Any thoughts or predictions on today’s Trinity vs. Highlands soccer game. Looks like both are top teams in Kentucky.

Any thoughts or predictions on today’s Trinity vs. Highlands soccer game. Looks like both are top teams in Kentucky.

 

I wish I knew more about Trinity. Highlands one area of concern is possessing in the midfield. Dunbar and OC were able to control the middle. I am sure that a lot of that was by design to expose attacking fullbacks with their counter attack. I just feel like a team with skill up top will get service through the midfield.

 

On the flip side, Highlands has 4 unique wings in their 4-3-3 that have speed to get behind and a 6’4 point man that holds up well and can make great angled passes to those wings. Highlands will match anyone depth wise and tactically with their staff, so it comes down to which players are better.

Trinity has speed and skill as well. Striker is extremely talented and relentless. Two physical and talented centerbacks with plenty of speed wide, defensively and offensively. I think the offense has another level but the competition they have played has been very good. I expect this to be a game that is played between two teams we could see in the state finals.

That would be real cool.

Game was called 23:26 into the first due to weather w Trinity up 1-0. Not an official game. I didn’t hear about whether they would reschedule it or not.

Any word on the two players injuried in the first half?

Any word on the two players injuried in the first half?

 

Trinity’s player got a concussion. Elijah is good. Just a cut on his head. No stitches.

My son had the injury from Trinity. He is talking to his girlfriend as I type this. So fortunately he is doing great. That could have been a nasty injury. It was like two football players colliding. Hes ok. Mom and Dad are happy. Highlands has a ton of talent. It’s a great town.

As for the game, this was a great one for the Birds. This team was the first team to match and surpass their athleticism in places, and that includes Moeller out of Cincy. I knew that Trinity would out possess the Birds, the key was to keep them out of places where they could quickly exchange passes in 1 v 2 defending situations. W/ the speed Trinity possessed up top, the Birds also sat a little deeper to start the game. Trinity went up 1-0 in about the 8th minute. Was he on? Was he off? I was too far away to see, but Highlands staff that was actually on the defensive line was not happy at all. Either way, it takes a good finish and that was what Trinity delivered. That seemed to relax the Birds. They started getting more aggressive in their marking following that. The attack increased as well. C. Stevie got to the middle and was fouled in the center about 25 yards from goal. Carter Holmes took the ensuing free kick and forced Trinity's goalie to make a very nice save diving to his right. I will say this. Jackson Lehrter was put in the Strikers role for the first time all season to play what I call the "Firminio" role, which means run really fast to pressure the center backs with the ball. It increased Trinity's passing tempo and kept their talented back 4 from being able to get their head up. That seemed to help the Highlands D as well as Trinity was forced to pass quicker than they'd like as they were playing out of the back. However!!! Trinity's goalie is a HUGE weapon offensively. He punted the ball on target up to 75 yards w/ no effort. The wind was blowing in his favor, but not enough to take away the belief that he could do that on the regular.

 

Trinity has a complete team. They are fast, physical, and tough. Like my son said after getting nailed on a header, "Those were grown men." It is also like my other son said, "I know most of those kids from club and College ID camps. We can play with them." That is a great belief to have heading into the month of September as they start to gel their midfield. I believe that this group takes that lesson and confidence, and we are looking at a fun season out of the Birds. Good luck to the Shamrocks, having to get out of the 7th is unfair, what a region!

Great take.

Great take.

 

Great running into you.