By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
After losing penalty kick shootouts in the 9th Region boys’ soccer tournament the last two years, Covington Catholic got the job done in Tuesday’s first-round match against Highlands and the Colonels came away with a 2-1 victory at Dixie Heights.
With the score tied 1-1 at the end of overtime, the Colonels once again lined up for a shootout. This time, however, they finished with a 4-3 advantage in penalty kicks to keep their season alive.
Highlands missed the net on its third PK and CovCath senior goalkeeper Sam Romes blocked the Bluebirds’ next attempt.
Both teams got their only goals in the first half of the match. CovCath took a 1-0 lead when senior midfielder Nick Jacobs scored off a pass from Griffin Lamb. But Highlands tied it a minute later on a goal by sophomore Nick Gish with Ethan Mills getting the assist.
In the regional semifinals, CovCath will play Cooper at 6 p.m. Thursday at Dixie Heights. Cooper eliminated defending regional champion St. Henry, 4-2, on Tuesday.
In last year’s 9th Region final, St. Henry defeated CovCath in a penalty kick shootout. The Colonels also lost in a shootout against Newport Central Catholic in the 2013 regional semifinals.
Goals: CC – Nick Jacobs. H – Nick Gish.
Records: CovCath 18-2-2. Highlands 9-11-3.
DIXIE HEIGHTS 3, NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC 2
Dixie Heights senior goalkeeper Simon Jaeger made stops on two consecutive penalty kicks in the shootout while his teammates converted their first four shots to seal the victory in the first round of the 9th Region playoffs.
NewCath sent the match into overtime with a penalty kick by Cameron Hoover that tied the score at 2-2. After neither team scored in overtime, the game was decided on penalty kicks.
Senior midfielder Andres Rivera got the assist on both goals scored by Dixie Heights in the second half. He also converted on his team’s final penalty kick in the shootout.
Dixie Heights advances to the regional semifinals and plays Ryle at 8 p.m. Thursday at Dixie Heights.
Goals: DH — Austin Stacy, Lai Phun Sang. NCC — Brian Anderson, Cameron Hoover.
Records: Dixie Heights 9-10-4, NewCath 13-6-2.
RYLE 4, HOLY CROSS 0
Ryle took a 4-0 lead in the first half of the 9th Region match and junior goalkeeper Will Bedel recorded the shutout by making four saves.
Senior striker Matt Roe put two shots into the net to lead the Raiders’ early scoring spree. He also had an assist on one of the goals scored by teammates Brett Bolin and Kareen El Gussain.
Ryle will take a four-game winning streak into its regional semifinal game against Dixie Heights at 8 p.m. Thursday at Dixie Heights.
Goals: R – Matt Roe 2, Kareen El Gussain, Brett Bolin.
Shutout: Will Bedel (R) 4 saves
Records: Ryle 14-7-2, Holy Cross 12-8-3.
CAMPBELL COUNTY 4, MASON COUNTY 1
Campbell County midfielder Rob Augspurger scored in the opening seconds and the Camels stayed on top through out the 10th Region first-round match.
The Camels also got goals from Grant Perkins and Morgan Drake during the first half. The score remained 3-0 until the second half when Colton Schneider of Campbell County and Bryce Johnson of Mason County both put shots in the net in the 60th minute.
Campbell County will play Montgomery County in a 10th Region semifinal match at 7:45 p.m. Thursday at Pendleton County.
Bourbon County defeated Brossart, 2-0, in the other 10th Region first-round match played Tuesday.
Goals: CC – Rob Augspurger, Grant Perkins, Morgan Drake, Colton Schneider. MC – Bryce Johnson.
Records: Campbell Count y 9-9-2, Mason County 6-13-1.
SIMON KENTON 2, SOUTH OLDHAM 1 (Girls)
The Simon Kenton girls’ soccer team knocked off the defending state champions in the 8th Region semifinals with goals by Abigail Zoeller and Skylin Yates.
Yates scored the winning goal off an assist by Kendra Chambers with 11 minutes left in the match.
The Pioneers advance to the 8th Region championship final for the first time and play Oldham County for the title at 7 p.m. Thursday at Simon Kenton.
Oldham County defeated Simon Kenton, 2-1, on Sept. 16. The Pioneers have won eight of their last nine matches and will take a 17-3 record into Thursday’s regional final.
Goals: SK – Abigail Zoeller, Skylin Yates.
Records: Simon Kenton 17-3, South Oldham 11-7-3.
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