Thursday NC Briefs

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds boys soccer team (7-5-3) bounced back quickly from the Wednesday loss.

Highlands pulls off another 1-0 thriller over NewCath

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands goalkeeper Nick Breslin (center) makes a save down the stretch in the Bluebirds' 1-0 victory Thursday.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

Both teams needed a win in a bad way.

The host Highlands Bluebirds boys soccer team sought its first win of the year while Newport Central Catholic had not won since Aug. 30 over a span of five games. The Bluebirds (1-6-3) came through with that win with another 1-0 victory Thursday over the Thoroughbreds (5-4-3) at Tower Park. NewCath has not beaten Highlands in the regular season since 2004.

9th Region soccer pairings set

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The 9th Region boys and girls soccer tournaments were drawn Sunday.

Both the Highlands and Newport Central Catholic teams are considered to be region contenders. The girls semifinals and title game will take place at Dixie Heights and the boys semifinals and title game will take place at Ryle. The region let district winners host the quarterfinal round this year.

NewCath edges Highlands, 2-1 for 36th championship

 

G. Michael Graham. Highlands Jimmy Penrod (left) and Newport Central Catholic's Gualt Nolan chase the ball in Tuesday's 36th District championship game. The Thoroughbreds won 2-1 to claims their third consecutive title.

 

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds boys soccer team may have just two wins against the Highlands Bluebirds since 2004.

But those two wins have come at critical times in consecutive 36th District championship games. The Thoroughbreds won their third straight district title with a 2-1 win over Highlands at Tower Park on Tuesday.

“It was a good atmosphere and hard-fought game,” said Mike McDonald, NewCath Head Coach. “That’s what we expect. They (Bluebirds) are a good team.”

Tuesday Sports Briefs

 

G. Michael Graham Photo. Highlands junior setter Kaitlin Hall (31) hands a flower to her mother before Thursday's game against Dixie Heights. The Bluebirds won to move to 9-18 overall.

 

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Bluebirds volleyball team celebrated Parents Night with a 3-1 (25-14, 25-11, 23-25, 25-9) victory over the Dixie Heights Lady Colonels on Tuesday.

The players gave flowers to their parents before the game. Highlands improved to 9-18 again playing without junior standout middle blocker Jessica Ginter.

Sophomore Kaylan Frisch led Highlands with seven kills and five blocks with junior setter Kaitlin Hall recording 27 assists and five aces. Senior Abby Schweitzer added three digs.

Highlands travels to Bellevue on Thursday for a 36th District contest. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

NewCath edges Highlands, 2-1 in 36th District battle

 

G. Michael Graham Photo. Newport Central Catholic goalkeeper Meg Martin (black) dives on the ball in Monday's game while several Highlands players surround her. Martin made two saves in NewCath's 2-1 victory.

 

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

It was a case of the well-traveled against the well-rested.

In the rivalry game between the two Northern Kentucky 36th District girls soccer rivals, the well-traveled Newport Central Catholic Lady Breds downed the Highlands Bluebirds, 2-1 at Tower Park on Monday. NewCath has won two in a row in the series.

The Lady Breds downed the Bluebirds, 2-0 in last year’s 36th District title game. That ended Highlands’ run of six consecutive district championships.

“We (seniors) keep telling (teammates) not to get a big head,” said Sam Bunzel, NewCath senior midfielder. “You have to go in strong and refocus on what we’ve been practicing. You can’t let down.”

NewCath (12-1-2) has not lost since a 1-0 defeat at Ryle on Aug. 26. The Lady Breds played for the fifth time in six days also winning the All “A” State championship and tieing Dixie Heights, 1-1.

Thursday Sports Briefs

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Bluebirds boys soccer team downed the host Covington Holy Cross Indians, 3-0 on Thursday.

Chris Garbig scored twice for the Bluebirds (9-5-1) and Colin Dean scored the other one. Nathan Tippenhauer recorded five saves for Highlands with Nick Brelin making the other.

Highlands plays again Tuesday. The Bluebirds face Conner at 7:30 p.m. at Tower Park.

Soccer, Boys:

Newport Central Catholic 1, Harrison County 0:

The Thoroughbreds improved to 9-3-1 with the win in Cythiana.

Matt Tolle scored the goal for NewCath with Ben Tierney making the assist. Paul Grosser recorded six saves at goalkeeper for the Thoroughbreds.

NewCath plays again Tuesday. The Thoroughbreds play host to Covington Holy Cross at 7 p.m.

Volleyball:

Newport Central Catholic 3, Covington Holmes 0:

The Thoroughbreds improved to 11-12 with a 25-4, 25-14, 25-7 win in Covington.

Rachel McDonald led NewCath with seven kills and Keyaira Lankheit followed with five. McDonald added 11 aces and Alyssa Maier had 15 assists.

NewCath does not play again until Thursday. Cooper comes to the Hill for a 7:30 p.m. contest.

Tuesday Sports Briefs

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Bluebirds boys soccer team handled the host Simon Kenton Pioneers, 4-0 on Tuesday for its fifth straight win.

Highlands (7-3-1) saw Devin DuPont score twice with Chris Garbig and Vadim Lightner talling the other scores. Bluebird goalkeeper Nick Breslin had three saves and the shutout.

The Bluebirds play a makeup contest at Covington Catholic on Thursday. Game time is 4 p.m.

