The Cincinnati Enquirer high school sports team is bringing back a popular feature, Coaches Confidential, to the 2026 slate of coverage.
The idea is for coaches to answer questions anonymously about their sport so readers can focus on the message instead of the messenger. While football coaches have been the primary focus in past features, we asked soccer and volleyball coaches to weigh in this year.
Coaches not on the mailing list who wish to answer questions may reach out to mlaughman@enquirer.com.
This week's question for soccer coaches: Which opponents' players have caught your eye as someone you game-plan around? What's special about him or her?
Drew Adams, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy
"A handful. Dangerous long throw, excellent on the ball, and makes the players around him better."
Darcy Bittinger, Lakota West
"This strong midfielder is a playmaker with tremendous skill and plays with a lot of pace, so we must limit the number of times she receives the ball."
Anne Bowling, Calvary Christian
"The sophomore's speed and shooting accuracy really stand out."
Liam Brady, Indian Hill
"The senior is a very dangerous midfielder/attacker. Skilled, composed, excellent vision. Liam will be a guy we definitely need to know where he’s at on the field at all times. Leave him alone, he’ll pick you apart."
Beckett Brinkman, Summit Country Day
"Honestly, we try to stick to the same principles and fundamentals from game to game. There are some really good teams and players in Cincinnati so for a small team like us to try and game-plan around certain players creates more problems than solutions for us. We want to be strong defensively and direct offensively. Speed is king. However, Summit has a midfielder from last year, Beckett Brinkman, who was just able to do whatever he wanted whenever he wanted. We would send a double team and he would release the ball and relocate before we had a chance to get set."
Aidan Gross, Mariemont
"A player we will have to game-plan around if we face him in the postseason. He is extremely dynamic with and without the ball and he is a finisher. Plays with a ton of intensity and can change a game in one moment."
Colin Kmet, Sycamore
"A player that will haunt you if taken for granted. He has an extremely high soccer IQ, superior field vision, and he is extremely technically sound. Great on the ball and can hurt you with the dribble, the pass, and the shot."
Kylie Smith, Bishop Brossart
"The junior forward for Brossart is a physical, fast attacker who is relentless and puts the ball on frame consistently."
Andy Stein, Indian Hill
"The senior is an extremely quick winger, dangerous in the flank, loves to get defenders 1v1. We will have to address accordingly and match up with him and keep him contained."
Jack Sweeney, St. Xavier, and Alex Lopez, Sycamore
"This season, teams will need to be aware of Jack Sweeney from St. Xavier. He has a high soccer IQ and can strike a ball as well as anyone in the area. He is capable of changing a game with one shot, so you always have to know where he is. Another player who could sneak up on people is Alex Lopez from Sycamore. He is extremely quick, gets into dangerous spaces, and knows how to finish his chances."
Harper Wagner, Harrison
"The junior is a strong center back, good with his feet. Great ball winner. Tactically will need to draw him out of position to break lines. Quick, strong veteran leader for the Wildcats."
ECC standouts
"In recent years, the Eastern Cincinnati Conference and surrounding area have been loaded with high-level players who can change a game with a single moment. Nina Brandon has obviously been one of those players for us internally, but from an opponent standpoint, the players who concern me most are those who impact every phase of the game, not just scoring. The players who force you to adjust your shape, dedicate additional defensive resources, or alter your game plan are typically dynamic attackers who can create their own chances, but I also have tremendous respect for midfielders who control tempo and dictate possession. The best players aren't always the leading scorers; they're the players who make everyone around them better and seem to influence every critical moment of a match. Karringtyn Wilder from Walnut Hills, Abby Nisonger from Lebanon, Mollee Erras from West Clermont and Lindsay Bruce from Milford are just a few on the list of top players in the ECC."
Cincinnati Hills League and Miami Valley Conference standouts
"Indian Hill brings back quite a few talented players. Emma O’Brien and Allie McCauley will be two of their top players. Madeira will have a couple talented seniors; Liliah Beers, Macy Mueller and Emily Dunn were starters/captains for the two state championships. Summit has lots of talented underclassman even though they graduated some of the best in their history. Aubrey Blakeley will only be a sophomore but is very talented. Cameron Lorentz and Abigayle Penote should be two of the best players in DIII. CHCA should be one of the top teams in DIV. Abby Snell will be a junior and was first-team Miami Valley Conference. Ella Wilson and Carly Brunetti are seniors ‒ and have been on the MVC all-league team. Mariemont has an All-American returning ‒ and should be very talented."
Only constant is change
"I’ve always believed that every season starts with a clean slate. When I was brought in to lead Beechwood for the 2025 season, I had very little knowledge of the Northern Kentucky soccer landscape, and honestly, I liked it that way. I prefer not to spend too much time focused on opponents. Instead, I enjoy making adjustments in the moment and trusting our preparation. I know my players' strengths, I understand the areas where we can continue to grow, and I have complete confidence that they'll compete for one another, cover for each other, and solve problems together on the field. Looking ahead, my approach won't change. Every season brings new players, returning players who have grown, and teams that evolve. The only constant in high school soccer is that things are always changing. That's what makes it exciting. As we head into this season, I'll embrace it as an entirely new team with new opportunities to build something special."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: High school soccer coaches share which opponents they game-plan around
