By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Ryle’s bid for its first state championship in boys’ soccer ended Wednesday with a 2-1 loss to Daviess County in the semifinal round of the state high school tournament at Lexington Lafayette High School.
Daviess County junior midfielder Brian Winkler scored in the 7th minute of the second overtime to give his team the victory. In last year’s state championship match, Daviess County defeated Covington Catholic, 2-1, in a penalty kick shootout.
The loss gives Ryle a 9-5 record in state tournament matches. The Raiders took home the state runner-up trophy in 2006 and 2011.
Daviess County took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Keegan Settle in the 15th minute. Ryle tied it in the 58th minute when junior Jackson Snowden put a penalty kick into the net.
The Raiders ended up with a 6-5 advantage in shots on goal. Ryle junior goalkeeper James Spindley made seven saves. Senior midfielder Andrew Roe and senior defender Clayton Lett were the Raiders named to the state all-tournament team.
Ryle ends the season with a 23-3 record. Daviess County (21-3-2) will play Louisville St. Xavier (22-3-2) in the state championship match at 5 p.m. Saturday. The two teams played early in the season and St. Xavier came away with a 6-1 victory.
St. Xavier defeated Warren Central, 6-0, in Wednesday’s other semifinal game. The Tigers have scored 128 goals and given up 22 this season.
Semifinal matches in the girls’ state tournament will be played Thursday at Lexington Lafayette. The match-ups are Notre Dame vs Daviess County at 6 p.m. and Louisville Sacred Heart vs. defending state champion West Jessamine at 8 p.m. The winners will play in the final match 7 p.m. Saturday.