Highlands vs. Notre Dame Academy Predictions/Updates (9th Region Finals)

[FrankNicodemus]

I felt the need not to bury this within the 9th Region Preview/Updates thread.  A game like this deserves its very own thread.

The Birds will come into this game very much the underdog having lost to these Pandas already twice by the same score of 3-0 both times.  

The game will be played on a very nice turf field at Boone County High School at 7:30pm.

This is going to be a WAR of a game! 

Here’s my “homer” commentary on why the Birds in my mind still have a shot.

As I have said a few times before in other posts the Birds are a much different team with Meg Gessner in the box as keeper.  In the 2 losses to NDA Meg played the first half in the first game and gave up a very unfortunate fluke direct kick into the box where there was some miscommunication and the Pandas capitalized on it and punched the ball into the back of the net.  The 2nd game Gessner did not play at all.

Also our back line in the first game was missing one of our Sr Backline defenders Macy Hedenberg who has been a very nice tandem back with Jade Rehberger for the last several weeks.

Coach Norris has now found his starters and has been riding that wave for a few weeks now limiting substitutions to have these starting 11 grow out there.  There last few games it feels like the team has really gelled well together.

DO NOT GET ME WRONG, I truly believe for the Birds to win they need to have that “perfect” game. Anything less than “perfect” it will be a bad night for the Birds.

Here is a little interesting tidbit of trivia, since 2011 NDA and Highlands has played each other 3 times in a season in 2011, 2013, and 2019.  ONLY in 2011 has the same team won ALL 3 meetings (which was NDA).  The other 2 years either NDA or Highlands has pulled off a win.

We also don’t have to look far, look at the Boys 9th Region……I think a TON of people were already engraving Ryle as the Champ of that Region and they didn’t even make it to the finals.

At the end of the night we still have to play the game, anything can happen.

GOOD LUCK and LET’S HAVE SOME FUN!  This is where we expected in Mid August (at least I did) to be at, let’s finish this story.

I can’t wait….

GO BIRDS!!!!!

[FrankNicodemus]

All Region accolades came out this morning. Here are the recipients that will be in this War.

NDA: 1st Team: Natalie Bain, Emma Spivey, Macie Feldman, Eleanor Simkonis. 2nd Team: Abby Breeze.  Natalie Bain picks up Def Player of Year honors as well. Suli Kayed got Coach of Year

HIGHLANDS: 1st Team: Faith Broering, Jade Rehberger. 2nd Team: Laney Smith, Chloe Bramble. Faith Broering picks up Off Player of Year honors as well.

Congrats to all the recipients, VERY WELL DESERVED!!!!

[DadofTwins]

11 minutes ago, FrankNicodemus said:

All Region accolades came out this morning. Here are the recipients that will be in this War.

NDA: 1st Team: Natalie Bain, Emma Spivey, Macie Feldman, Eleanor Simkonis. 2nd Team: Abby Breeze.  Natalie Bain picks up Def Player of Year honors as well. Suli Kayed got Coach of Year

HIGHLANDS: 1st Team: Faith Broering, Jade Rehberger. 2nd Team: Laney Smith, Chloe Bramble. Faith Broering picks up Off Player of Year honors as well.

Congrats to all the recipients, VERY WELL DESERVED!!!!

Do you know where to find the full list?

 

[DadofTwins]

21 hours ago, FrankNicodemus said:

I felt the need not to bury this within the 9th Region Preview/Updates thread.  A game like this deserves its very own thread.

The Birds will come into this game very much the underdog having lost to these Pandas already twice by the same score of 3-0 both times.  

The game will be played on a very nice turf field at Boone County High School at 7:30pm.

This is going to be a WAR of a game! 

Here’s my “homer” commentary on why the Birds in my mind still have a shot.

As I have said a few times before in other posts the Birds are a much different team with Meg Gessner in the box as keeper.  In the 2 losses to NDA Meg played the first half in the first game and gave up a very unfortunate fluke direct kick into the box where there was some miscommunication and the Pandas capitalized on it and punched the ball into the back of the net.  The 2nd game Gessner did not play at all.

Also our back line in the first game was missing one of our Sr Backline defenders Macy Hedenberg who has been a very nice tandem back with Jade Rehberger for the last several weeks.

Coach Norris has now found his starters and has been riding that wave for a few weeks now limiting substitutions to have these starting 11 grow out there.  There last few games it feels like the team has really gelled well together.

DO NOT GET ME WRONG, I truly believe for the Birds to win they need to have that “perfect” game. Anything less than “perfect” it will be a bad night for the Birds.

Here is a little interesting tidbit of trivia, since 2011 NDA and Highlands has played each other 3 times in a season in 2011, 2013, and 2019.  ONLY in 2011 has the same team won ALL 3 meetings (which was NDA).  The other 2 years either NDA or Highlands has pulled off a win.

We also don’t have to look far, look at the Boys 9th Region……I think a TON of people were already engraving Ryle as the Champ of that Region and they didn’t even make it to the finals.

