Highlands nips NewCath, 2-1 for 36th championship; HHS volleyball loses

G. Michael Graham Photos. Highlands defender Peyton Bankemper (right) and Newport Central Catholic midfielder Michaela Ware (left) chase the ball in Thursday's 36th District championship at Tower Park. Highlands won 2-1 to claim its seventh district title in eight years and 12th overall.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The rivalry game for the 36th District girls soccer championship Thursday at Tower Park once again proved that records can be thrown out the window.

The Highlands Bluebirds had been playing better lately despite their 6-7-5 record and the Newport Central Catholic Lady Breds had not despite sporting a 12-3-4 mark and All “A” State championship. That showed in a 2-1 Highlands victory.

That had especially been the case since NewCath beat Highlands by the same score on Sept. 30 at Tower Park. Highlands has gone 2-1-2 since that day and NewCath has struggled going 0-2-2. The Bluebirds own wins over Dixie Heights and defending state runner-up and 2011 state champion Notre Dame this year.

“I think we’ve been playing well most of the season,” said Tommy Kearns, Highlands Head Coach. “We play a really strong schedule. Almost every team on our schedule has 10-plus wins so night-in and night-out, we’re in for a battle. (This) is the reward for that. When you’re in big games all year, you’re ready for this time of the year.”

Highlands returned to its familiar place on top of the district after NewCath won last year’s contest 2-0. The Bluebirds had won the previous six district championships and own 12 overall. All 12 titles have come since 1997. The program started 10 years before that.

The Bluebirds outshot the Lady Breds, 15-6 including 7-2 in the first half in a battle of two teams playing 4-4-2 (defender-midfielder-forward) sets. Kearns credited players like Peyton Bankemper, McKenzie Goyert, Alyssa Farley and Brooke Dougherty for hanging tough in the Highlands defensive backfield. Goalkeeper Sarah Owens made three saves for Highlands and Meg Martin made nine for NewCath.

“You have to stay in front as a defender,” Goyert said. “You don’t want to stab (at the ball) so they can get around you. You also have to be careful about them playing balls wide because if they get past you, you have to trace them back to the middle hoping someone is there to cover for you. It takes a lot of soccer IQ as we call it.”

That stat among other things had NewCath Head Coach Kevin Turnick and staff unhappy after the game. Turnick said he had nothing to say when approached after the game.

“I was proud of the way we played,” Kearns said. “Our play up top was great. We created a ton of chances again and managed to tuck a couple of them away.”

During October, Highland has outscored the opposition 13-5 after scoring just 14 goals last year. On the other side, NewCath has been outscored 5-3 in October after outscoring opponents, 47-9 in August and September in a 12-1-2 start to the season.

NewCath scored first with 9:55 left in the first half. Taylor Tolle scored her team-high 16th goal of the year to give the Lady Breds their lone lead of the game.

Tolle tied 2005 NewCath graduate Kyra Macke for fourth in school history for goals on the season. Tolle needs three more goals to tie Macke’s school-record of 19 goals in a season set in 2005.

Macke is the school’s all-time leading goal scorer with 57. Tolle has tied 2001 NC graduate Heather Gardner for 15th on the all-time career goal-scoring list.

But that lead did not last long. Highlands junior midfielder Allyson Bridewell drew a free kick just outside the box and scored to tie the game at 1-1 with 2:38 left in the first half.

“Everything just went so fast,” Bridewell said. “I got fouled and took the shot. I was going far corner because if you miss the goal, you have teammates going in. If we play like we did (Thursday) and against Notre Dame (in the Lexington Catholic Cup), we can go far. We just need to play as a team, work hard and keep our heads on right.”

Highlands senior midfielder Ellie New scored the game-winner with 36:14 left in the second half. She scored from near the top of the attacking box.

New earned All-Tournament Most Valuable Player honors. Farley and Bridwell joined her on the team along with NewCath's Tolle and Ansley Davenport.

Highlands will play host to a 9th Region quarterfinal game Monday while NewCath hits the road. NewCath finished region runner-up to Notre Dame in last year’s tournament title game. Highlands could face Dixie Heights, Beechwood or the loser of the 33rd district title game to be played Saturday between Boone County and Ryle. NewCath will face the winner of that game, St. Henry or Notre Dame.

Volleyball:

Lexington Lafayette 3, Highlands 0:

Highlands finished the regular season with a 12-21 record after losing the final game of the regular season on Thursday in Fort Thomas.

Highlands opens 36th District action Tuesday. The Bluebirds take on Dayton at 7:15 p.m. at Newport Central Catholic.