Wednesday Sports Roundup

Bluebirds Rally to Tie on Road

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands senior defender Kelsey Listerman (20) prepares to boot the ball on a free kick in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls soccer team fell behind 2-0 against the Cincinnati (Ohio) St. Ursula Bulldogs on Wednesday, 2-0 on the road.

But Highlands (7-1-2 overall) fought back to tie the Bulldogs, 2-2. St. Ursula from the rugged Girls Greater Catholic League is a deceiving 3-6-2 overall. The Bulldogs recently lost just 3-2 to 10-0 Mount Notre Dame.

Highlands trailed 1-0 at halftime before St. Ursula scored early in the second half. But the Bluebirds scored twice in the last 26 minutes of the game.

"We really changed our mindset," said Alex Dean, Highlands Head Coach. "We attacked like we never have before. In the last two years in the (state) finals when we went down, we kind of dropped our heads and we really didn't hit that switch. But (Wednesday), we really pushed. It comes with our Motto of Hate to Lose. We definitely showed that. It was really good to see the fight in the girls as we get ready for the postseason to come."

St. Ursula outshot Highlands, 7-4. Highlands junior midfielder Faith Broering and junior forward Chloe Bramble scored the goals with freshman forward Laney Smith and senior defender Kelsey Listerman tallying the assists. Smith has nine goals and three assists for 21 points to lead Highlands and Broering has five goals and five assists for 15 points.

Highlands lost 2-1 to Sacred Heart in the state championship game in 2018 and 1-0 to Greenwood in the championship game last year. Broering played in the title game last year.

"We haven't trailed this whole season," Broering said. "I think we proved to ourselves that we can come back from being down, especially against a team as good as St. Ursula. We're ready to put one right back in if we get scored on in the post-season."

Highlands plays host to Lexington Lafayette on Saturday. Game time is 5:30 p.m.

Football, Freshman:

Covington Catholic 13, Highlands 6:

The Bluebirds (2-1) lost for the first time this season. Running back Cameron Giesler scored the lone touchdown for Highlands.

Highlands travels to Conner on Wednesday. Game time is 6 p.m.