This game had so much excitement all the way thru.  This was truly a grind it out heavy weight matchup.  The first few minutes Highlands felt like they controlled the possession but just couldn't get many good looks.  The game really stayed in between the 30 yard lines of the Cov Cath football field most of the 1st half.  Ryle did have a few decent set play looks with a couple free kick opportunities right outside the 18 box and had a decent amount of corners as well.  Highlands few attacks were more so on over the top passes to either Stiles or Colin trying to finish.  The half ended in a 0-0 tie.

The 2nd half I felt like the Birds came out of the break as the much more aggressive team.  The truly were on the attack keeping the ball probably the first 20 minutes in their attacking 3rd.  Ryle kept on dodging bullet after bullet.  I must say @The Double Deucewas exactly right and maybe I don't remember the Regular season well but the Ryle Keeper is legit.  That guy is HUGE, if he wasn't playing soccer he would be an asset to Ryle's football team as a stud Linebacker!  His punts AND goal kicks would sail at least if not more then 60 yards down the field.

Finally Highlands was able to get a corner kick with roughly 15 minutes left in this tie game.  Kade Schroeder was able to put on right in the middle of the box where Chad Gesenhues was able to connect with his head a line drive past the keeper into the left side of the net.  Highlands 1 Ryle 0.

The way the half was going you had great hope that Highlands potentially had this.  Ryle really hadn't threatened much in the half like they did in the 1st half.  Highlands was really doing everything right in the 2nd half.

Unfortunately, my excitement was quickly changed to a gut wrenching disappointment.  Ryle was able to get a breakaway down the right side of the field, juked our defender and got into the box and was able to have a 1 v1 vs Jack Wilson between the pipes and slipped one past him to tie it up 1-1 with 11 minutes to go.

OK, deep breath we can hang on lets go.  Unfortunately, it seemed like the wheels got tired on that back line and 5 minutes later Ryle literally did the same thing, made some really good footwork against our defenders to secure once again a point blank range 1 v 1 against Jack that he just couldn't handle.  Ryle 2 Highlands 1.

It was definitely a game that I really enjoyed watching.  It was for the most part a very clean game.  There weren't much shenanigans done by either side that would cause this game to be considered "dirty" which I appreciate.  It was just a good old fashion High Quality soccer game on the Pitch.

Congrats on the win Ryle and for my Birds congrats on a great season!

Frank out!!!

Great write-up, as always, Frank.  Appreciate tag-teaming soccer with you on BGP this year, although I was happy to see last night I had a LOT of help!!  Thanks everyone for creating game threads for all of the state's biggest games.

Fun time of year, but at the same time, a lot of young people who have spent 12+ years crafting their soccer skills see their careers end abruptly.  Can be brutal for them, and for their parents and families, so they are all (well, mostly) in my thoughts today.