5Star Preps reporter Dave Link attended and spoke with a number of coaches and players at the event in advance of the upcoming season.

Here’s all he learned about team outlooks, player injuries, college choices and more…

EMERY RETURNS TO LEAD WEBB

Mary Mac Emery has a hard time believing her senior year is here at Webb School of Knoxville.

She’s played a lot of soccer for the Lady Spartans.

And played a lot of basketball.

And studied a bunch at Webb.

Next year, she’s headed to Princeton to play soccer and to study in college.

“It kind of feels a little surreal just because I’ve been here for so long,” Emery said Saturday morning during the 27th annual KIL Girls Soccer Jamboree at West High. “I feel like losing the girls that I played with last year, obviously that’s a huge adjustment because I was really close with a lot of them.

“But I’m really excited about it just because it’s been a very long journey, and it’s hard to think about the five years ago when I first started playing on this team.”

This season is Emery’s turn to be a senior leader for the Lady Spartans.

She has two state championship rings from playing guard/wing for Webb’s state-winning basketball teams the past two seasons.

Emery, a defender in soccer, wants to get a state-title ring on the pitch this season after the Lady Spartans finished runners-up at state in 2024 and ’25.

“I think this is a really good group of girls, a good group of seniors, and I think we can get a lot of things done,” Emery said.

So does her coach at Webb, Elaine Roth.

“We have some good leadership, so that’s helpful because you can build off that,” Roth said. “And the players that are stepping up this year, they played a lot of minutes last year, so they’re not coming in kind of cold. They have a lot of experience.”

Yet, they have some big spots to fill.

McKalie Ball, a senior last year who’s now playing at Louisville, was Webb’s leading scorer (19 goals, six assists), while 2026 graduate Emerson Clarke (eight goals) was a mainstay in the midfield.

Junior midfielder Piper Luhn returns from an ACL injury this year.

“(Luhn) played a lot for us as a freshman, so it’s nice to have her back,” Roth said.

Roth has a couple of freshmen who will be impact players. Freshman forward Field Sanders could replace some of Ball’s scoring.

“(Sanders) plays up top but could probably play anywhere along the plank,” Roth said. “She’s great, just a nose for the goal. She’s going to be fun for people to watch.”

Emery will be watching while in the thick of it.

She’s been a starter in soccer since the eighth grade, playing more in the midfield before moving to defense.

In basketball, Emery played crucial backup roles on the state championship teams, providing defense and energy. She plans on playing hoops for the Lady Spartans again this year when soccer season ends.

But she won’t play basketball at Princeton.

“Basketball, I love it, but I’m not really a playmaker,” she said. “I’m more like (a player) go in, fresh legs, maybe get a few rebounds, defense, things like that. I’m more confident in my soccer abilities than my basketball abilities.”

MOTIVATION FOR AC, GIBBS

Anderson County and Gibbs each got within a victory of the Class AA state quarterfinals in Chattanooga last season, only to lose tight matches in sectional rounds.

AC lost at home to Greeneville 1-0 in overtime in a sectional, while Gibbs traveled to Elizabethton and lost a 5-4 penalty-kick shootout after they played to a 1-1 draw.

Greeneville beat the Lady Mavs when it scored with 1 minute, 33 seconds left in the final overtime.

“They got a corner kick,” AC coach Chris Curtin said. “It crossed in, bounced around, and somebody poked it in.”

Motivation for this year?

“Very much so,” Curtin said.

“I think that we can make another run at it,” Curtin continued. “I think we’ve been there six out of the last 10 years to the substate (sectional) game and haven’t made it to state yet, so maybe this is the year.”

Gibbs, which went 0-3 against AC last season, still barely missed earning its second trip to the state quarterfinals in school history.

The Lady Eagles had four seniors (three starters) on the 2025 team that lost the PK shootout at Elizabethton.

It was a huge improvement after the 2024 team won only three matches all season.

“We were down (in 2024), and then last year, the way they bounced back, we had freshmen come in,” Gibbs coach Jason French said. “They’re motivated, for sure.

“If we can get a little luck and stay healthy, I think this team can definitely compete for the district championship and maybe the region, and hopefully we can make it back to the substate. They’re a hard-working group. They like each other. The chemistry is great on this team.”

