By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Last year, teams that won the 9th Region boys and girls soccer championships made it to the semifinals of the state playoffs and the bracket for this week’s girls tournament has a couple of leading contenders once again.
In the latest Ratings Percentage Index girls state rankings, Conner is No. 4 and Notre Dame is No. 10 based on their won-loss records and strength of schedule.
The two teams did not play each other during the regular season. If they both win their region matches on Monday, they will meet in the semifinals on Thursday.
Notre Dame defeated Conner, 3-0, in the opening round of last year’s 9th Region tournament and went on to take the title. This season, Conner has a 20-2-1 record that includes 18 shutouts.
In the 9th Region boys tournament, the teams with the highest RPI state rankings are Covington Catholic at No. 28 and Conner at No. 41. They are on different sides of their region bracket and could not meet until the final.
CovCath defeated Conner, 1-0, in the season opening match for both teams. Their current records are 13-5-4 for CovCath and 12-4-3 for Conner. Ryle won the 9th Region boys title the last two years and enters this week’s tournament with a 12-9-1 record following a 3-1 loss to Conner in the 33rd District final.
Here are schedules for six region soccer tournaments that include Northern Kentucky teams:
Girls soccer region tournaments
9th REGION AT MULTIPLE SITES
Monday
St. Henry at Notre Dame, 7 p.m.
Newport Central Catholic at Conner, 7 p.m.
Holy Cross at Dixie Heights, 7 p.m.
Cooper at Highlands, 7 p.m.
Wednesday
Semifinal matches at Conner, 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship match at Conner, 1 p.m.
10th REGION AT BROSSART
Monday
Pendleton County vs. Brossart, 5:30 p.m.
Campbell County vs. Montgomery County, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Semifinal matches, 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Thursday
Championship match, 7 p.m.
8th REGION AT MULTIPLE SITES
Monday
Collins at Simon Kenton, 8 p.m.
Oldham County at Carroll County, 6:30 p.m.
Henry County at South Oldham, 6:30 p.m.
Walton-Verona at Spencer County, 7 p.m.
Thursday
Semifinal matches at Carroll County, 6 and 8 p.m.
Saturday
Championship match at Carroll County, 3 p.m.
Boys soccer region tournaments
9th REGION AT MULTIPLE SITES
Tuesday
Newport Central Catholic at Covington Catholic, 7 p.m.
Ryle at Dixie Heights, 7 p.m.
Beechwood at Highlands, 7 p.m.
St. Henry at Conner, 7 p.m.
Thursday
Semifinal matches at Dixie Heights, 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship match at Dixie Heights, 4 p.m.
10th REGION AT MASON COUNTY
Tuesday
Harrison County vs. George Rogers Clark, 6 p.m.
Campbell County vs. Bourbon County, 8 p.m.
Thursday
Brossart vs. Harrison County-George Rogers Clark winner, 6 p.m.
Mason County vs. Campbell County-Bourbon County winner, 8 p.m.
Saturday
Championship match, 1 p.m.
8th REGION AT MULTIPLE SITES
Monday
Grant County at Woodford County, 6:30 p.m.
Henry County at North Oldham, 7 p.m.
Collins at Simon Kenton, 6 p.m.
South Oldham at Carroll County, 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Semifinal matches at Carroll County, 6 and 8 p.m.
Saturday
Championship match at Carroll County, 1 p.m.