Ryle downs Highlands, 2-0 in season finale

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Bluebirds soccer team used the season finale as a measuring stick.

Like the Bluebirds, the defending state runner-up Ryle Raiders came to Tower Park on a roll. Highlands had shut out four straight opponents by a combined 12-0 and Ryle had shut out three consecutive opponents.

Highlands hung tough with Ryle but could not dent the scoreboard in a 2-0 loss Thursday. Highlands saw its four-game winning streak snapped and goes into the postseason with a 10-7-2 mark.

“They’re a good club,” said Matthew Winkler, Highlands head coach. “You can see that from the games they’ve played. We expected a good game and they brought a good game to us.”

The Raiders moved to 15-4-1 with their fourth consecutive shutout. Ryle has outscored the opposition 20-0 since losing 1-0 to Covington Cathholic on Sept. 22.

The Raiders opened the season with losses to fourth-ranked Lexington Dunbar (3-2) and sixth-ranked Lexington Henry Clay (2-1) but have gone 15-2-1 since then.

Ryle finished 23-3-3 last year before losing 3-0 to state power Louisville St. Xavier in the state championship. Ninth-year Head Coach Stephen Collins welcomed back eight starters from that team.

“It’s nice to have 13 seniors on the team,” Collins said. “We schedule very strong early with the intent that we’re going to learn and grow. By the end of the season, we hope to catch steam and go into the playoffs on a high (note).”

Highlands ran a typical 4-4-2 (defender-midfielder-forward) attack and Ryle ran a 4-5-1 and got off more shots. The Raiders had 13 shots including 11 on goal to the Bluebirds’ seven with just three on goal. Nick Breslin made 10 saves at goalkeeper for the Bluebirds and Raider goalkeeper Josh Butler made three on his birthday.

Both teams had chances. Ryle had eight free kicks and five corner kicks. Highlands had seven free kicks and one corner kick.

Ryle pulled out a lot of its starters in the second half. Both teams wanted to go into the postseason healthy.

The Raiders had several chances early. Breslin knocked a high kick off Ryle standout Tyrus Sciarra’s foot over the net with 25:57 left in the half.

Ryle struck with 16:40 left in the first half. Connor Jordan knocked in a rebound for the game-winner.

The Raiders received an insurance goal with 25:16 left in the game. Alex Rich scored.

Highlands did have a chance to tie the game with 28:28 left in the half. Chris Garbig drew a yellow card on Ryle just outside the box. He passed to teammate Cole Davis-Roberts for the hard shot. But it deflected off the left bar.

“We played with them as long as they kept the starters in,” Winkler said. “We have work to do to be where we want to be playing our game for districts next week. It’s nice to have a week to prepare, get people healthy and move forward.”

The Bluebirds face Newport Central Catholic next Thursday at 8 p.m. for the District 36 title. Highlands won the regular season meeting at Tower Park, 2-0 on Sept. 22.