ND moves on to State again.

Zero SOG for Highlands

Pictures from the game can be view here:

 

 

 

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

CRESTVIEW HILLS – The Highlands Bluebirds girls soccer team knew it had to match the intensity and determination of its arch-rivals to move on.

The Bluebirds played hard, but could not figure out the Notre Dame Panada defense or recover from an early momentum swing in a 3-0 9th Region championship loss Saturday. Highlands has lost to Notre Dame in its last two region title game appearances.

“We want to be playing our best soccer at the end of the year. I think we were,” said Tommy Kearns, Highlands Head Coach. “It’s a credit to the way the girls worked all season. They came out on July 15 and set a goal to be in this game. We achieved that goal.”

The two consistently battled for region titles in the old 10th Region. Notre Dame won the 2011 meeting after Highlands won in 2010. The Pandas (20-2-3) won the championship in 2011 and finished state runner-up last year.

Highlands (8-8-5) bounced back from a three-win season last year. The Bluebirds lost to Dixie Heights in the region quarterfinals on penalty kicks.

“I really think it was important that we came back from last year and got as far as we did because it took a lot of hard and a lot of hope because we weren’t sure we’d be able to pull it off,” said Alyssa Farley, Highlands senior midfielder/defender. “I’m proud of what we did as a team.”

The Bluebirds managed just six shots with five coming on goal mostly on forward passes. They had a hard time getting the ball past the Panda defenders. Notre Dame goalkeepers Courtney Hansel and Maddy Kim combined to make four saves.

“I think our forwards did a great job applying pressure up top,” Kearns said. “Getting pressure all over the field against Notre Dame is tough because they pass it so quick. We were hoping for a better result. Credit Notre Dame. (Notre Dame)was outstanding (Saturday) and deserved to win.”

The closest Highlands came to scoring came in the second half. Highlands sophomore forward Brooklynn Rivers drew a penalty to the left outside the attacking box. Her free kick went wide.

“We’re so proud of our defense,” said Sara McSorely, Notre Dame Head Coach. “(The defenders) have been strong all year long. When they’re getting tested more and more, they’re coming through. We’ve been really pleased with how they’ve answered those challenges.”

The Pandas finished with 20 shots including 18 on goal. Highlands senior goalkeeper Sarah Owen made 13 saves.

Notre Dame scored all three of its goals in the first half. Tournament most Valuable Player Ellen Combs took a pass in the middle from Carissa Dyer and scored. Dyer scored minutes later to make it 2-0 Pandas.

McSorely said the third and final goal was huge for momentum purposes. Mandy Arnzen scored it for Notre Dame.

Lauren Daly, Kelsey Etherton and Rivers made the All-Tournament team for Highlands along with Newport Central Catholic’s Loren Zimmerman and Sam Bunzel. Daly scored the game-winner in overtime in the semifinals against Ryle.

The Bluebirds graduate eight seniors. They are Owen, Daly, Farley, Etherton, Anna Bardgett, McKenzie Goyert, Kristin Venneman and Ellie New.

Junior Lydia Graves may take over at goalkeeper for Highlands. The Bluebirds can also build around Rivers, Taylor Vaughn, Allyson Bridewell, Peyton Bankemper and Brooke Dougherty among others.

“We’re just going to keep on working as a team and creating chances up top,” Vaughn said. “I think we’ll have a lot of younger people step up. I think next year, we’re going to be even better. We’ll take full advantage of our home field.”

The teams split during the regular season. Notre Dame won at Tower Park by the same score on Aug. 29. But the Bluebirds beat the Pandas, 3-2 on Sept. 18 in the semifinals of the Lexington Catholic Cup. They were the only team in the region to beat Notre Dame this year.

 

FORT THOMAS MATTERS: 9th Girls Soccer Title Game: Bluebirds fall to Pandas

Congrats to NDA, good luck at state.

 

The last couple of years the team to come out of NKY has had a fairly easy road to the final 4, is that the case this year?

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

CRESTVIEW HILLS – The Highlands Bluebirds girls soccer team knew it had to match the intensity and determination of its arch-rivals to move on.

The Bluebirds played hard, but could not figure out the Notre Dame Panada defense or recover from an early momentum swing in a 3-0 9th Region championship loss Saturday. Highlands has lost to Notre Dame in its last two region title game appearances.

“We want to be playing our best soccer at the end of the year. I think we were,” said Tommy Kearns, Highlands Head Coach. “It’s a credit to the way the girls worked all season. They came out on July 15 and set a goal to be in this game. We achieved that goal.”

The two consistently battled for region titles in the old 10th Region. Notre Dame won the 2011 meeting after Highlands won in 2010. The Pandas (20-2-3) won the championship in 2011 and finished state runner-up last year.

Highlands (8-8-5) bounced back from a three-win season last year. The Bluebirds lost to Dixie Heights in the region quarterfinals on penalty kicks.

“I really think it was important that we came back from last year and got as far as we did because it took a lot of hard and a lot of hope because we weren’t sure we’d be able to pull it off,” said Alyssa Farley, Highlands senior midfielder/defender. “I’m proud of what we did as a team.”

