By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

It is still considered a great girls soccer rivalry.

But lately, it’s been dominated by the Notre Dame Pandas. That continued Thursday as the Pandas (3-1) knocked off the host Highlands Bluebirds, 3-0 at Tower Park.

The two consistently battled for region championships until last year. The Pandas have won four in a row in the series dating back to Highlands’ 2-0 win in the old 10th Region championship in 2010. Notre Dame won the state championship in 2011 before finishing runner-up last year.

Neither team took a lot of shots thanks to good defensive efforts on both sides. But the Pandas outshot the Bluebirds (1-1-2), 6-2 and capitalized on half of the shots. Highlands goalkeeper Sara Owen recorded three saves with Panda goalkeepers Courtney Hansel and Maddie Kim combining to stop both Highlands shots.

“If you look at their goals, they capitalized on a lot of mistakes that we made,” said Tommy Kearns, Highlands head coach. “That’s what a good team does. They punish you. They won most of the 50/50 balls in the middle of the field. They were more aggressive to the ball. There was a 20-minute stretch in the first half where we played to the level we’re capable of. But 20 minutes is not an 80-minute game.”

Highlands and Notre Dame have both won two state championships each. The Bluebirds won consecutive crowns in 2005 and 2006 while the Pandas captured their titles in 2004 and 2011.

“We have a lot of coaches who have experienced playing here at Tower Park,” said Sara McSorely, Notre Dame head coach. “We had to remind people of the rivalry and to be just as prepared mentally for the game as physically. It’s intense in this atmosphere.”

Both teams have a good mix of veteran and young players. But the Pandas did a better job in the midfield.

Ellen Combs put the Pandas on the scoreboard with a goal in the game’s first five minutes. That proved to be the only goal Notre Dame needed.

But the Pandas still added two insurance goals in the second half. Paige Kellam took a nice pass from Nica Berling in the attacking box and scored with 29:32 left in the game before Megan Barberich crossed a nice pass to Ashley Justice for the final score with 17 minutes left in the game.

Highlands did not have anyone closely marking Barberich on the last goal. Kearns said that needs to change if the Bluebirds are to beat teams like Notre Dame.

“Marking is something you have to do all over the field,” Kearns said. “They do a great job of transitioning forward. Each of the lines moves up the field as a unit. We are capable of doing that. It has to be more consistent.”

Notre Dame did receive a lot of corner kicks, especially in the second half. But the Pandas often could not get off shots. Converting corner kicks into goals has been a strong point for Notre Dame in the past.

“We’re trying to get our rhythm down,” McSorely said. “We’re working hard and have great ideas. We’re just not connecting entirely at times. So seeing them connect a couple times in the second half was nice to see.”

Kearns did note some positives from the game. He said everyone is healthy. This game marked the return of last year’s leading scorer in sophomore Brooklynn Rivers from injury.

Health was an issue in last year’s team-record low three-win campaign for the Bluebirds. Then-seniors Ava Abner and Kara Painter suffered season-ending injuries near the start of the season.

 

Fort Thomas Sports: Highlands falls to rivals, 3-0

Good crowd?

Really good crowd for this game on both sides. The freshman crowd for Notre Dame were really into the game (it was their initiation night). This game was played well by both teams in the first half. Notre Dame wore down Highlands in the second half and showed why they are the best team in NKY. Their passing and spacing are so good you just run yourself to death chasing the ball. One of the most impressive things about their team is that they win almost every 50/50 ball and they are very aggressive. Its great to see that out of a team. Highlands is an aggressive team but didn't win the 50/50 balls which probably lead to a couple of the goals. Highlands freshman and JV both looked really good against Notre Dame. Hopefully this match up is more competitive over the next several years.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

It is still considered a great girls soccer rivalry.

But lately, it’s been dominated by the Notre Dame Pandas. That continued Thursday as the Pandas (3-1) knocked off the host Highlands Bluebirds, 3-0 at Tower Park.

The two consistently battled for region championships until last year. The Pandas have won four in a row in the series dating back to Highlands’ 2-0 win in the old 10th Region championship in 2010. Notre Dame won the state championship in 2011 before finishing runner-up last year.

Neither team took a lot of shots thanks to good defensive efforts on both sides. But the Pandas outshot the Bluebirds (1-1-2), 6-2 and capitalized on half of the shots. Highlands goalkeeper Sara Owen recorded three saves with Panda goalkeepers Courtney Hansel and Maddie Kim combining to stop both Highlands shots.

“If you look at their goals, they capitalized on a lot of mistakes that we made,” said Tommy Kearns, Highlands head coach. “That’s what a good team does. They punish you. They won most of the 50/50 balls in the middle of the field. They were more aggressive to the ball. There was a 20-minute stretch in the first half where we played to the level we’re capable of. But 20 minutes is not an 80-minute game.”

Highlands and Notre Dame have both won two state championships each. The Bluebirds won consecutive crowns in 2005 and 2006 while the Pandas captured their titles in 2004 and 2011.

“We have a lot of coaches who have experienced playing here at Tower Park,” said Sara McSorely, Notre Dame head coach. “We had to remind people of the rivalry and to be just as prepared mentally for the game as physically. It’s intense in this atmosphere.”

Both teams have a good mix of veteran and young players. But the Pandas did a better job in the midfield.

Ellen Combs put the Pandas on the scoreboard with a goal in the game’s first five minutes. That proved to be the only goal Notre Dame needed.

But the Pandas still added two insurance goals in the second half. Paige Kellam took a nice pass from Nica Berling in the attacking box and scored with 29:32 left in the game before Megan Barberich crossed a nice pass to Ashley Justice for the final score with 17 minutes left in the game.

