By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Over the last 14 years, the winner of the 9th Region girls soccer tournament has been either Highlands or Notre Dame. Each team has won seven titles.
The perennial powers faced each other in the region final seven times during that stretch with Highlands winning five of their showdowns. But they’re in the same bracket for this week’s region tournament and need to win first-round matches to meet in the semifinals.
District champions will host first-round matches on Monday. The four matchups will be Newport Central Catholic at St. Henry, Holy Cross at Ryle, Conner at Highlands and Dixie Heights at Notre Dame.
During the regular season, Notre Dame defeated Dixie Heights, 5-0, and Highlands edged Conner, 2-1, but anything can happen at tournament time.
The 9th Region boys soccer tournament begins Tuesday with four first-round matches that include Highlands at Ryle, two teams that had no losses against 9th Region opponents during the regular season.
Ryle has a 17-3-1 record that includes a 1-1 tie against Highlands on Oct. 8. Highlands is coming of its first loss, 4-2, to Newport Central Catholic in the 36th District final that dropped the Bluebirds’ record to 10-1-4.
The other 9th Region boys first-round matches on Tuesday are Cooper at NewCath, St. Henry at Covington Catholic and Beechwood at Dixie Heights. The semifinals and finals of the 9th Region boys and girls tournaments will be played at Tower Park in Fort Thomas.
Girls soccer region tournaments
REGION 9 AT MULTIPLE SITES
Monday
Newport Central Catholic at St. Henry, 7 p.m.
Holy Cross at Ryle, 7 p.m.
Conner at Highlands, 7 p.m.
Dixie Heights at Notre Dame, 7 p.m.
Wednesday at Ft. Thomas Tower Park
Semifinal matches, 6 and 8 p.m.
Saturday at Ft. Thomas Tower Park
Championship match, 4;30 p.m.
REGION 10 AT MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Monday
Montgomery County vs. Harrison County, 6 p.m.
Brossart vs. George Rogers Clark, 8 p.m.
Wednesday
Campbell County vs. Montgomery County-Harrison County winner, 6 p.m.
Mason County vs. Brossart-George Rogers Clark winner, 8 p.m.
Thursday
Championship match, 7 p.m.
REGION 8 AT MULTIPLE SITES
Monday
Walton-Verona at Woodford County, 7:30 p.m.
North Oldham at Carroll County, 6 p.m.
Henry County at Simon Kenton, 6 p.m.
Collins at South Oldham, 6 p.m.
Wednesday at Grant County
Semifinal matches, 6 and 8 p.m.
Saturday at Grant County
Championship match, 5 p. m.
Boys soccer region tournaments
REGION 9 AT MULTIPLE SITES
Tuesday
Cooper at Newport Central Catholic, 7 p.m.
St. Henry at Covington Catholic, 7 p.m.
Highlands at Ryle, 7 p.m.
Beechwood at Dixie Heights, 7 p.m.
Thursday at Ft. Thomas Tower Park
Semifinal matches, 6 and 8 p.m.
Saturday at Ft. Thomas Tower Park
Championship match, 1 p.m.
REGION 10 AT CAMPBELL COUNTY
Tuesday
Montgomery County vs. Harrison County, 6 p.m.
Brossart vs. George Rogers Clark, 8 p.m.
Thursday
Campbell County vs. Montgomery County-Harrison County winner, 6 p.m.
Mason County vs. Brossart-George Rogers Clark winner, 8 p.m.
Saturday
Championship match, 2 p.m.
REGION 8 AT MULTIPLE SITES
Monday
Woodford County at South Oldham, 8 p.m.
Grant County at Gallatin County, 7 p.m.
Simon Kenton at Carroll County, 8 p.m.
North Oldham at Collins, 7 p.m.
Thursday at Grant County
Semifinal matches, 6 and 8 p.m.
Saturday at Grant County
Championship match, 7 p.m.