The Bluebirds managed just six shots with five coming on goal mostly on forward passes. They had a hard time getting the ball past the Panda defenders. Notre Dame goalkeepers Courtney Hansel and Maddy Kim combined to make four saves.

“I think our forwards did a great job applying pressure up top,” Kearns said. “Getting pressure all over the field against Notre Dame is tough because they pass it so quick. We were hoping for a better result. Credit Notre Dame. (Notre Dame)was outstanding (Saturday) and deserved to win.”

The closest Highlands came to scoring came in the second half. Highlands sophomore forward Brooklynn Rivers drew a penalty to the left outside the attacking box. Her free kick went wide.

“We’re so proud of our defense,” said Sara McSorely, Notre Dame Head Coach. “(The defenders) have been strong all year long. When they’re getting tested more and more, they’re coming through. We’ve been really pleased with how they’ve answered those challenges.”

The Pandas finished with 20 shots including 18 on goal. Highlands senior goalkeeper Sarah Owen made 13 saves.

Notre Dame scored all three of its goals in the first half. Tournament most Valuable Player Ellen Combs took a pass in the middle from Carissa Dyer and scored. Dyer scored minutes later to make it 2-0 Pandas.

McSorely said the third and final goal was huge for momentum purposes. Mandy Arnzen scored it for Notre Dame.

Lauren Daly, Kelsey Etherton and Rivers made the All-Tournament team for Highlands along with Newport Central Catholic’s Loren Zimmerman and Sam Bunzel. Daly scored the game-winner in overtime in the semifinals against Ryle.

The Bluebirds graduate eight seniors. They are Owen, Daly, Farley, Etherton, Anna Bardgett, McKenzie Goyert, Kristin Venneman and Ellie New.

Junior Lydia Graves may take over at goalkeeper for Highlands. The Bluebirds can also build around Rivers, Taylor Vaughn, Allyson Bridewell, Peyton Bankemper and Brooke Dougherty among others.

“We’re just going to keep on working as a team and creating chances up top,” Vaughn said. “I think we’ll have a lot of younger people step up. I think next year, we’re going to be even better. We’ll take full advantage of our home field.”

The teams split during the regular season. Notre Dame won at Tower Park by the same score on Aug. 29. But the Bluebirds beat the Pandas, 3-2 on Sept. 18 in the semifinals of the Lexington Catholic Cup. They were the only team in the region to beat Notre Dame this year.

 

FORT THOMAS MATTERS: 9th Girls Soccer Title Game: Bluebirds fall to Pandas

 

With Highlands now out, I'm really happy the majority of us who don't live in Ft.Thomas won't be subjected to these posts anymore. For an accurate article written without the Ft. Thomas / Highlands "slant", read Marc Hardin's article from Sunday or Richard Skinner's from Monday.

With Highlands now out, I'm really happy the majority of us who don't live in Ft.Thomas won't be subjected to these posts anymore. For an accurate article written without the Ft. Thomas / Highlands "slant", read Marc Hardin's article from Sunday or Richard Skinner's from Monday.

 

A. We really appreciate all of the hard work that he puts into all of these articles. B. It will have a Ft. Thomas slant b/c this is the article from the Ft. Thomas Recorder.

I have not minded the Ft. Thomas slant at all. For me, it was understood that the article comes from the Ft. Thomas Recorder and was slanted towards Highlands.

With Highlands now out, I'm really happy the majority of us who don't live in Ft.Thomas won't be subjected to these posts anymore. For an accurate article written without the Ft. Thomas / Highlands "slant", read Marc Hardin's article from Sunday or Richard Skinner's from Monday.

 

Instead we will get to read your one line game description nuggets.

 

Feel free to take the time and put forth the energy to write a game recap with your own slant. There are plenty of members of this site that really appreciate the work Mr Graham does. Keep up the good work Mike.

 

BTW, the Highlands boys are not out so we can look forward to recaps as they move on in the playoffs.

BGP is not The Fort Thomas Recorder. If everyone enjoys reading the articles so much, then by all means visit their website and read away! In fact, I'm sure they would rather have you do that so they get the credit for the website traffic.

 

I didn't join BGP to read commercial articles I can get elsewhere, especially ones that will inherently have a hometown angle. I don't see Enquirer media reporters posting full articles in here. A link that I have the option to click on or not is one thing, full copy and pastes are another.

BGP is not The Fort Thomas Recorder. If everyone enjoys reading the articles so much, then by all means visit their website and read away! In fact, I'm sure they would rather have you do that so they get the credit for the website traffic.

 

I didn't join BGP to read commercial articles I can get elsewhere, especially ones that will inherently have a hometown angle. I don't see Enquirer media reporters posting full articles in here. A link that I have the option to click on or not is one thing, full copy and pastes are another.

 

You have the option to not read the article/post. This isn't Russia.

In Russia, article reads you!

In Russia, article reads you!

 

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