Clash of 2 Heavyweights fights to a Draw

The first night of fall and the temperatures felt like it was the first day of winter!  The wind was kicking to put a shock to the body especially when the prior day we were having temps hit the mid 90s.  This game had all the makings of a special night.  Two great teams finally meeting after a pretty decent season for both.

Looking historically Dixie has not beaten Highlands at least since 2001, with one lone tie way back in 2012!  Could this night be the first for them?

Highlands struck first with a nice cross from Caden Schroeder to connect with Chad Gesenhues that was able to find the back of the net, Highlands 1-0.

The possession of the ball was actually pretty even with both teams battling pretty good all night long.

Highlands struck again with Colin Pieper assisting to Adarsh Khullar for a goal to make the Birds up, 2-0.

Dixie finally was able to put themselves on the board with a corner kick from Bennet Gerak that was dropped right at the top of the 6, where bodies were flying everywhere and somehow before you knew it the ball had disappeared into the back of the net, apparently off the foot of Reed Brixey.

That is how the half ended with Highlands up 2-1.

The second half each team had their chances and it eventually took a unfortunate little shoulder bump way outside but barely in the side of the box, which the Center Ref convened with the AR which was right on top of the play to MAKE SURE the infraction was in fact inside the box.  They agreed that it was which set up a PK for Dixie, Bennett Gerak went left, Jack Wilson guessed it to go right, Highlands 2 Dixie 2.

I was expecting maybe a little more of a physical game between the two teams but it actually was much much cleaner.

This will just fuel the fire for that potential rematch in a few weeks.....I know I know there maybe one or 2 other schools that will try to ruin that.....

Just an added tidbit regarding Highlands personnel, Ponchak seemed to go with the potential Postseason run type of sub pattern with only playing 4 players off the bench last night, so no massive hockey style line changes.

It was a fun night of soccer!

There is so much parody at the top of the 9th, and this is yet another example of that.  The Birds and the Colonels play to a 2-2 draw in Erlanger, settling very little, and further showing that any of 4 (5?) teams could win the 9th this year.  

Highlands sees their 5 match winning streak snapped as they slide to 9-4-3 on the season, and they host two Ohio schools in their next two games, with Walnut Hills and Wyoming coming to the Fort.

Dixie is now 12-2-2 on the season, and they host defending state champion Dunbar on Saturday.  Coach Crone certainly back-loaded the Colonels' schedule this year, so the young men should be ready to roll when the post-season arrives.

Clash of 2 Heavyweights fights to a Draw

The first night of fall and the temperatures felt like it was the first day of winter!  The wind was kicking to put a shock to the body especially when the prior day we were having temps hit the mid 90s.  This game had all the makings of a special night.  Two great teams finally meeting after a pretty decent season for both.

Looking historically Dixie has not beaten Highlands at least since 2001, with one lone tie way back in 2012!  Could this night be the first for them?

Highlands struck first with a nice cross from Caden Schroeder to connect with Chad Gesenhues that was able to find the back of the net, Highlands 1-0.

The possession of the ball was actually pretty even with both teams battling pretty good all night long.

Highlands struck again with Colin Pieper assisting to Adarsh Khullar for a goal to make the Birds up, 2-0.

Dixie finally was able to put themselves on the board with a corner kick from Bennet Gerak that was dropped right at the top of the 6, where bodies were flying everywhere and somehow before you knew it the ball had disappeared into the back of the net, apparently off the foot of Reed Brixey.

That is how the half ended with Highlands up 2-1.

The second half each team had their chances and it eventually took a unfortunate little shoulder bump way outside but barely in the side of the box, which the Center Ref convened with the AR which was right on top of the play to MAKE SURE the infraction was in fact inside the box.  They agreed that it was which set up a PK for Dixie, Bennett Gerak went left, Jack Wilson guessed it to go right, Highlands 2 Dixie 2.

I was expecting maybe a little more of a physical game between the two teams but it actually was much much cleaner.

This will just fuel the fire for that potential rematch in a few weeks.....I know I know there maybe one or 2 other schools that will try to ruin that.....

Just an added tidbit regarding Highlands personnel, Ponchak seemed to go with the potential Postseason run type of sub pattern with only playing 4 players off the bench last night, so no massive hockey style line changes.

It was a fun night of soccer!