Highlands girls soccer hopes to bounce back from tough campaign

G. Michael Graham Photo. The Highlands girls soccer team does group drills in a recent practice. The Bluebirds hope to put last year's 3-11-3 campaign behind them quickly.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Bluebirds girls soccer team wants to put last year in the rear-view mirror quickly.

The Bluebirds struggled to a 3-11-3 mark for the lowest win total in school history since the program began in 1987. Highlands also did not win a district championship for the first time since 2005 losing 2-0 to Newport Central Catholic in the 36th District championship game. That followed with a 2-1 to Dixie Heights on penalty kicks in the 9th Region quarterfinals at Ryle.

Highlands graduated 10 seniors from that squad. Kara Painter took her talents to Division III Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea (Ohio) just outside Cleveland and Ava Abner took her talents to Arkansas State. Goalkeeper Jesse “Dirt” Daley signed to play basketball at nearby Thomas More College, but will miss the season after suffering injuries from a car accident.

But the Bluebirds do return a solid group of eight seniors and eight juniors. Many of them have varsity experience.

“I think we have a good group of senior leaders,” said Tommy Kearns, Highlands head coach. “They are doing a good job with the underclassmen. They’re showing them how to play the game and how to be good role models for their teammates.”

Senior Sarah Owen returns at goalkeeper after splitting time with Daley between the pipes last year. Junior Lydia Graves will back her up and also play defender/midfielder.

The other seven seniors are midfielder Lauren Daly, midfielder/defender Alyssa Farley, defender/midfielder Anna Bardgett, defender/midfielder McKenzie Goyert, forward Kelsey Etherton, midfielder/forward Kristin Venneman and midfielder Ellie New. The Bluebirds play 4-4-2 and 3-5-1 (defender-midfielder-forward) sets.

“I talked to Tommy (Kearns) about what we’re going to do to get better this year,” New said. “We’re going to work on defense more. We’re focused on not just going out and having fun, but also getting results.”

Highlands recently played in the Bluegrass games. The Bluebirds outshot one opponent, 20-4 but still lost 3-2.

Scoring and health were huge issues for Highlands last year. Opponents outscored Highlands, 45-14 and shut them out nine times last year. It did not help the Bluebirds lost Painter and Abner to season-ending injuries last year.

Sophomore forward Brooklynn Rivers returns after leading Highlands in goals last year. Kearns also said Etherton and junior midfielder/forward Taylor Vaughn are also capable of scoring double-digit goals this year. Rivers and Daly are currently out for Highlands.

“A key for us is obviously staying healthy,” Kearns said. “We’re hoping to get both of them back soon.”

Six other juniors don the roster in midfielder/forward Hilary Gadd, defender/forward Peyton Bankemper, midfielder Allyson Bridewell, midfielder Allison Nienaber, midfielder Kristyn Lukjan and defender/midfielder Brooke Dougherty. Rounding out the roster are sophomore midfielder Maddy Hope and freshmen forward/midfielders Kayla Nehus and Kiersten Clukey.

Highlands opens the season Monday against Ryle at home. Game time is 8 p.m.