A postseason preview?
With the postseason looming in KHSAA boys soccer, Ryle and Highlands used their regular-season finale as an opportunity to prepare for what lies ahead.
The fifth-ranked Raiders prioritized rest and depth, while the 18th ranked Bluebirds looked to measure themselves against one of the region’s top teams ahead of district play.
The teams played to a 1-1 tie Thursday evening at Tower Park in Fort Thomas.
Ryle struck first in the 27th minute when senior Ishan Senthil headed home a goal off an assist from fellow senior Preston Scott.
Senthil, a non-starter for the Raiders, provided an example of what Ryle hoped to accomplish in their regular-season finale: giving players valuable experience before the postseason.
The Raiders used their starters only in the first half before regularly rotating players in and out during the second half.
“It’s really valuable, and that value comes in if we have an injury now, that maybe they can step in and fill that void,” Ryle head coach Stephen Collins said. “We let some of the young guys and actually I have so many seniors that don’t play all year long, that this was a great game for them to get experience and they held their own. I’m looking ahead to district. No injuries, no cards.”
The Raiders also rotated through three goalkeepers. Junior Drew Stropko started before senior Nicholas Heredia took over and recorded a save. Sophomore Taylor Evans finished the night, tallying two saves.
Highlands, meanwhile, kept their starters on the field throughout the match, using the opportunity to gain valuable minutes against one of the state’s top teams.
“It definitely is valuable in case we meet them in the region tournament, but it was also a game we needed to get in,” Highlands head coach Suli Kayed said. “I overbooked the schedule the week we were supposed to play them and they agreed to play us now. They played their varsity only in the first half, so that’s going to be our ability to see what we can do better next time.”
The Bluebirds found the equalizer in the 64th minute on a goal from senior Ethan Adhikary. Highlands also used two goalkeepers, with Phineas Weiss starting and recording three saves before Eli Pearson finished the match.
Both teams enter postseason play unbeaten against 9th Region opponents. Highlands holds a 6-0-3 record against region foes, while Ryle sits at 9-0-1.
With the possibility of a rematch in the region tournament, both teams used the finale to accomplish their respective goals without the pressure of a postseason elimination game. Each side had opportunities to add to the score, with Highlands recording five shots, four on goal, and Ryle finishing with eight shots, four on goal.
“We didn’t think about NCC or a district opponent, but a focus on a team we may meet in a couple weeks,” Kayed said. “I told the boys before the game, today should be a lesson and whether it’s a positive or a negative. That’s what this provided for us tonight.”
The Raiders (17-3-1) begin their postseason Tuesday against Boone County in the 33rd District semifinals at Boone County High School. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
“Our mantra has been one game at a time,” Collins said. “You can’t look ahead because as soon as you do that, somebody’s going to surprise you and take you out. We’re now looking ahead to Tuesday and what we need to do to get ready. One bad play, one mistake, one bad penalty could be your season, and that’s how we’ve approached what we need to do to move on.”
The Bluebirds (10-1-4) also open district play Tuesday, taking on Newport Central Catholic at NewCath at 7 p.m. The matchup serves as the 36th District championship, as Highlands and NewCath are the district’s only two schools fielding boys’ soccer teams.
BLUEBIRDS 1, RAIDERS 1
HIGHLANDS — 0-1 — 1
RYLE — 1-0 — 1
Game Stats
Goals: (H) Adhikary 64′, (R) Senthil 27′
Assists: (R) Scott
Shots (On Goal): Highlands 5(4), Ryle 8(4)
Saves: Highlands 3 (Weiss), Ryle 3 (Evans 2, Heredia 1)
Corner Kicks: Highlands 1, Ryle 1
Fouls: Highlands 5, Ryle 8
Offsides: Highlands 0, Ryle 2
Records: Highlands 10-1-4, Ryle 17-3-1
