Highlands wins it in PKs.

Well played game by both teams. Birds have a slight advantage in possession throughout the game. Good luck to both teams in the regionals.

Awesome LadyBirds...:thumb:

 

Anybody has details concerning the game would be much appreciated, anything else check it at the door please...Just Sayin

 

This is about the girls tonite and the first person that starts the "guess what they said" crap needs to shut it...

Good game. Highlands looked really good first 15 mins of game which they dominated and then looked a little tired and NCC made a couple runs, but felt HHS controlled the game about 70% of time. Highlands just missed on several attempts during the game, do not remember any serious threats from NCC (couple of shots right at goalie). Good game by all 3 young goalies!! Game was called pretty good, did let it get a little too physical at times, and even HHS fans agreed the call that gave the NCC player a yellow card was a bad call. This game was huge, giving Highlands a much, much easier road to the regional final than NCC.

I felt the game was pretty even. The difference in the game was the Highlands goalie. I was a bit worried when one of the Highlands penalty kicks was blasted way over the goal. That was a bad miss, but the goalie got redemption for Highlands. I don't know names of all the personnel but was impressed with the Highlands goalie and #15 for NCC. If Highlands draws on the same side of the bracket as NDA then that's not an easier road to the finals than Ncc.

Ok...5 posts into this and all good...Its about the kids here folks, nothing more and nothing less...

 

Birdietweet I agree with the out of control physical crap...I just fell like HS soccer especially Girls soccer is who is the dominat girls on the girls on the field and she can push it hard until told to tone it down. Some girls are relentless and if left go they can cause injuriy to others that is for sure.

 

I am sure the banging was coming from both sides as these two rivals have a love hate relationship...:thumb:

The Highlands defense came up huge tonight to not allow NCC to get many chances on goal. The mix of speed (Bankamper and Steppe) and the more technical and physical play of Graves and Haley C. made a huge difference. The midfield played extremely well. A little out of position at times but kept their shape pretty well. Taylor Vaughn had gotten more physical with every game, doing what she can to keep her high school career going. Keepers for both teams were at the top of their game. Zimmerman for NCC is a top notch field general. She makes that team go and didn't disappoint tonight with her hard nose play. Props to Tolle as well. Thought they could have gotten her a few more chances.

Not sure what game some of these people were watching. Thought NCC definitely controlled the first half and the second half was a little more even. I would say that NCC had the advantage in meaningful shots on goal in the first 80 minutes and that Highlands had better looks in the OT periods. Highlands front line players stand around way too much and tend to make only vertical runs which make it hard to connect passes to their feet. Felt the back line for NCC played much more under control whereas Highlands seemed to be a bad touch away from giving up a cheap goal opportunity. Goalkeeper play for each team was exceptional. Highlands really seemed to only have one kid # 15 I think that could do anything in the midfield while the others simply took up space. Neither team wants to draw into the same bracket as Notre Dame and the team that draws opposite them stands a good chance of making it to the finals.

Not sure what game some of these people were watching. I Thought NCC definitely controlled the first half and the second half was a little more even. would say that NCC had the advantage in meaningful shots on goal in the first 80 minutes and that Highlands had better looks in the OT periods. Highlands front line players stand around way too much and tend to make only vertical runs which make it hard to connect passes to their feet. Felt the back line for NCC played much more under control whereas Highlands seemed to be a bad touch away from giving up a cheap goal opportunity. Goalkeeper play for each team was exceptional. Highlands really seemed to only have one kid # 15 I think that could do anything in the midfield while the others simply took up space. Neither team wants to draw into the same bracket as Notre Dame and the team that draws opposite them stands a good chance of making it to the finals.

 

The NCC parents I was watching the game with do not agree with you. Their exact words after 15 mins of play was this is a different team then we played last time and they are taking it to us. I agree with you on front line players standing around too much, and they refuse to make diagonal runs even though they are coached to. Highlands D does have some scary moments and it has been that way all year and yes we have given up some cheap goals. Good thing is D is young and fast and will be better next year with more experience. Steppe is a freshmen and makes mistakes at times, but has been a difference maker for Highlands since brought up from JV!

The main point here is that bad touch that could have led to a NCC goal never happened. Defense took chances tonight and it paid off. KC and CH played a very good game at midfield tonight. Not sure how people didn't see that.

10 posts in. Proud of you guys. Keep it going!

Who scored the winner for Highlands?

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

It was only fitting this one went to penalty kicks.

The rival Highlands Ladybirds and Newport Central Catholic Lady Bred soccer teams had to do that after neither team put one home in either the 80 minutes of regulation or the two five-minute overtime periods. Highlands won the penalty kicks, 4-2 for a 1-0 victory Wednesday in the 36th District championship.

