NewCath soccer teams advance, volleyball falls

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

ERLANGER – A common chant at Newport Central Catholic is “We Believe.”

The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds soccer team found itself up against the defending state runner-up in the 9th Region semifinals on Tuesday and many did not believe NewCath would win. The Thoroughbreds proved the doubters wrong in a 2-1 victory.

NewCath has found its touch in the postseason winning four in a row to move to 7-9-5 overall. The Thoroughbreds battle the Boone County Rebels (17-3-3) on Friday at 7 p.m. for the 9th Region crown back at St. Henry. The Rebels have not lost since Sept. 7, 2-1 against North Hardin in the John Hardin Bulldog Challenge.

“I told our kids to come out with some heart and we’re where we want to be,” said Mike McDonald, NewCath head coach. “We gave these kids everything they wanted and we came out a victor.”

This marked the second straight year the Thoroughbreds will play for a region crown. They beat Covington Catholic, 2-1 in the 10th Region title game last year before losing 1-0 to Montgomery County in the first round of the state tournament.

The Thoroughbreds won with great defense once again. Goalkeeper Nathan Grosser recorded 13 saves. He hit one over the crossbar late in the game.

Ryle (17-6-1) outshot NewCath, 14-4 on goal. Raider goalkeeper Josh Butler made two saves.

Senior Graham Heil returned just in time for the postseason for the Thoroughbreds. He’s helped make things difficult for opponents to score on the NewCath defense. Heil had been out because of a left disclocated kneecap and torn medial collateral ligament for most of the regular season. NewCath opened the postseason with 1-0 wins over Highlands in the 36th District Championship and Villa Madonna in overtime of the 9th quarterfinals.

“They have a lot of good players, but our defense really stepped up and played strong,” Heil said. “As a senior, I think I was able to direct people. The talking has picked up coming into the end of the season.”

This marked the first time all season the Thoroughbreds won despite allowing an opposing goal. NewCath recorded shutouts in its previous six victories.

The Thoroughbreds scored the lone goal of the first half when sophomore Jacob Hensley hit the net. That marked Hensley’s second goal of the postseason. He scored the game-winner against Villa Madonna.

The Raiders tied the game at 1-1 with 29:41 left in the game. Senior striker Tyrus
Sciarra dribbled to the right of the goal and centered a pass to teammate Connor Jordan for the score.

“Tyrus Sciarra is a very good player,” McDonald said. “I believe he committed to (the University of Cincinnati). We didn’t have to man mark him. We just had to keep him going backwards. We did our job against him. We didn’t allow him an open shot. I give that game to our defense 100 percent.”

NewCath scored the game-winning goal with 18:57 left in the game. Senior Sam Barth received a penalty kick after Ryle committed a foul in the box on a free kick just outside the box. Barth placed it in the upper left corner of the goal away from Butler.

“Everyone on the team had faith in me,” Barth said. “Coach (McDonald) put faith in me and I put faith in myself. I knew I was going to put it in.”

Lady Breds soccer also advances:

Newport Central Catholic hoped to make amends for a 3-2 regular-season loss to the Covington Holy Cross Lady Indians in the 9th Region quarterfinals at Ryle on Tuesday.

The Lady Breds (14-5-1) did that with a 1-0 victory over Holy Cross (8-10-2). NewCath faces St. Henry (15-5-2) in the 9th semifinals at 6 p.m. Thursday.

“Holy Cross was the one team we really wanted to play out of the draw,” said Kevin Turnick, NewCath head coach. “It was a good game to get up and be motivated to play.”

NewCath outshot Holy Cross, 18-3. Erin Ackerson had to make just two saves in net for the Lady Breds. This marked the sixth shutout for NewCath.

“We received good play from the midfield,” Turnick said. “We were winning the 50/50 balls. We played about three or four different formations to mix things up.”

Lady Bred junior Alli Otten scored the game-winning goal. NewCath had a hard time finishing shots against Lady Indian goalkeeper Madyson Moran. Holy Cross brought her up late in the game. But the Lady Indians could not find the equalizer.

NewCath lost to 1-0 to St. Henry on Oct. 1. The game was called at halftime because of lightning.

NewCath volleyball season ends:

The tough season for the Newport Central Catholic Lady Breds volleyball season came to a close Tuesday with a 3-0 (25-11, 25-9, 25-14) defeat against Ryle in the 9th quarterfinals at St. Henry.

NewCath (10-23) had no answers for Ryle’s height. Tasha Tanner-Lovins’ eighth-ranked Lady Raiders have several gals standing 6-feet and above.

“We definitely had our work cut out,” said Vicki Fleissner, NewCath head coach. “This game reflected how our season has gone. We ended up on a down in the districts and it just carried over unfortunately. The pressure of that type of match got to them. We’re going to be working on that in the offseason.”

Jamie Lohr led NewCath with four kills and sophomore Alyssa Maier had 13 assists. In her last game, libero Maria Froendhoff had 19 digs. Froendhoff is the lone senior on the team. She’d played a big role in leading NewCath to six straight region titles the last couple years.