At the end of the night we still have to play the game, anything can happen.

GOOD LUCK and LET’S HAVE SOME FUN!  This is where we expected in Mid August (at least I did) to be at, let’s finish this story.

I can’t wait….

GO BIRDS!!!!!

The game should be fast paced, it will be interesting to see if Highlands can use their width, speed and back side runs against Bain and Spivey to create chances. 
NDA is skilled and keeps their shape well. 
 

I’d definitely say the best two teams in the region are playing for the title. 

 

[FrankNicodemus]

9th Region.pdf

[DadofTwins]

4 minutes ago, FrankNicodemus said:

9th Region.pdf 67.73 kB · 4 downloads

Thank you!

[The Double Deuce]

1 hour ago, FrankNicodemus said:

9th Region.pdf 67.73 kB · 7 downloads

You have the boys' version as well?

[FrankNicodemus]

1 hour ago, The Double Deuce said:

You have the boys' version as well?

Unfortunately no, but I'll keep a look out for it circulating.

[Legacy26]

13 hours ago, FrankNicodemus said:

All Region accolades came out this morning. Here are the recipients that will be in this War.

NDA: 1st Team: Natalie Bain, Emma Spivey, Macie Feldman, Eleanor Simkonis. 2nd Team: Abby Breeze.  Natalie Bain picks up Def Player of Year honors as well. Suli Kayed got Coach of Year

HIGHLANDS: 1st Team: Faith Broering, Jade Rehberger. 2nd Team: Laney Smith, Chloe Bramble. Faith Broering picks up Off Player of Year honors as well.

Congrats to all the recipients, VERY WELL DESERVED!!!!

Congrats to all of the recipients, all very talented players. I don’t know that anyone will convince me that there are 30 players in the region better than Amber Branum and Ellie Greenwell from NDA. Hard to believe they aren’t 2nd or 3rd team selections. 

[Big Red]

Final NDA 4 - Highlands 0

Guessing most already are aware of the outcome.  This was another exciting, fast, and physical game.  In trying to find the right way to put a  "word" bow a on this game (and series this year), Highlands has some really good players, but NDA just has more. 

NDA was minus Spivey, but did have Kennedy Clark (which is a big deal), and Highlands did have Gessner in goal. 

@Legacy YES, absolutely agree, AND, Ruthsatz is also blatantly missing from the list.  Difficult to find someone more fun to watch than her right now!

[FrankNicodemus]

I couldn’t agree more with @Big Red!

I thought this was a very exciting game.  The atmosphere was incredibly AWESOME!  For a 9th Region Finals girls game the place was PACKED and ELECTRIC!  O how far we have come from!  The added touch that Boone County (I am assuming it was Boone County) with the Pregame fireworks to start the match and then the final fireworks after the match was over was pretty stinkin cool.

As far as the game I thought it was awesome, I really enjoyed the fact that if the Birds were going to win they were going to win playing typical soccer, no gimmicks, no packing the box, no crazy new formations.  It was we were going to play our game versus NDA play their game and may the best ladies win.

For the first half until around 20 min to go in the game it was a game that went back and forth.  Each team had their opportunities, unfortunately for the Birds the Pandas capitalized on 1 of those and the Birds were shutout on theirs.  

With 20 minutes to go the statement from @Big Red comes into play, Highlands ran out of gas.  Only going 1 or 2 deep into the bench finally caught up with the Birds.  Those starting 11 who played their butts off for 60 minutes just couldn’t hang on and make something happen.

NDA scored pretty much back to back with 15 and 11 min to go in the game to seal the victory.

With the game out of reach I thought it was very classy that Norris with around 10 min to go started plugging in the Seniors that were on the bench to play one last time on the pitch.

Unlike on the boys side I am not bitter at all about this defeat.  The Birds went down fighting as hard as they could and just fell short of the Herculean effort that it will take to knock off this extremely talented and deep and experienced Pandas!

Congrats to my Birds!!!!

Good luck to the Pandas on the “Road to State”.  

@Big Redits been so much fun to have someone to trade stories with this season in a respectful way!

 

[Big Red]

Couldn't agree more.  Boone County did a fantastic job, the place was booming, and the kids put on a great show.  Highlands kids left nothing in the tank, and a few of them may have needed an IV after that game. 

Coach Suli was constantly subbing with fresh legs, which was something that didn't happen in past years big games.  Parents were puzzled by that, but NOT the case this year! 

I just heard a bit of news that deserves a big congrats.  Abby Breeze broke the STATE record for saves in a season last night with 21!  Congrats to Abby and The Panda defense, that group has been consistently impressive all season. 

[FrankNicodemus]

On 10/16/2021 at 12:27 PM, The Double Deuce said:

You have the boys' version as well?

@The Double Deuce wanted to let you know i see that @NKYboyssoccer on twitter is coming out with their All Region Teams...so far they have published the Honorable Mention and 3rd team.