Both teams knew this would happen once they opened the season winning their respective pools in the Fayette County Spectacular last week.
The Dixie Heights Colonels (3-1 overall) and the Campbell County Camels (4-1-1) met four days after Campbell County edged Dixie Heights, 2-1 in the Fayette County Spectacular semifinals on Saturday. With three whole days to prepare for the rematch, Dixie Heights turned the table with a 3-1 win in Alexandria.
“The important thing was using the time we had to get better at what we’ve been trying to do, which is in the final third of the field on offense,” said Chris Sturm, Dixie Heights head coach. “That’s where we’re lacking. We possessed the ball extremely well, moved the ball with a purpose and then we’re putting it on frame to close it out. That was the difference. It’s about getting better every single game so that we can build and compete against the best of the best.”
Following the win Saturday, Campbell County knocked off 10th Region rival George Rogers Clark, 3-0, later that evening to win the Fayette County Spectacular. The Camels then tied host Simon Kenton, 2-2 on Monday before having a day to prepare for the rematch.
“We played six games in eight days. It’s difficult. We’re a little banged up,” said Dave Morris, Campbell County head coach. “But I thought coming here, the girls were in a good mood, primed to play. But when we came out, we weren’t as ready to play as Dixie was. Dixie wanted the game. If it were reversed, I would have wanted the game. So early in the game, I just thought they controlled the game. I thought we played much better in the second half. We started playing tougher defensively. We had some good chances in the second half.”
Dixie freshman Hailey Hall scored her third and fourth goals of the season on assists from senior Ashtyn Ivey.
Camels senior goalkeeper Morgan Rawe had six saves and Dixie Heights senior goalkeeper Sarah Legg had five.
Dixie Heights scored the game’s first goal with 15:48 left in the first half when Hall took a nice pass from Ivey for the score. But three minutes and one second later, Campbell County tied the game when sophomore forward Jozie Holmes scored her sixth goal of the season on senior forward Ruby Dunlevy’s third assist of the season.
After that, Dunlevy and Holmes did not get a lot of good looks at the goal. Dixie Heights senior defender Sammy Berman marked Dunlevy a good bit of the game.
“It was extremely vital,” Dixie Heights senior midfielder Julia Riedmiller said of controlling the midfield. “We normally play a wider formation. But knowing how Campbell County played this weekend, we adjusted out strategy and performed more of a central midfield, which shut down Ruby and her side striker (Holmes). Both are really talented. It took a lot of effort from all of us.”
Dixie took the lead for good at 2-1 with 1:12 left in the first half. Berman booted in a corner kick that junior midfielder Maria Dilts put home.
“The leadership from the seniors really stepped it up,” Berman said. “We worked really well (Wednesday). I don’t take corner kicks at all. But whenever my team just needs me or someone else to step up, we’re very good with doing that. Fortunately, that corner kick was the position I needed to be in. Maria Dilts had a beautiful header into the goal. She did an amazing job.”
The score stayed that way for a while until 9:26 remained in the game when Ivey found Hall to make the final score.
“What’s better about this team so far is that they have a good soccer IQ and are able to adjust,” Sturm said. “What we did was make a formation adjustment at halftime and it really limited Campbell County’s opportunities in the second half.”
Dixie Heights plays host to 4-0 South Oldham on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. Dixie hosts Cooper (2-1) on Saturday at 5 p.m.
Girls soccer
St. Henry 10, Newport Central Catholic 2
The Crusaders (4-0) claimed their first All “A” 9th Region crown since winning the All “A” state championship in 2019.
“We are a much more cohesive team,” said Brian Bamberger, second-year St. Henry head coach. “One of our values is team first and the girls are just really, really buying into that. The chemistry is really good.”
Seven different Crusaders scored goals. Senior midfielder Mandy Schluter led the way with four goals while senior midfielder Lani Keipert had one goal.
Senior defender Sydney Hennesey and junior defender Josie Knollman had one goal and one assist each for the Crusaders. Senior forward Cassidy Cline, junior defender Kayla Unkraut and sophomore forward Chloe Shea had the other goals.
“I feel like everybody wants to go to practices, go to games all the time,” Keipert said. “It’s always good energy. It’s never bad energy anytime ever. St. Henry is such a small school. Everyone kind of knows each other. That helps a lot. We’re all pretty close. We hang out outside of soccer, outside of school. It helps to be able to connect like that.”
St. Henry travels to Ryle (1-2) on Saturday at 7:30 pm NewCath travels to Beechwood (1-2) on Saturday for a 12:30 pm game.
Notre Dame 1, Conner 0
The Pandas (4-0) had to dig deep facing a confident Lady Cougars squad (2-2-1) in a rematch from last year’s 9th Region semifinal.
The game’s lone goal came just eight minutes into it. Panda freshman Sadie Yapp scored it for her first career varsity goal and Notre Dame made it stand. The defending state champions are battling some injuries right now.
