By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
The Ryle boys soccer team that has outscored opponents 36-3 in seven playoff victories will visit Lexington Dunbar for a state semifinal game at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Dunbar also reached the semifinals in the girls state soccer tournament and will host Highlands at 7:30 p.m Tuesday. If Highlands wins, the Bluebirds will advance to the state championship final for the second straight year.
In quarterfinal games played Saturday, the Ryle boys buried Johnson Central, 8-0, and the Highlands girls got past Russell, 2-1, in overtime.
Cooper Neace and Ishan Senthil each scored three goals in Ryle’s victory that raised the team’s record to 24-3-1.
The Raiders’ first loss of the season came against Dunbar, 2-1, on Aug. 15. They’ve gone 12-0-1 over the last six weeks and have five players with 11 goals or more.
Neace has scored a team-high 51 points (19 goals, 13 assists), followed by his senior classmate Chase McCarthy. In the team’s seven playoff victories, senior Nicholas Hereida and junior Andrew Stropko split time at goalkeeper.
The Highlands girls (18-6-1) had a scrimmage game against Dunbar, but the teams did not meet during the season. Sophomore striker Ally Lickert has scored a team-high 24 goals for the Bluebirds, including the game-winner in overtime against Russell.
Junior goalkeeper Bailee Class anchors the Highlands’ offsides trap defense with her aggressive style of play guarding the net.