Hiland Soccer Seasons End With Deep Playoff Runs, Community Pride
Hiland’s girls fell 4–0 to Fairbanks in the Division V regional final Nov. 1 at Pickerington North, while the boys’ season concluded earlier with a 2–1 golden‑goal overtime loss to the same opponent in the regional semifinal Oct. 29. Coaches praised both squads for their postseason progress and said the experience should help fuel the program and returning players next year.
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Hiland High School’s soccer programs closed their 2025 seasons last week with hard-fought exits against Fairbanks in the Division V regional bracket, marking the culmination of deep postseason runs that energized the Holmes County community.
The girls team traveled to Pickerington North on Nov. 1 for the regional final, where Fairbanks prevailed 4–0. Despite the scoreline, Hiland goalkeeper Kaitlyn Klink recorded seven saves in the match, keeping the visiting Gladiators competitive through stretches of the game. The loss ended a standout campaign that advanced Hiland to one of the final stages of the postseason—a notable achievement for a small-school program competing in Division V.
The boys team’s season ended Oct. 29 in a dramatic regional semifinal matchup against the same Fairbanks program. That contest went to overtime, where Hiland fell 2–1 on a golden‑goal score. The narrow defeat underscored the boys’ resilience and ability to compete deep into tournament play, delivering excitement to local supporters who followed the team’s postseason trajectory.
Coaches from both programs lauded the players’ efforts and pointed to the playoff experience as a foundation for the next season. Team leaders return in varying numbers, and the extended postseason exposure should aid player development, team cohesion, and off‑season preparation. For a community of Holmes County size, extended runs in regional competition raise the profile of the school’s athletic programs and can strengthen engagement across youth soccer, booster support, and school spirit.
The results also carry practical implications for program planning. Coaching staffs will face typical off‑season decisions about conditioning, skill development, and integrating underclassmen who saw minutes in these postseason matches. The games against Fairbanks exposed areas for tactical adjustments and personnel development that Hiland coaches can target before preseason next fall.
Local supporters and families who attended playoff matches saw tangible evidence that Hiland soccer can contend at the regional level. Those performances may help with retaining athletes and attracting young players into the school’s feeder system. Athletic administrators and town stakeholders who prioritize extracurricular opportunities for students will likely view the seasons as a return on investment in coaching and facilities.
As the winter season of training begins, Hiland’s boys and girls programs carry forward momentum from meaningful postseason success. While the final scores brought disappointment, the experience and community attention provide a platform for building toward stronger campaigns in the seasons ahead.