Highlands did not have anyone closely marking Barberich on the last goal. Kearns said that needs to change if the Bluebirds are to beat teams like Notre Dame.

“Marking is something you have to do all over the field,” Kearns said. “They do a great job of transitioning forward. Each of the lines moves up the field as a unit. We are capable of doing that. It has to be more consistent.”

Notre Dame did receive a lot of corner kicks, especially in the second half. But the Pandas often could not get off shots. Converting corner kicks into goals has been a strong point for Notre Dame in the past.

“We’re trying to get our rhythm down,” McSorely said. “We’re working hard and have great ideas. We’re just not connecting entirely at times. So seeing them connect a couple times in the second half was nice to see.”

Kearns did note some positives from the game. He said everyone is healthy. This game marked the return of last year’s leading scorer in sophomore Brooklynn Rivers from injury.

Health was an issue in last year’s team-record low three-win campaign for the Bluebirds. Then-seniors Ava Abner and Kara Painter suffered season-ending injuries near the start of the season.

 

Fort Thomas Sports: Highlands falls to rivals, 3-0

 

Just a few small corrections on the article,

 

Paige Kellam and Nica Berling are not playing this year. it was Taylor Watts#20 taking the pass from Summer Scheben#2 on the second goal. Thanks for the coverage though, at least someone up here is trying to cover girls soccer!

Just a few small corrections on the article,

 

Paige Kellam and Nica Berling are not playing this year. it was Taylor Watts#20 taking the pass from Summer Scheben#2 on the second goal. Thanks for the coverage though, at least someone up here is trying to cover girls soccer!

 

 

....It all starts with one word. I see you are new to the site....spread the word at every game (each team) about it and this could grow into the main Ladies' soccer site for NKY soccer........

Really good crowd for this game on both sides. The freshman crowd for Notre Dame were really into the game (it was their initiation night). This game was played well by both teams in the first half. Notre Dame wore down Highlands in the second half and showed why they are the best team in NKY. Their passing and spacing are so good you just run yourself to death chasing the ball. One of the most impressive things about their team is that they win almost every 50/50 ball and they are very aggressive. Its great to see that out of a team. Highlands is an aggressive team but didn't win the 50/50 balls which probably lead to a couple of the goals. Highlands freshman and JV both looked really good against Notre Dame. Hopefully this match up is more competitive over the next several years.

 

Frosh and JV scores really mean nothing in the grand scheme of things. NDA has their best frosh and soph in the regular rotation which enables them to sub freely without losing much if anything talent wise. Thought the Birds actually won the first half with their play especially in the last 20 to 25 minutes. I would say that this match was more than competitive and the score could have easily been 1 to 0, but you have one team that understands the positions they play and move as a unit and another team that has players that get caught out of position because they do not understand how you move as a unit. Highlands will be fine and are definitely much improved from last season for sure. Hopefully the Birds get another crack at them down the road when both teams have settled in to a more regular rotation.

Skinner has been tweeting out high school sports coverage links.

Skinner has been tweeting out high school sports coverage links.

 

Which are once again, incomplete - missing St. Henry v Simon Kenton girls soccer, and 3 of the 5 volleyball games from last night. Lookin bad skinny.

Which are once again, incomplete - missing St. Henry v Simon Kenton girls soccer, and 3 of the 5 volleyball games from last night. Lookin bad skinny.

 

Do we know that those scores were called in?

Riherds has St H 2/ SK 1 Girls....

Do we know that those scores were called in?

 

Called in to whom? It's 3:45pm the day after..follow the @nkyskinner tweets to the Thursday results scoreboard - if they don't have them by now, they aren't gonna have them.

 

You know the competing sites who do have the correct scores as well as I do. They all seem to manage to post scores the night of. If the Enquirer is waiting for a rotary dial phone call from each school, then enjoy waiting by the phone and watching Murder She Wrote reruns.

Called in to whom? It's 3:45pm the day after..follow the @nkyskinner tweets to the Thursday results scoreboard - if they don't have them by now, they aren't gonna have them.

 

You know the competing sites who do have the correct scores as well as I do. They all seem to manage to post scores the night of. If the Enquirer is waiting for a rotary dial phone call from each school, then enjoy waiting by the phone and watching Murder She Wrote reruns.

 

 

You seem to be pretty upset about this. If you know where to go find the scores why the angst?

Every Monday Rich sends out an email with a link and phone number to call to send in scores. If they come in before 10:00 they make the paper.

As Clyde said I send an email to athletic directors every Monday with two numbers to call and a link to a place where scores/results can be reported online. It's up to them to pass along to their coaches and for the coaches to call in scores. Those who report scores by 10 p.m. have them in print and those who report after will make it online or the next day. If no one calls to report the results they don't make it. Our deadline sucks, but that's what it is and again we have an online place to put results after the fact, too, if they are reported. Hope that helps clear it up.

Called in to whom? It's 3:45pm the day after..follow the @nkyskinner tweets to the Thursday results scoreboard - if they don't have them by now, they aren't gonna have them.

 

You know the competing sites who do have the correct scores as well as I do. They all seem to manage to post scores the night of. If the Enquirer is waiting for a rotary dial phone call from each school, then enjoy waiting by the phone and watching Murder She Wrote reruns.

 

Is it really that hard to have your coach or someone from each team call in a score, takes a couple minutes and very little effort. Why should skinny have to chase down scores from all the schools in the area and with all the different sports going on this time of year. If your coach doesn't care enough to call them in then maybe you don't deserve to be in the paper.