By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Senior midfielder Bryce Day put a shot in the net on a breakaway run with three minutes remaining to give the Covington Catholic boys’ soccer team a 3-2 win over Montgomery County in the sectional round of the state playoffs on Monday in Winchester.
The Colonels advance to the quarterfinals and play Louisville Trinity at 6 p.m. Saturday at Lexington Henry Clay High School. CovCath and Trinity played a regular season match on Aug. 22 that ended in a 1-1 tie.
Day’s winning goal in the sectional match came less than a minute after Montgomery County tied the score, 2-2, on a penalty kick. CovCath’s other two goals were scored earlier in the second half by junior forward Griffin Lamb and senior forward Jacob Litzler.
Montgomery County took a 1-0 lead late in the first half, but the Colonels battled back to get the win.
“We needed to work three times the amount that we did during the first half,” said CovCath coach Jeremy Robertson. “And we did, scoring three goals with one coming from each forward and then the last goal coming from Bryce Day beating five players to give the Colonels the go-ahead goal.”
This is the first time since 2009 that CovCath has made it to the quarterfinal round of the state soccer playoffs. In Robertson’s first three seasons as head coach, the Colonels lost in the regional playoffs.
“It’s great to get the win,” Robertson said after Monday’s match, “but we put ourselves in these situations where we don’t need to be. We should of had five easy goals in the first half. We give these teams the ability to stay in the game with us and they shouldn’t be.”
GOALS: CC — Griffin Lamb, Jacob Litzler, Bryce Day.
RECORDS: CovCath 21-2-2, Montgomery County 19-3-1.
Northern Kentucky boys’ soccer coaches select top players for all-star teams
Covington Catholic senior midfielder Bryce Day was voted Offensive Player of the Year on the 2015 Northern Kentucky boys’ high school soccer all-star teams selected by local coaches.
Day has 17 goals and 14 assists for the CovCath team that won the 9th Region championship to qualify for the state tournament and defeated Montgomery County in the sectional round of the playoffs on Monday.
Nathan Roe of Ryle was voted Defensive Player of the Year and Justin Rolf of Brossart will receive the Scott Christian Award for his dedication to the sport of soccer.
Jeremy Robertson of CovCath is Coach of the Year and Joe Barker is Official of the Year. The Beechwood team was selected to receive the Ed Lett Award for sportsmanship. The awards banquet will begin at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 23 at Receptions in Erlanger.
2015 N. KY. BOYS HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER COACHES ALL-STAR TEAMS
FIRST TEAM
Strikers — Adam Snow (Cooper), Charlie Wend (Conner).
Midfielders — Bryce Day (CovCath), Michael Wessells (CovCath), Gavin Siekman (Conner), Matt Roe (Ryle), Noah Sellers (Highlands).
Defenders — Nathan Roe (Ryle), Ben Darpel (CovCath), Brady Gesenhues (Highlands), Lance Adams (Cooper).
Goalkeeper — Sam Romes (CovCath)
SECOND TEAM
Strikers — Devin Morgan (Scott), Jacob Litzler (CovCath).
Midfielders — Ian Manahan (St. Henry), Nate Doggett (Holy Cross), Kareem El Gussain (Ryle).
Defenders — Noah Linstead (Holy Cross), Chris Davis (Simon Kenton), David Stambaugh (St. Henry), Austin Flynn (CovCath).
Goalkeeper — Will Bedel (Ryle)
THIRD TEAM
Strikers — Rob Ausperger (Campbell County) DJ Sanders (St. Henry).
Midfielders — Michael Martin (Walton-Verona), Sam Parnell (Brossart), Jonathan Frohmeyer (Conner), Erik Hegerty (Scott).
Defenders — Chad Brewer (NewCath), Jake Ryan (Conner), Camden Rusch (Calvary), Nicholas Weaver (Villa Madonna).
Goalkeeper —CJ Seay (Scott).
AWARD-WINNERS
Offensive Player of the Year – Bryce Day (CovCath)
Defensive Player of the Year – Nathan Roe (Ryle)
Coach of the Year – Jeremy Robertson (CovCath)
Scott Christian Award – Justin Rolf (Brossart)
Referee of the Year – Joe Barker
Ed Lett Award – Beechwood