Harpeth blanks Waverly Central 8-0 in district opener

Indians get five first-half goals to cruise to victory in league matchup

Mar. 29, 2026 at 3:23pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic action of a soccer match, with overlapping planes of green, blue, and orange conveying the high energy and intensity of the game.Harpeth's decisive district-opening victory highlights the team's offensive firepower and defensive strength as they compete for a league title.Fairview Today

The Harpeth High School boys soccer team delivered a dominant performance last Thursday night, defeating Waverly Central 8-0 at Hockenberger Field in their district opener. The Indians scored five goals in the first half and added three more in the second half to complete the shutout victory.

Why it matters

This win marks Harpeth's first victory of the season and puts them at 1-0 in district play, an important start as they look to compete for a district title. The Indians controlled the pace of the game throughout, showcasing their offensive firepower and defensive strength.

The details

Senior Noah Zerkle scored two goals for Harpeth, with fellow senior Jacob Slanaker also netting a pair. Sophomore John Enoch, junior Isaac Mattox, sophomore Jesus Esparza, and senior Eli Johnson each added a goal as well. Junior goalkeeper Killian Gholson recorded the clean sheet for the Indians.

  • The match was played last Thursday, March 28, 2026.
  • Harpeth scored just two minutes into the game to take an early lead.
  • The Indians led 5-0 at halftime after their dominant first-half performance.
  • Harpeth added three more goals in the second half to complete the 8-0 victory.

The players

Noah Zerkle

A senior at Harpeth High School who scored two goals in the win.

Jacob Slanaker

A senior at Harpeth High School who also scored two goals in the victory.

Killian Gholson

The junior goalkeeper for Harpeth who recorded the shutout.

Lou Jenkins

The head coach of the Harpeth boys soccer team, who was presented a ball signed by the team to commemorate his 50th win as the Indians' coach.

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What they’re saying

“In a postgame moment, coach Lou Jenkins was presented a ball signed by the team to commemorate his 50th win as the Harpeth boys coach.”

— Lou Jenkins, Head Coach

What’s next

Harpeth will return to action on Thursday, April 2, hosting Fairview during spring break.

The takeaway

Harpeth's dominant performance in their district opener showcases the team's offensive firepower and defensive strength as they look to compete for a district title this season. The win also marks a milestone for head coach Lou Jenkins, who was recognized for his 50th victory leading the Indians.