Turpin boys soccer welcomes two-time defending 9th Region champion Covington Catholic to Spartan Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

The Colonels, based in Park Hills, Ky., entered 2026 with a 26-0-3 record against region opponents dating to September 2024. They carry a 4-1-3 mark into the non-conference trip across the Ohio River after Ryle handed them a 2-1 loss on Sept. 4. That defeat was CovCath's first 9th Region loss in two years.

CovCath head coach Jeremy Robertson told LINK nky after the Ryle loss that his roster is young. "We've got a lot of younger guys, and we only started, I believe, two seniors," Robertson said on Sept. 4. "There's definitely some things to take and learn."

Senior goalkeeper Booker Gifford, an All-9th Region second-team selection and All-State Tournament Team member, anchors the Colonels' defense. CovCath opened the 2026 season with three consecutive draws before beating Simon Kenton 4-2 on Aug. 25, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Harding drives Turpin's early offense

Senior forward Sam Harding has been the Spartans' top scorer through the season's opening weeks. Harding scored the tying goal with 40 seconds remaining in a 1-1 draw against Kings on Aug. 20. That game was the Eastern Cincinnati Conference opener and the first contest on Turpin's new turf field, installed over the summer.

He wasn't done. Two days later, Harding scored twice in a 3-1 win over McNicholas. He added two goals and an assist on Aug. 27 in a 3-2 victory over Walnut Hills. The Cincinnati Enquirer nominated him for its athlete-of-the-week ballot in each of the season's first two weeks.

Senior Austin Harding and junior Jude Williamson also appeared in the Spartans' ECC opener against Kings, per an Enquirer photo gallery. Through Aug. 27, Turpin had scored at least seven goals across three confirmed results and stood at 2-0-1. Results from road games at Oak Hills on Sept. 1 and Winton Woods on Sept. 3 were not available at publication time.

The new turf at Spartan Stadium gets another showcase Tuesday. Tickets are available through goturpin.com.