This marks the eighth district title in nine seasons for the Ladybirds. Highlands and Newport Central Catholic have met in three straight realigned 36th District championships after playing in the old 19th District for years with Bishop Brossart and Campbell County.

“Kevin (Turnick) does a great job keeping his defense organized,” said Brian Wiefering, Highlands Head Coach. “I felt they were starting to pack it in. It was tough to break that line. We had a few opportunities where we didn’t finish. Our team stayed organized defensively more than we had all year.”

The only difference between this year and the last two years is Dayton also participated in the tournament. Highlands beat Dayton, 10-0 Monday in the district semifinals to make it to the championship game. The Kentucky High School Athletic Association put teams in districts similar to basketball because more schools have soccer teams.

NewCath (13-5-1 overall) beat Highlands (11-9-1), 2-1 on Sept. 12 to earn the top seed. The Lady Breds also won the regular season meeting last year before the Ladybirds claimed the district championship.

“Both teams left chances on the field throughout the game,” Turnick said. “We let those chances go by and we didn’t capitalize. A winner had to be done so it went to (penalty kicks). It’s not a great way to win or lose. We’d rather see someone win it with a goal on the field.”

Highlands turned it around after a 3-8 start to the year. Wiefering is in his first year as head coach.

“(The midfilders) stepped up and played with intensity,” said Lydia Graves, Highlands senior defender. “We were winning balls out of the air just controlling the ball most of the time. We need to continue that in the region games.”

Highlands often plays freshman Olivia McQueary at goalkeeper in the first half and sophomore Shannon Eaton in the second. The Ladybirds put McQueary out there on the penalty kicks.

“We play together and as a team,” McQueary said. “Like Coach (Wiefering) said, we want to be an unselfish team and I think we accomplished that (Wednesday). It says something about our character to pull it out.”

Both teams made the first two penalty kicks in the best-of-five battle. Kiersten Clukey and Eaton scored for Highlands with Loren Zimmerman and Michaela Ware scoring for NewCath.

Neither team scored on the third shots. Kayla Nehus put the kick high for Highlands and McQueary blocked Jenna Ahlbrand’s shot.

Senior Lydia Graves stepped forward and scored in the right corner for Highlands. McQueary then came through again blocking Taylor Tolle’s shot.

That put Highlands in a good position on the last shot. Junior Kylie Schuerman put the ball in the right corner to win the game for the Ladybirds.

“I was worried, but I knew the team had it,” Schuerman said. “This team is amazing. I couldn’t ask for a better team. It honestly brings tears to my eyes. Everyone worked incredibly hard.”

Both teams had their chances in regulation. Highlands outshot NewCath just 13-12 including 7-6 on goal. McQueary had two saves and Eaton four for Highlands with Martin making six for NewCath.

Ansley Davenport had a free kick just outside the attacking box with 6:24 left in the game. But Eaton stopped it.

In the final minutes of the second overtime, the leading goal-scorer for the Ladybirds in senior Taylor Vaughn had a great look. But her shot went just wide left into the outside net.

Highlands focused on keeping the ball away from Zimmerman. Zimmerman hurt the Ladybirds with a runout that turned into a goal during the regular season.

“When you spend 30 minutes of practice in pouring down rain worrying about Loren Zimmerman and her throw-ins, that means she’s a very good player,” Weifering said. “That’s what we did. I sat at the out of bounds line. I can’t throw it as far as Loren Zimmerman. I had to actually punt it to let the girls time it and get their head on it and clear out. I thought we did a good job as a team.”

The regional tournaments begin Monday with the draw taking place over the weekend. Highlands will play host to a region quarterfinal on Monday and NewCath will hit the road.

“Highlands is a very good team,” Turnick said. “There’s no doubt about that. We played well. They played well. Both teams need to continue to play and make runs off that. We have to bounce back from the loss, but I’m confident we can make a good run in the region.”

Both teams lost to eventual state champion Notre Dame in the 9th Region Tournament last year. Highlands lost to the Pandas in the title game and NewCath lost to them in the semifinals.

 

Fort Thomas Sports: What decided the latest 36th District girls soccer championship?

Wow, how many injuries tonight? Sounds like there should have been a few based on how overly physical it got...

 

I'm obviously baiting here. The game I watched was physical but it was good soccer and I didn't see any players out there on that field that we're going to lose sleep over how physical the game was. They all looked like they were just playing hard and shockingly enough, some looked like they were having fun playing the game.

 

There is a difference between letting players battle it out and coddling them to fit what parents believe soccer should look like. Congrats to both teams they both deserve to move on and they do.

Nice article Mike:thumb:

 

Sounds like it was a great defensive game, congrats to the goalkeeper McQueary as it sounds like she made some great saves:thumb: