By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Newport Central Catholic junior forward Taylor Tolle angled a free kick past the goalkeeper to score the only goal in her team’s 1-0 win over St. Henry in the first round of the 9th Region girls’ soccer tournament on Monday.
NewCath was awarded the free kick about midway through the first half and Tolle was the player coach Kevin Turnick selected to take it.
“We just know that she has scored a handful of free kicks for us before so we decided to go with our bread and butter,” Turnick said.
Tolle took the kick from about 25 yards out and booted the ball into the right side of the net just beyond the reach of St. Henry’s goalkeeper.
It was Tolle’s 58th goal of her varsity career, which sets a new team record.
NewCath managed to protect the 1-0 lead through the remainder of the match and freshman goalkeeper Kacy Zimmerman got the shutout.
The Thoroughbreds set a team record with their 22nd win of the season. They’ll try to keep their special season going Wednesday when they face Boone County in a regional semifinal game at 7:15 p.m. at St. Henry.
GOAL: NCC: Tolle (free kick).
SHUTOUT: Zimmerman (NCC).
RECORDS: NewCath 22-1; St. Henry 10-7-3.
BOONE COUNTY 5, BEECHWOOD 0
Skylar Lehmkuhl and Paige Mersman worked together to give Boone County an early lead in the 9th Region first round match.
Lehmkuhl got the Rebels’ first goal off an assist by Mersman. A few minutes later, Mersman scored on a header off a crossing pass by Lehmkuhl.
Boone County freshman midfielder Reilyn Hamilton put the ball in the net twice to extend her scoring streak to 12 straight games. Junior goalkeeper Kylie Anderson made four saves to record the shutout.
Boone County advances to the regional semifinals to play Newport Central Catholic at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday at St. Henry.
Goals: BC – Hamilton 2, Lehmkuhl, Mersmann, Black.
Shutout: Anderson (BC) 4 saves.
Records: Boone County 16-6-2, Beechwood 6-13-2.
NOTRE DAME 3, CONNER 0
Junior midfielder Sarah Schuh scored one goal in each half to pace Notre Dame in the first-round victory of the 9th Region playoffs.
Both of Schuh’s goal were unassisted. The Pandas’ other goal was scored by Taylor Watts off a pass by Allison Robertson.
Notre Dame goalkeeper Audrey Nienaber made four saves to register the shutout for the three-time defending 9th Region champions.
The Pandas will play Highlands at 5 p.m. Wednesday in a regional semifinal match at St. Henry.
Goals: ND – Schuh 2, Watts.
Shutout: Nienaber (ND) 4 saves.
Records: Notre Dame 17-5, Conner 7-12.
HIGHLANDS 2, DIXIE HEIGHTS 0
Highlands took a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute of the 9th Region first-round match when sophomore forward Kylie Stave scored off an assist by freshman Lindsey Meyer.
The Bluebirds didn’t get another goal until the 67th minute when freshman Haley Dougherty put one in the net.
Earlier in the second half, Highlands sophomore goalkeeper Olivia McQueary made a diving save on a penalty kick that would have tied the score.
Highlands will meet Notre Dame in a regional semifinal match at 5 p.m. Wednesday at St. Henry. Highlands is the only local team that has a win over Notre Dame this season.
Goals: H – Stave, Dougherty.
Shutout: McQueary (H).
Records: Highlands 15-7, Dixie Heights 8-9-2.
SIMON KENTON 8, HENRY COUNTY 0
Simon Kenton posted its 13th shutout of the season in the opening round of the 10th Region tournament with goalkeeper Abbie Thatcher guarding the net.
The Pioneers took a 1-0 lead in the first two minutes of the match when Gill Morris scored off an assist by Abigail Zoeller. The home team went on to take a 5-0 halftime lead and set a team record with their 16th win of the season.
Zoeller had three goals and two assists to lead the Simon Kenton scoring machine that has produced 95 goals in 19 games for a 5.0 average.
The Pioneers will play South Oldham at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the 8th Region semifinals at Simon Kenton.
GOALS: SK: Zoeller 3, Morris 2, Abbinante, Brownfield, Chambers.
SHUTOUT: Thatcher.
RECORDS: Simon Kenton 16-3, Henry County 10-8-1.
CAMPBELL COUNTY 3, CLARK COUNTY 0
Two senior midfielder did all the scoring for Campbell County with Taylor Jolly getting two goals and Kaitlyn Donoghue getting one in the 10th Region first-round match.
Sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Peterson had to make only two saves to register the shutout for the defending 10th Region champions.
Campbell County advances to the semifinals to play Harrison County at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday on the Camels’ home field.
GOALS: CC: Jolly 2, Donoghue.
SHUTOUT: Peterson (CC) 2 saves.
RECORDS: Campbell County 14-7-1, Clark County 9-12-1
BISHOP BROSSART 4, MASON COUNTY 0
Senior midfielder Olivia Nienaber and sophomore forward Ally Schultz each scored two goals in Brossart’s first-round victory at the 10th Region playoffs.
The first half ended with the Mustangs leading 1-0, but they scored three goals in the first 12 minutes of the second half to take control of the match.
Brossart goalkeepers Hailee Hundemer and Amanda Lloyd each made one save to keep Mason County off the scoreboard.
The Mustangs will play Bourbon County in the 10th Region semifinals at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Campbell County.
GOALS: BB – Nienaber 2, Schultz 2.
SHUTOUT: Hundemer, Lloyd (CC) 2 saves.
RECORDS: Brossart 12-9, Mason County 10-9.