Bluebirds Lose Lead in Second Half |
| PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands senior defender Jade Rehberger takes and makes a penalty shot earlier in the week. |
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The first half belonged to the host Highlands Bluebirds girls soccer team (10-4-1 overall).
The Bluebirds built a 2-0 lead. It started when senior Chloe Bramble scored her seventh goal of the season on the ninth assist of the season from sophomore Laney Smith.
Smith scored her 14th goal of the season on a shot from 20 yards out off a pass from sophomore Claire Cavacini. Cavacini has three assists and Smith has a team-high 37 points on the season.
But the Lady Pioneers (7-9-1) did not quit. They scored on a corner kick just two minutes into the second half. Simon Kenton tied the game on another corner kick with six minutes left in the game.
"I think that we are playing well. We just need to work on that mental aspect," said Jade Rehberger, Highlands senior defender. "We can't be making mental lapses in the postseason. We need to be in the game for the whole 80 minutes or extra time. It's about preparing for the win or go home mentality."
Simon Kenton had eight shots on goal to seven for Highlands. Senior goalkeeper Meg Gessner had six saves for the Bluebirds.
"I thought we played some of our best soccer in the first half," said Chris Norris, Highlands Head Coach. "We were playing quick. I thought that we played really well. Then in the second half, they made some tactical changes and I think we just got caught in the transition. They were able to work the ball down and got a couple corners. They were very dangerous on those corners. We just couldn't figure out how to get the ball out of danger."
