I will let my buddy @FrankNicodemus provide the commentary for this one, but sounds like this battle of NKY Top 5 teams didn't disappoint!!

 

The Most Dramatic night in Union

There is so much to unpack about this game I really don't know where to start.  Highlands was looking to eagerly right their ways and finally get a W in their Win column after 2 heartbreaking games against Conner and Cov Cath.  With Ryle recently getting blanked by Simon Kenton 1-0 and having a draw against Brossart (a team that HHS dismantled in their first game 6-1) this was set up for a game that Highlands should drive into Union and take care of some business.

The first half was pretty much one sided with Highlands heavily possessing the ball, doing all the right things and finding the top scorer for the team Colin Pieper twice to carve up the box with 2 sweet goals.  I felt like the team looked smooth and comfortable.  The problem was maybe too comfortable, Ponchak decided with a 2-0 lead to maybe empty the bench with some subs to get into the game in the 1st half that normally might not see much (if any) playing time in some big time games.  You scratched your head a little but fine rest your starters and lets take care of business.  We get to halftime unscathed with a 2-0 lead.

If you haven't heard it before, you'll hear it now.....there is a saying in soccer that the most uncomfortable lead is 2-0!  Players don't press as hard, they get into more like a "Prevent Defense" like in Football.  Highlands needed to step on the throat instead and finish this game strong.

Then how sometimes funny things happen, 16 minutes left in the game here comes the fireworks.  Ryle was able to put a cross thru the box which found Hoenderkamp's head for a nice solid header into the right side of the goal, Jack Wilson was able to get his hands on it but they weren't strong enough to deflect it out and the ball had enough force to break the line into the goal......HHS 2 Ryle 1, 16 minutes left...

Once again just like in the first half, Highlands pretty much used the whole bench of players to get some playing time, I don't know if that hurt the flow or not but fast forward with 6:41 left on the clock Ryle's Marsh was at the top of the 18 right corner of the box and literally drilled a sweet looping shot that hit the left inside net for a goal, there literally was nothing Wilson could have done on the shot it was a thing of beauty.....O MY we got ourselves a tie game HHS 2 Ryle 2, 6:41 minutes left

Before anyone was able to text their friends and family that weren't at the game to tell them what just happened, Highlands kicked off sliced themselves down the field and Colin Pieper found the back of the net in a speedy 22 seconds!!!!  A big sigh of relief from Bird Nation, HHS 3 Ryle 2.

Starters are back on field to seal the deal and walk out of Union with a victory.....

BUT WAIT!

Ryle manages to get the ball at the top of the box and somehow managers to get an extremely controversial clip/trip infraction in their favor in the box.  Center Ref blew the whistle and the the Boo Birds were out in force, the Center Ref gets circled by every Highlands player arguing the call, collateral damage is Pieper draws the short straw for arguing more than anyone with a YC for dissent.  Ponchak is beside himself on the sideline asking for the Ref to discuss his call with the AR to reconsider.  All these pleads were not successful.  Denigan for Ryle nails the PK into the back of the net.  HHS 3 RYLE 3, 54 seconds left on the scoreboard.

It only took 22 seconds for Highlands 3rd goal so 54 seconds would be plenty.....but not this time.  Unfortunately the ball got passed around and any attempt to get a shot was nullified.

It was a heartbreaker in Union for the Birds!  They played really well all night long for the most part.  Even with it being a tie I feel like the players walked off like it was a disappointing defeat.

Highlands gets no mercy with next weeks schedule....what a gauntlet coming up, Cooper (TUE) KCD (THU) and Henry Clay on (SAT)......the silver lining on all those games is they will be in the friendly confines of Tower Park in front of hopefully some energetic fans that can add some energy to this team to pick them up.

#GOBIRDS

Welp, that sounded like a boring evening in Union.  Yawn.  ?

Here is the interesting stat of the game and a look back at the previous 2 regarding personnel:

Against Conner - 16 players were used

Against Cov Cath - 15 players were used

Against Ryle - 19 players were used

Take it for what it is.......just an interesting stat for "food for thought"....

Help me out with someting @FrankNicodemus , when did Highlands and Ryle last play in the regular season?  It feels like it had been awhile.  

1 minute ago, The Double Deuce said:

Help me out with someting @FrankNicodemus , when did Highlands and Ryle last play in the regular season?  It feels like it had been awhile.  

You are correct, it has been.  The last time was the Oct 3, 2017, when the Birds shut them out at the end of the season 2-0..... Unfortunately, Ryle got the last laugh that year by coming back and beating the Birds 3-1 in the 9th Region Championship game.  Which was after the Birds were on cloud 9 beating Cov Cath in PKs in the Semi's.....