“The good news is that we have girls stepping up and we were able to get a good result against a team that is solid this year,” said Suli Kayed, Notre Dame head coach. “It’s one of those games where we had to fight until the last minute. If we would have taken care of a couple of opportunities, we could have taken care of it earlier. But overall, I’m super proud of my girls with how they battled. I don’t think we allowed Conner to have much freedom for opportunities. But kudos to Conner for competing as well.”
Notre Dame plays host to South Oldham (4-0) on Monday at 7:30 pm Conner plays host to South Dearborn (Indiana) on Saturday at 11:30 am
Simon Kenton 2, Oldham County 0
The Pioneers (2-1-2) took down the Colonels (1-2) in an 8th Region battle. Simon Kenton senior goalkeeper Olivia York had seven saves in her second shutout of the season.
“It definitely clicked in the second half. We started off very slowly,” said Hillary Johnson, Simon Kenton head coach. “The best part was that they stayed positive both with each other and themselves even though things weren’t going our way.”
Two freshmen scored the goals for Simon Kenton. Forward Reese Johnson scored on a nice pass from senior midfielder Kendall Cunningham.
The second goal came when senior Sophie Decker hit a corner kick that freshman midfielder Meg Gadzala put in. Freshman Ella Smith had an assist on the play.
“I think communication is a big part of it, also making sure you keep your head up,” Cunningham said. “You just look for the pass and look for that person. It’s about connecting with each other. I think the coaching staff made sure we didn’t get in our own heads.”
Simon Kenton plays three games in the Smoky Mountain Cup over the weekend at the Rocky Top Sports World in Tennessee.
Boone County 6, Pendleton County 0
The Lady Rebels (3-0-1) saw freshman Cayleigh Mullins and junior forward/midfielder Kamryn Simmons score two goals each. Sophomore forward/midfielder Maliyah Fayson and senior all-around player Emily Hunley scored one each.
Boone County travels to Woodford County (2-2) on Saturday for a 1 pm game. Pendleton Co. travels to Grant Co. on Monday.
Walton-Verona 3, Scott 1
The Bearcats (4-1) took care of the Eagles (1-1-1) at home.
Junior midfielders Olivia Sams, Emily Bowlin and junior forward Emma Landrum scored the Bearcat goals. Sophomore Josie Puthoff scored the Scott goal and junior Catherine Wiggins had the assist.
Walton-Verona plays host to Gallatin County (1-2-1) on Monday at 7:30 pm Scott plays host to Holy Cross (2-1) at the same time.
Bishop Brossart 3, Woodford County 1
The Lady ‘Stangs (2-1-1) ventured to Versailles and knocked off the Yellow Jackets (2-2).
Lady ‘Stangs senior goalkeeper Lauren Gooderson had four saves in the first half before freshman Maddie Broering added four in the second.
Juniors Avery Schaefer, Abby Lloyd and sophomore Zoey Woosley had the Brossart goals. Senior defender Brooke Shewmaker and junior midfielder Kiersten Key had the assists.
Bishop Brossart plays host to George Rogers Clark (3-1) on Monday. Game time is 7:30 pm
South Oldham 2, Highlands 0
The Bluebirds (1-2-1) fell to the undefeated Dragons (4-0). Highlands freshman goalkeeper Natalie Hinegardner had 12 saves.
Highlands travels to Ryle (1-2) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m
Other Girls Soccer Scores:
Villa Madonna 5, Gallatin County 0
Ludlow 3, Dayton 1
Boys soccer
Scott 4, Gallatin County 1
The Eagles (1-3) earned the road win against the Wildcats (0-3). Juniors Marshal Minor and Ethan Rogers had one goal and one assist each. Senior Carlos Marshall and sophomore Conner Schawe had one goal each. Junior goalkeeper Aiden Taylor had four saves.
Scott plays host to Calvary Christian (0-4) on Tuesday at 7:30 pm
Volleyball
Ryle 3, Newport Central Catholic:
The Lady Raiders (1-1) swept the visiting Thoroughbreds (0-2) by scores of 25-12, 25-15, 25-12.
Senior Maddie Clark led Ryle with 20 assists and five aces. Junior Alexis Woolf had 14 digs with Kiana Dinn recording 20 kills.
Ryle plays at Campbell County (1-0) on Tuesday. Game time is 7 pm
Other Volleyball Scores:
Sacred Heart 3 (16-25, 26-24, 18-25, 25-22, 16-14), Notre Dame 2
Ludlow 2 (25-12, 25-20), Heritage Academy 0
Ludlow 2 (24-26, 25-18, 15-11), Grant County 1
Grant County 2 (25-6, 25-10), Heritage Academy 0
Pendleton County 2 (24-26, 25-18, 25-13), Dayton 1
Trimble County 2 (25-23, 25-21), Walton-Verona 0