CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Kirkwood girls soccer capped a four-year journey Wednesday night, winning its first region title in school history 4-1 over Clarksville High.
To say the Cobras struggled during their inaugural season would be putting it lightly. They won just three games that year and went winless in district play. Still, the groundwork had been laid, and Kirkwood improved every season since.
In 2025, the Cobras won 10 games for the first time in program history, but they still couldn’t get over the hurdle of beating Clarksville High. The Wildcats have historically dominated Montgomery County soccer, with Rossview also consistently among the area’s top programs. Wednesday’s victory showed that Kirkwood has arrived as a contender and could signal a shift in the local soccer landscape.
The Coach Guth touch
Kirkwood’s success can be traced back to head coach Kelley Guth.
This isn’t the first time Guth has built a program from scratch. She has played a significant role in the growth of women’s soccer in Montgomery County. After serving as the inaugural head coach of Austin Peay’s women’s soccer program, she turned her focus to youth soccer, founding Clarksville Soccer Club.
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Even with those accomplishments, building Kirkwood into a region champion might be one of her proudest achievements.
“We were up against a great team. This was going to be a battle, and I’m just so proud of the girls,” Guth told Clarksville Now. “We’ve come a long way in a short period of time. The fight they showed today, especially in the second half, makes me so proud of them. I really just want to celebrate with them because they did all the hard work.”
Tough start, big finish
Guth’s team showed plenty of fight in the first half. After falling to Clarksville High earlier in the month, getting off to a strong start was important. However, a Wildcats goal in the 23rd minute put Kirkwood behind early.
Kirkwood didn’t take long to respond. Just 20 seconds later, freshman Molly Jones found the back of the net to even the score at 1-1. From there, the Cobras took control and never looked back.
Macie Merkley, Jackie Ramos and Ellie Shires each added a goal to secure the 4-1 victory and the program’s first region championship.
The Shires impact
All four goal scorers have played important roles in Kirkwood’s success, but few have been more instrumental than Shires. The junior wears the captain’s armband for a reason, and Wednesday’s victory carried special significance for a player who has been part of the program’s growth from the beginning.
As a freshman, Shires had two goals for her career at Kirkwood: beat Clarksville High and win a region title. She accomplished both Wednesday night.
“It just feels great. We worked so hard, and especially to beat Clarksville, that’s one of our biggest goals. Now making history tonight feels really good,” Shires said.
The junior also believes Kirkwood’s success could continue for years to come.
“I think the next three or four years, we’re going to be the number one. We’re going to be up there,” Shires said.
Up next: Sectional match
Kirkwood has officially changed the landscape of Montgomery County soccer, but the Cobras still have bigger goals ahead. They will return to the pitch at home Saturday, Oct. 24, for a sectional matchup against Collierville.
Guth knows the challenge ahead but is confident in her team’s ability to prepare for the next step.
“I think we’re going to enjoy it tonight and maybe a little bit tomorrow, but we’ve got preparation to do,” Guth said. “Collierville is a good team out of the Memphis area, but they’ve got to come into our place and play against us, and we’ll be ready for them.”
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