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With all due respect to local prep football, my dream match up this season is on the soccer field.

There's been no shortage of debates over who is the best high school football team in Western New York this year.

And while the debate over who would win if the top public and private football teams were to meet, my dream game would be to see Nichols take on Kenmore West in girls soccer.

Far and away the two best teams that I have seen this season, a Nichols versus Ken-West game has far intrigue and subplots than any potential football match up.

The tale of the tape has the Vikings returning several core members of its 2010 Catholic state championship team, most notably Catherine "Cat" Williams and Zoe Jackson-Gibson.

The Blue Devils were officially recognized as Section VI Class AA co-champs with Williamsville North after falling to the Spartans in a shootout, but it was Will-North that advanced.

The Blue Devils are led by Lexi and Jenna Panepinto.

The best of friends, Jackson-Gibson, Williams and the Panepinto's all play summer travel soccer for the Invaders and have won multiple state cups together.

Cat and Lexi are both lightning quick, tenacious and are in my opinion the two best finishers in WNY.

Jenna and Zoe are extremely talented players that know how to control the midfield and set up scoring chances.

Those four know each other inside and out. There are no secrets and it would be fun to see them go head-to-head.

Both teams have very strong, underrated sweepers in Helena Galvin (Nichols) and Maddy Barker (Ken-West).

Goal keeping is another interesting match up. On paper one would think Ken-West senior Taylor Smith would have the edge by virtue of her age over Nichols sophomore Rachel Grampp.

But Grampp is battled tested as she was the Vikings starting keeper in the run to the state title. Some might even say she was the final piece to the puzzle after the Vikings fell short in the state tournament the three previous seasons.

Smith has always impressed me with the way she stands tall during penalty kicks.

Lauren Randaccio is another brilliant all-around talent that helped the Vikings win it all last year. While Marylouise Lindner and Jessica Zawadski are steady as can be for Ken-West.

Head coaches Jen Gilham (Ken-West) and Larry Desautels (Nichols) are two of the most respected head coaches in the state. Both are blessed with a very good staff.

Gilham has a style that is based on a consistent flow of positive re-enforcement. You will never hear Gilham yelling at her team that they were wrong. She corrects them when needed without damaging their confidence.

Desautels may very well be the best X's and O's soccer coach I have ever met. He isn't a rah-rah coach. His pre-game talks are more about preparation.

Both teams are disciplined and self-motivated. Signs of great coaching and tremendous commitment on the part of the players.

Both clubs have great team speed, so regardless if the game were played on Nichols turf or the natural grass at the Ken-West Complex, the pitch itself would make little difference.

Again, with all due respect to football, this is the game I want to see.