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.”
By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter
It looked good for a while.
But things changed for the Highlands Ladybirds soccer team in a matter of 20 seconds. Highlands led 1-0 until Stephanie Rowland scored two goals in 14 seconds to lead the visiting South Oldham Lady Dragons to a 2-1 win Saturday at Tower Park.
Highlands fell to 2-5-2 overall and South Oldham improved to 4-4. Highlands is 1-1-2 in games decided by one goal or less.
"I thought we played pretty well," said Tommy Kearns, Highlands head coach. "We made two costly mistakes. You end up losing 2-1 when you probably should be winners. It's frustrating. The good thing we can take from (Saturday) is we played a good team and had more of the play (on offense)."
Highlands had plenty of chances to score. The Ladybirds had eight shots and eight corner kicks to six shots and no corner kicks for the Lady Dragons. They had a number of chances in front of the opposing net on those corner kicks, but could not punch the ball in past South Oldham goalkeeper Maddie Malueg. Malueg made seven saves on the day.
"You have to be willing to put your body on the line sometimes to get that ball past the goal line," Kearns said. "We had two or three chances cleared off the goal line in the first half. (Malueg) was all the way in the goal and managed to keep it out. The reason we got corner kicks is we applied pressure to their defense."
At the other end, Sarah Owen and Jesse Daley again split halves in net. Owen made one save in the first half and Daley had three in the second half.
Highlands broke through with its first goal in three games just 3:48 into the second half. Taylor Vaughn took a shot before Brooklynn Rivers hit in the rebound.
Rivers has six on the year. That happens to be all but one of Highlands' goals this season.
That lead held up until 10:18 remained in the game. Rowland scored in front of the net. Highlands had two chances to clear the ball on the play.
Rowlands scored just 14 seconds later when she received a pass and drove past a Highlands defender. She placed the shot perfectly for the game-winning goal.
Highlands is missing two key seniors to injury now in Ava Abner and Kara Painter. Painter tore her left Anterior Cruciated Ligament and is out for the season. But Painter does not want her teammates to dwell on the injuries.
"Each player on our team is strong," Painter said. "Our team can win no matter who is out. We just need to get our heads up and move on to the next play. That's our motto."
The Ladybirds take on Louisville Assumption at 6 p.m. in the Lexington Catholic Cup on Tuesday.
By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter
MELBOURNE - The Highlands Ladybirds soccer team may be dealing with some injuries now.
But head coach Tommy Kearns does not want that to be an excuse. The Ladybirds (2-4-1 overall) faced the Bishop Brossart Lady Mustangs at Pendery Park here Tuesday and fell 5-0 mostly because they did not clear balls in their box allowing Brossart (5-3) many more shot opportunities.
"We did not do a good job defending," Kearns said. "It's a physical battle to win the ball. We have to come out on top in that situation."
Highlands has been playing without the services of senior midfielder/forward Ava Abner. Abner is having surgery today on her right Meniscus. She hurt it against St. Henry and it became worse as she took more hits. Abner said the surgery could leave her out for four weeks or four months meaning she could miss part of basketball season. If it is just four weeks, she could be back in time for the soccer postseason.
Abner missed part of her junior year in basketball last year. She tore her right Anterior Cruciated Ligament, Medial Collateral Ligament and Meniscus in December when Sydney Moss undercut her when the two were going for a loose ball.
"We have some sports where some people are going to have to step up and fill shoes," Kearns said. "There are some adjustments we still have to make."
The Lady Mustangs outshot the visitors, 18-3. Highlands goalkeepers Jesse Daley and Sarah Owen once again split halves. Daley made six saves in the first half including one on a rebound shot and Owen made seven in the second.
Brossart junior goalkeeper Sarah Futcher did not have a lot of action at her end. She saved all three Highlands shots.
Both teams ran 4-4-2 attacks. But Brossart showed its balance as five different players scored. The Lady Mustangs scored four goals in the second half to pull away.
Highlands freshman Brooklynn Rivers makes things happen when the Ladybirds get the ball to her. She had just a few touches Tuesday.
Brossart dented the scoreboard in the first half when Micaela Smith scored. Teammates Madison Linebach, Allison Greely, Abby Stadmiller and Amanda Hasl added goals for the Lady Mustangs in the second half.
Kearns also hopes a return to a turf field will help. The Ladybirds played on grass fields at Pendery and in the recent win at Boone County.
