By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
To run an effective offside trap defense, a soccer team needs a fearless goalkeeper. Bailee Class fills that role quite well.
In the first round of the girls state tournament, Class made several daring saves for her Highlands team during a 2-0 win over Brossart on Tuesday at Tower Park in Ft. Thomas.
It was the sixth shutout in the last seven games and 12th of the season for the Bluebirds (17-6-1). Their offside trap defense will be tested once again Saturday in a state quarterfinal game against Russell (19-3) at Tower Park.
Class will enter that game with a 0.95 goals allowed average and more than 150 saves, according to the Highlands team’s statistics.
“I said it last year and I’ll say it again, I think she’s the best keeper in the state,” Highlands coach Kelsey Etherton said after Tuesday’s win. “Every time we’re on the field she makes these saves that are legitimately unbelievable.”
Brossart did put the ball in the net late in the first half, but it was nullified by an offsides call.
Most of the Mustangs’ other scoring opportunities were closed down by Class. She picked off deep balls sent over the defensive line, snagged crossing passes and corner kicks and stopped two direct shots on goal.
“It’s definitely something I took on,” Class said of her aggressive play. “I feel like I can read the field really well and know when to come out and when to stay (at the net). So I feel confident coming out extreme distance sometimes, when even myself gets a little nervous.”
After a scoreless first half, Highlands sophomore Maddy Lickert scored in the 43rd minute. She received a pass near the middle of the penalty area, played the ball to the left and drilled a shot past Brossart’s goalkeeper Emma Ritter.
Class made a pair of saves that protected the slim lead before Lickert scored on another left-footed kick. This one came from the upper right corner in the penalty box and gave the Bluebirds a 2-0 lead in the 62nd minute.
“It was like they weren’t expecting it because no defender was close to me,” Lickert said of her second goal. “They probably just thought we were going to cross it.”
This is the third consecutive year that Highlands has made it to the state playoffs. Last year’s team was state runner-up.
Brossart lost in the first round for the second straight year and finished with a 17-6-1 record.
“Just wasn’t our night,” said Brossart coach Andy Smith. “We were offsides on the one we scored by about four inches. That would’ve changed the whole game, but this game is brutal sometimes.”
The Brossart boys soccer team lost to Ryle, 6-0, in a state tournament opener on Tuesday. The Raiders (23-3-1) will play Johnson Central in a quarterfinal game on Saturday.
In the 9th Region volleyball tournament on Tuesday, Notre Dame and St. Henry won matches to set up a semifinal showdown at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Dayton High School. Notre Dame won the last four region titles, but the Pandas lost to St. Henry during the regular season.
The season ended for the Simon Kenton and Calvary Christian volleyball teams that lost matches in the 8th and 10th Region tournaments on Tuesday.
Volleyball region tournaments
9th REGION AT DAYTON HIGH SCHOOL
Wednesday
Beechwood vs. Conner, 6 p.m.
Notre Dame vs. St. Henry, 8 p.m.
Thursday
Championship match, 7 p.m.
10th REGION AT BROSSART HIGH SCHOOL
Wednesday
Brossart vs. Paris, 5:30 p.m.
George Rogers Clark vs. Augusta, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday
Championship match, 6 p.m.
Boys soccer state tournament
Saturday
Quarterfinal match: Johnson Central (18-2-1) at Ryle (23-3-1), 7 p.m.
Girls soccer state tournament
Saturday
Quarterfinal match: Russell (19-3) at Highlands (17-6-1), 7 p.m.
Cross country state championship meets
Saturday at Kentucky Horse Park
Class 3A — Girls 10 a.m. / Boys 10:45a.m.
Class 2A — Girls 12:30 p.m. / Boys 1:15 p.m.
Class 1A — Girls 3 p.m. / Boys 3:45 p.m.