Final in the state semi's.

Goal scored from a corner. I believe someone said it might be a one goal win for Henry Clay with a goal off a free kick.

From what I saw online watching the game the goal was actually not directly off the corner. Both teams packed the box especially inside the 18. The corner was played in and then cleared by BG but cleared to just outside the Penalty box dead in the middle where no one from either side was positioned. The scorer who looked to be about 15 yards or so outside of the box (not really positioned already at top of the box) reacted very well. Saw the ball pop straight out sprinted about 10 yards up and struck it hard and right on the ground. I couldn't tell from the footage who it pinged off of but it definitely glanced off of one of the 15 or so players still crowded in the box and it was just a glance and into the back of the net. I'm not even sure the BG keeper even saw the ball coming as it didn't look like he reacted to the shot.

From what I saw online watching the game the goal was actually not directly off the corner. Both teams packed the box especially inside the 18. The corner was played in and then cleared by BG but cleared to just outside the Penalty box dead in the middle where no one from either side was positioned. The scorer who looked to be about 15 yards or so outside of the box (not really positioned already at top of the box) reacted very well. Saw the ball pop straight out sprinted about 10 yards up and struck it hard and right on the ground. I couldn't tell from the footage who it pinged off of but it definitely glanced off of one of the 15 or so players still crowded in the box and it was just a glance and into the back of the net. I'm not even sure the BG keeper even saw the ball coming as it didn't look like he reacted to the shot.

 

Collin Rose was the Henry Clay scorer. Both he and his team mates after 5he game said he more often puts that ball high or wide. This one may well have been headed left of goal when it deflected back to the right to beat Hughes.

Both back lines were very good. Bowling Green did a good job handling Henry Clay forwards (rotated between #9 Burton, #12 Combs and #13 Whitehouse). BG's #22 Spader was particularly strong and a number of times looked like he could have kept going forward after winning the ball. It looked like Henry Clay was playing 4-4-2 most of the game. BG was either in 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 (which was probably just their 4-3-3 with the wings spending more time defending). Collin Rose was dominant in midfield and just seemed quicker than BG could handle... at least for a good chunk of the first half. I love how quickly he faces up when he gets in the ball to have the most options going forward. If Henry Clay has a weakness at all it is probably depth. Sophomores Colby Rose (CM) and Ethan MacGillivray (RM) are both nice players and technically very good, but had a harder time when BG got more physical. Wisely, I think, MacGillivray only saw limited time in the second half.

 

Chris Hunt I think played left back for Henry Clay the entire game but he got forward quite as bit into the attack and created some problems for BG (except when Spader stepped up and stuffed him). Henry Clay has a very good defense. It would be hard to dispute that two of the best defenses (and probably 1&2, or 2&1, will be playing Saturday.

 

Mabika comes forward on set pieces and corners. One of my favorite moments in the game was in the second half when he was setting up for one to be played into the box and put his hand up to signal "here I am, play me" -- he is impossible to miss and is the target on most of those pieces.

 

Saturday should be a great game. Hopefully NKY can bring home a state title. Go Colonels.

Sophomores Colby Rose (CM) and Ethan MacGillivray (RM) are both nice players and technically very good.

 

Nice take on these two players Sir!

 

I have watched them play club the past few years, they play on a U16 team at LFC that has had really good results, Whitehouse is also on this same club team... they will all have nice High School careers.