-4-1.

“We came out a little flat, again, and allowed that first-half goal,” Jenkins said. “We were able to come back in the second half and play well but we were playing a team that just had too many good players. It was really difficult to play around them, they work really well together. But the way this game played out; I couldn’t be any prouder of my boys.”

Harpeth will be losing a total of nine seniors with both goalkeepers Leppert and Mendenhall moving on while Zach Bidini, Tell Magness, Reagan Gusty, Tyler Gersman, Vance Becknell, Frank Dean and John Dalton will all be gone as well.

“The way those guys have handled themselves and led this group and showed the example,” Jenkins said. “These guys really stepped up and made sure they were the first ones to do anything and when it came to the underclassmen, they brought them in and constantly encouraged them.”

Leading scorer Jasper Tharpe is set to return for his senior season with a strong supporting cast. Jacob Montgomery, Armando Esparza and Noah Zerkle look to help lead Harpeth back to the state tournament.

“We will be here again,” Jenkins said. “100 percent.”