Thoroughbreds pound Crusaders, 5-1

 

G. Michael Graham Photo. Newport Central Catholic junior midfielder Noah Connolly (white) battles a St. Henry defender for control of the ball in Thursday's All "A" 9th Region championship game. The Thoroughbreds won 5-1 to improve to 3-1-1 overall.

 

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

SILVER GROVE – The long-term goal for the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds boys soccer program is about pride.

This program is the only male program in the school that has not won an All “A” state championship. They’d love to join the NewCath basketball and baseball programs that won the All “A” championships last year in addition to the football team winning the Class 2A title. On the female side, the basketball and soccer teams have captured All “A” state championships.

While there is still a ways to go, the Thoroughbreds took a major step Thursday at Morscher Field near Silver Grove. NewCath started off hot and beat the rival St. Henry Crusaders, 5-1 in the All “A” 9th Region championship game.

NewCath scored two quick goals and added to that lead. The Thoroughbreds led 4-0 at halftime.

“We’ve prepared well for this team,” said Mike McDonald, NewCath head coach. “(The Crusaders) are a very good team. Our kids knew they had to win 50/50 balls. Winning 50/50 balls in a high school soccer game is where you win games. We found our wings. We found our feet early and took advantage of our opportunities. We put them away early.”

They may not have played a great second half. But it was more than enough to advance in the tournament. NewCath (3-1-1) plays the 10th Region winner in a sub-sectonal game at a time to be announced.

The 10th Region All “A” Tournament has not started yet. But it has to be completed by Sept. 22. The state tournament takes place in Elizabethtown on Sept. 28 and 29. McDonald said he expects the opponent to be rival Bishop Brossart, which finished 21-2 a year ago including a 2-1 win over NewCath in the 9th/10th All “A” semifinals. The region tournaments separated this year unlike previous years.

NewCath did make the All “A” state tournament two and three years ago. The Thoroughbreds lost to Bardstown Bethlehem, 3-2 in the semifinals in 2011 after falling 5-1 to Danville in the quarterfinals in 2010.

Matt Tolle scored two quick goals just four and seven minutes into the game to put NewCath up for good at 2-0. Junior Ryan Randle and senior Evan Brannon scored with about 12 and two minutes left in the half to give the Thoroughbreds the comfortable 4-0 halftime lead.

“We were just playing as a team,” Randle said. “We were very focused. It’s about communication, passion and understanding how each other plays.”

St. Henry (3-2) did score on an indirect kick in the first half. But the goal did not count because the Crusaders were ruled offside.

St. Henry did dent the scoreboard in the second half. Cory Eibel scored as NewCath had problems clearing the ball. But NewCath did clear many balls in its defensive box.

“We just really needed to play our game in the back, which is to stay calm and composed,” said Nick Huesman, NewCath senior defender. “We had to get (the ball) out of (the defensive third) quickly because we know (the Crusaders) are fast up top. We stayed with our marks.”

Minutes later, the Thoroughbreds responded. Patrick Louis scored on a penalty kick to make the final score.

“It was a tail of two halves,” McDonald said. “It looked like we became spectators in the second half instead of coming out and winning balls. We were letting them win balls first. Then we had to defend right away. We ended up scoring a late goal. But a soccer game is 80 minutes. It’s not one half. We have to get in that habit because we have a tough schedule coming up.”

NewCath outshot St. Henry, 13-4. Goalkeeper Kevin Cawley made eight saves for the Crusaders and Paul Grosser made three for the Thoroughbreds. Both teams played 4-4-2 (defender-midfielder-forward) attacks. But St. Henry had its sweeper high and NewCath took advantage of it.

The Thoroughbreds continue action Tuesday at home against Cooper. Game time is 6 p.m.