Highlands girls soccer earns first win on new surface

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

It marked the post-game run they’d been wanting for nearly two years.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls soccer team won for the first time since the new turf graced Tower Park in 2012 in a decisive 5-1 win over the Dixie Heights Lady Colonels on Monday. Highlands entered the game 0-8-5 in its first 13 games on the new artificial surface and had not won at Tower Park since beating Bishop Brossart, 3-2 for the 19th District championship on Oct. 13, 2011.

“I thought we played really well,” said Tommy Kearns, Highlands Head Coach. “I think Dixie is a really good team. They have some really talented players and I think we did a really good job containing them.”

Highlands improved to 5-6-5 and won for the first time in five games. The Bluebirds knocked off a team that entered the contest 8-5-1. They beat rival Notre Dame in the Lexington Catholic Cup, but had not played as well since then.

Highlands dominated the shot chart recording 24 including 11 on goal. The defense limited Dixie Heights to six shots with four coming on goal. Highlands goalkeeper Sarah Owen had three saves and Ellis McCarthy made six for Dixie Heights.

“It was nice for us to come out and show what we had,” Owen said. “I think we can carry on our goal-scoring because we were struggling with that a lot. It is nice to know we can be contenders in the end.”

Kearns commended Highlands for containing Dixie Heights junior forward Lauren Nemoroff. Teammates said Nemoroff has verbally committed to the University of Kentucky.

“(Nemoroff) in my opinion, is one of the strongest players in the state,” Kearns said. “To keep her in check was a big challenge. But the girls stepped up and took it.”

Highlands had problems finishing chances in recent games. That did not happen this game as sophomore Brooklynn Rivers scored both Highlands goals in the first half.

“We definitely worked together a lot more,” Rivers said. “We had a lot more passing around the field and combined a lot of different passes. Our shots were on target. We created a lot more opportunities.”

The Bluebirds then put the game away in the second half. Alyssa Farley, Kiersten Clukey and Ellie New found the back of the net for Highlands. Clukey’s goal came with 11:32 remaining and New’s came with 3:48 left on the clock. Clukey and Taylor Vaughn recorded assists for Highlands.

The only thing Highlands did not do is record a shutout. Danielle Watt scored the lone goal for Dixie Heights with 2:34 left in the game.

Highlands has just one game remaining before the postseason. The Bluebirds travel to Lexington Catholic (11-6-1) on Thursday. Game time is 7:30 p.m.