Weekend Sports Notes

Highlands Soccer Teams Enter 9th Region Tournaments as Favorites

PHOTO: Bob Jackson. Highlands sophomore Maggie Schroeder won the Norther Kentucky Athletic Conference Division II race on Saturday at Idlewood Park in Burlington in 19 minutes, .03 seconds.

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior Mallory Zimmerman plays the ball in a recent game. Highlands plays host to Boone County in the 9th Region quarterfinals on Monday at 7 p.m. at Tower Park.

Both the Highlands boys and girls soccer teams enter the 9th Region Tournaments as favorites this week based on having the best records in the region and undefeated marks in region play.

The Highlands boys (17-1-3) played a loaded schedule and only lost 1-0 to Hamilton Southeastern located in Fishers (Indiana) on Sept. 22. The Bluebirds finished 8-0 in region play and 15-0-2 against Kentucky teams.

The Bluebirds outscored opponents, 77-9 on the season recording 13 shutouts including a 6-0 win over Newport Central Catholic in the 36th District championship. Highlands has 16 seniors and six players that have scored at least 18 points led by sophomore forward Max Farris with 12 goals and seven assists for 31 points.

Highlands plays host to 34th District runner-up St. Henry (4-13-2) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Tower Park. The Bluebirds went 6-0 against the tournament field. They did not play Dixie Heights or Conner. Conner eliminated last year's region champion Ryle, 2-1 on penalty kicks in the 33rd District semifinals. Highlands lost to those Raiders, 3-1 in the region championship last year.

The region semifinals take place at Covington Catholic on Thursday. The championship game is Saturday at 1 p.m. back at CovCath.

The Highlands girls are 17-4 overall and finished 11-0 in region play including 6-0 in region play. The Bluebirds had games cancelled against Boone County (15-4-2) and Dixie Heights during the regular season. They drew 33rd District runner-up Boone County on Monday in the 9th Region quarterfinals at Tower Park at 7 p.m.

Highlands had to pull off a 1-0 win over Newport Central Catholic in the 36th District championship at Morscher Field on Thursday. The Bluebirds have outscored their opponents, 95-14 this year.

Nine different Bluebirds have scored at least 10 points. Senior forward Lindsey Meyer leads the way. She owns the school record for career goals with 68 and points with 175. She is tied with former assistant Stephanie Sandfoss-Graves with 39 career assists.

The region semifinals on Wednesday at Ryle and the championship is Thursday. Highlands lost on penalty kicks, 1-0 in the semifinals to St. Henry last year.

The Highlands volleyball team (25-10) drew Dixie Heights (23-6) in a rematch of last year's 9th Region quarterfinals at Dayton. The Bluebirds lost 2-of-3 against the Lady Colonels during the regular season and are 14-5 in region play including 4-5 against the rest of the region field.

Highlands has two seniors in libero Olivia Gessner and outside hitter Margot Seidel. Their junior class combined with nice play from underclassmen has helped the Bluebirds to consecutive district championships and 25-win seasons.

If Highlands wins, the Bluebirds will play in the semifinals at 6 p.m. Wednesday against either Notre Dame or Ryle. The championship is Thursday at 7 p.m.

Cross Country:
Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference Results:

The Highlands Bluebirds girls cross country team finished third in the Division I race at Idlewood Park in Burlington without a full team with 97 points. Cooper won it with 76 points and Notre Dame finished second with 92.

Sophomore Maggie Schroeder won the race in 19 minutes, 00.3 seconds for Highlands. Eighth grader Alyssa Harris took ninth in 20:05.1. Junior Alissa Campbell finished 25th out of 82 runners in 21:35.6 and seventh grader Lilli Hoffmeister took 28th in 21:40.9. Junior Sarah Pearson finished the Highlands scoring taking 28th in 21:40.9.

The Highlands boys finished fourth in the Division I race with 130 points. Conner won that race with 34 points and Covington Catholic finished second with 46. Sophomore Will Griffith finished eighth in 16:53.3. Eighth grader Sam Hopper finished 21st in 17:19.9 with junior Grant Uhlenbrock taking 29th in 17:35.6.

The Class 2A, Region 4 Meet is next on Oct. 27. The races start at 1 p.m.

Football, Junior Varsity:
Covington Catholic 12, Highlands 7:

The Bluebirds (7-1) lost for the first time this season in Park Hills. The lone Highlands touchdown came on a pass from junior Collin Hollingsworth to junior Ethan Houze. Highlands has not beaten Covington Catholic on any level since 2015.

The last game for the Bluebirds is Oct. 27 at home against Cincinnati St. Xavier. Game time is 10 a.m.