All “A” Boys Soccer Section:

Bishop Brossart 2, Newport Central Catholic 1:

The Bishop Brossart Mustangs edged the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds in the All “A” Section Tournament.

Jake Jennings scored the game-winning goal for the Mustangs with three minutes left. Bishop Brossart scored both of its goals in the second half.

NewCath led 1-0 at halftime after a John Murrin goal. Paul Grosser made eight saves for the Thoroughbreds.

NewCath (7-3-1) has two games scheduled Thursday. The Thoroughbreds takes on Scott County at 6 p.m. and Madison Central at 8 p.m.

Volleyball:

Newport Central Catholic 3, Lloyd Memorial 0:

The Thoroughbreds (8-8) took down visiting Lloyd Memorial in a 9th Region contest in three straight (25-6, 25-11, 25-14).

Alyssa Maier led NewCath with 29 assists. Rachel McDonald again led NewCath with eight kills with Abbie Lukens tallying six. Keyaira Lankheit and Nikki Kiernan had five. Madison Volk followed with seven digs and 13 aces.

NewCath travels to St. Henry on Thursday. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Highlands 2, Dayton 1:

The Bluebirds moved to 5-10 overall and 2-0 in 36^th District action with a 26-28, 25-13, 25-18 win at Dayton.

Highlands plays in the Cake Classic starting Friday. North Oldham and Carroll County are listed as opponents.

 

Thoroughbred soccer season ends in 9th title game

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds soccer team played its best soccer toward the end of the season.

Unfortunately for the Thoroughbreds, they ran into a team that had been playing well for a longer period of time in the 9th Region title game Friday at St. Henry. The Boone County Rebels scored twice in the second half to win the regional tournament 2-0.

The goals came by Evan O’Hara and Brent Rice. The Rebels (18-3-3) had not lost in their previous 15 games sporting a 12-0-3 mark during that run. They knocked off 33rd district rival and 2011 state runner-up Ryle, 3-2 on penalty kicks in the district title game.

“We played pretty well,” said Mike McDonald, NewCath head coach. “We missed some opportunities in the first half. If you let a team like that stay in the game, they will take advantage of opportunities. Boone County is the best team we’ve played this year. They moved the ball well and were very composed.”

NewCath soccer teams advance, volleyball falls

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

ERLANGER – A common chant at Newport Central Catholic is “We Believe.”

The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds soccer team found itself up against the defending state runner-up in the 9th Region semifinals on Tuesday and many did not believe NewCath would win. The Thoroughbreds proved the doubters wrong in a 2-1 victory.

NewCath has found its touch in the postseason winning four in a row to move to 7-9-5 overall. The Thoroughbreds battle the Boone County Rebels (17-3-3) on Friday at 7 p.m. for the 9th Region crown back at St. Henry. The Rebels have not lost since Sept. 7, 2-1 against North Hardin in the John Hardin Bulldog Challenge.

“I told our kids to come out with some heart and we’re where we want to be,” said Mike McDonald, NewCath head coach. “We gave these kids everything they wanted and we came out a victor.”

This marked the second straight year the Thoroughbreds will play for a region crown. They beat Covington Catholic, 2-1 in the 10th Region title game last year before losing 1-0 to Montgomery County in the first round of the state tournament.

Thursday Sports Briefs

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM
Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter
The Highlands Ladybirds volleyball team moved above .500 with a 25-9, 25-10 victory at the Holmes Lady Bulldogs on Thursday.
Highlands also beat Holmes in the September Slam on Saturday at Scott. The Ladybirds moved to 8-7 to move above .500 for the first time since starting the season 2-0. Holmes is 5-14.
Highlands travels to Conner on Monday for a 7:30 p.m. contest.
Ladybird soccer ties Campbell County:
Highlands turned things around in just more than 48 hours Thursday.
The Ladybirds turned in a much better showing in a 0-0 tie against the Campbell County Lady Camels.
Highlands lost 5-0 at Bishop Brossart on Tuesday. Highlands is 2-4-2 overall and the Lady Camels are 6-3-1.
The Ladybirds allowed just four shots after allowing 17 Tuesday. Senior goalkeeper Jesse Daley played the entire game and saved all four. Campbell County is led by senior Taylor Robinson.
Highlands plays host to South Oldham (3-4) at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Highlands, Simon Kenton soccer cancelled:
Highlands' originally scheduled game against Simon Kenton was called off because of powder puff football.
The Bluebirds (5-3-1) hit the road to Louisville on Saturday to take on state power Louisville St. Xavier at 2:45 p.m. The Tigers are 8-0 entering the contest.
NCC volleyball falls to Boone County:
The Newport Central Catholic Lady Breds volleyball team dropped a close one to the Boone County Lady Rebels, 3-1 (23-25, 25-17, 28-26, 27-25) Thursday.
The Lady Breds fell to 4-9 with the loss and Boone County moved to 8-5. Nikki Kiernan had 13 kills and six blocks to lead NewCath. Alyssa Maier added 34 assists with Whitney Fields tallying five aces and Maria Froendhoff making 29 digs.
NewCath plays in the Louisville Volleyball Invitational Tournament today and Saturday.
NewCath, Cooper soccer cancelled:
The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds soccer game at Cooper was cancelled because the field was too wet. The game will be made up on Sept. 18.
NewCath plays host to St. Henry at 3 p.m.