Catholic senior Gianna Notarianni committed to Xavier. (Photo by Dave Link)

XAVIER COMMIT LEADS IRISH

Catholic coach Josh Martin is looking for a breakout season from his girls’ team — like his boys’ team had in the spring.

Martin coached the Irish into the Division II-AA Final Four; it was their first state tournament appearance since the 2008 team won the Division I Class A-AA state title.

The Lady Irish are seeking their first state appearance since the 2019 team got to the Final Four, and senior Gianna Notarianni likely will play a crucial role if they make it.

Notarianni, a Xavier commitment, plays striker or attacking midfielder.

“She’s one of those players you can play just about anywhere,” Martin said. “She’s kind of the engine that pushes us. I think she had eight or so goals, six or eight assists last year. We’re just not a team that scores a lot. We need to change that. We’re hoping that she can bag a few more goals for us this year.”

Catholic didn’t reach the Division II-AA postseason last year, finishing fifth (last) in the East Region behind Chattanooga Baylor, Webb, Chattanooga’s Girls Preparatory School, and Chattanooga Christian School.

Only the top four teams in the East Region qualify for postseason in Division II-AA.

“That’s the goal,” Martin said. “That’s the ceiling we’ve got to break through. This is my fourth year here, so the freshmen that came in when I got here, they’re seniors now, and we’ve got about 10 of them. It’s a big group, so we’re kind of expecting to take that next step this year.”

Martin said his region schedule is overly challenging.

“We play in probably the toughest region, certainly in private school,” he said. “Obviously some of the Triple A regions are as tough as any around, but our region is tough. To be able to qualify, you’ve got to finish fourth out of five good teams, but we’ve got our sights set on it. We’re excited about it.”

WEST’S PEACE OUT (FOR NOW)

West coach Roberto Castro has several standout players, but one of them will be out for part of the 2026 season.

Sophomore midfielder Tori Peace hurt her ankle at the Maryville College camp, an injury that will sideline her for about eight weeks.

“We’ll get her back eventually, but for now, she’s in a boot,” Castro said.

Junior forward Charleigh Freeman is back after leading the Lady Rebels’ scoring last season (14 goals, 11 assists).

“She’s a big-time player,” Castro said. “She’ll have many opportunities to play D-1 or D-2, I think. She’s a good player, very talented. She can play midfield, forward, inside, on the wing.”

West, which tied Bearden for a share of the District 4-AAA regular-season title last fall, came within a victory of reaching the state quarterfinals in Chattanooga.

The Lady Rebels lost at Johnson City Science Hill 4-2 in a penalty-kick shootout after the teams played to a 2-2 draw.

Castro has a youthful team – 33 players are freshmen or sophomores. Peace and goalkeeper Brynn Bush are part of an outstanding sophomore class.

Bush was on the All-5Star Preps second team last season.

“I think we’ve got a really talented freshman and sophomore class,” Castro said. “They’re young, but they’re coachable and they’re jelling well together. I’m very pleased with the progress they’ve made in these first couple of weeks.”

CONCORD SEEKS HISTORIC RUN

Concord Christian School is seeking the soccer program’s first trip to the state soccer tournament, boys or girls.

Last year’s Lady Lions almost made it, reaching the Division II-A quarterfinals.

They lost to Donelson Christian Academy in a PK shootout by a 5-4 score and missed going to Chattanooga for the Final Four.

“It’s a brutal way to lose,” Concord Christian coach Jason Jennings said.

Concord Christian got a bye into the state quarterfinals last year by winning district and region titles. It was the program’s first trip to the quarterfinals.

Jennings would like to be in the same position this year.

“I think we’ll be very similar as far as our abilities,” he said. “Our expectations are to compete and to get as far as we can, hopefully back to state again and then win some games. It’s a younger team. I think we’ve got six seniors, a strong junior class, and some sophomores and freshmen.”

Article written by Dave Link/5Star Preps. To read more on area high school sports or to see photo galleries, videos, stat leaders, etc., visit 5StarPreps.com — and use promo code HAMMERS for 30% off your first year or month subscription.

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