This story originally appeared in the Sept. 29 edition of the weekly LINK Reader. To get these stories first, subscribe here.
The win-loss record isn’t gaudy. Statistics aren’t exactly eye-popping. With no new records in the books and milestones in short supply, there hasn’t been much in terms of recent news for the Covington Catholic High School soccer team.
Colonels coach Jeremy Robertson, a man with a sense of humor, was asked about the most compelling storyline regarding his squad, and his response was: “Did you come up with anything yet?”
While Robertson is clever, he takes CovCath’s record quite seriously. The Colonels were a break-even team as late as Sept. 5, with a 5-5-3 mark.
Yet there is a feeling the Colonels are marching inexorably toward another 35th District championship and a sixth straight appearance in the 9th Region tournament final. The hope at CovCath is that the beefed-up schedule, while taking some of the luster off the overall record, is baking in some benefits down the road.
“I’ve always done a tough schedule,” Robertson said. “It challenges you. It gives the team some character. It tells you how hard you have to work. It gives you a lot of different looks at playing styles and formations, so in really important games, you can react in a timely manner.”
A difficult schedule can also saddle a team with a record that belies its true caliber, which is what’s happening at CovCath. But co-captain Cole Hubert would have it no other way.
“A tough schedule teaches us how to play against difficult teams,” said Hubert, one of 11 seniors. “And it teaches us how to play together.”
The Colonels are getting better by the week. Though improvements weren’t necessarily being reflected in the record, they were on the field.
“Everybody’s team is good these days. On top of that, we’re playing a pretty tough schedule again this year,” Robertson said. “Lately, we’ve been talking about winning individual battles that help team results.”
A look at the schedule reveals the gauntlet the Colonels set up for themselves. The slate features a host of state powers.
In Kentucky, they have played out-of-town powerhouses Louisville Trinity, Louisville St. Xavier, DeSales and Lexington Catholic. In Ohio, the Colonels have faced stalwarts Centerville, Dayton Carroll and Cincinnati McNicholas.
Locally, they have taken on Highlands, Ryle, Dixie Heights, Newport Central Catholic, Cooper, Conner and Simon Kenton, all ranked in the Top 10 of the Northern Kentucky High School Boys Soccer Coaches Association preseason poll.
CovCath fell to Trinity, St. Xavier and Ryle by 1-0 scores. The low point was a 9-0 loss to Centerville. Though there were few positives to pull from that, it was the only time the Colonels were beaten by more than one goal through the first 16 games.
Then in late August, some positive trends emerged. The Colonels went three weeks and lost once. Also, they suffered just one loss in the first seven games against regional competition, underscoring their continued success locally and perhaps giving a preview of upcoming regional tournament success.
The tide began to turn with a 6-0 win over Cincinnati Country Day, with two goals from Aiden Leach and a pair of assists from Hubert. Auggie Eilerman posted the shutout in a 0-0 tie against Cooper. Chris Wessels scored in a 1-1 tie against Highlands. Leach, Jack Fleck and Andrew Roland scored in a 3-2 win over DeSales. Wessels scored along with Roland in a 2-1 win over Dixie Heights.
Fleck, one of 13 juniors, led the Colonels with eight goals through the first six weeks. Leach had seven goals. Wessels and Roland had five each. Hubert had three.
Senior co-captain Jacob Pieper attributed finer play of late to improved communication.
“I think that it’s allowing us to connect better,” Pieper said. “We’re moving the ball around a lot more, too, and making better passes.”
The Colonels also make the extra pass, when necessary, though scoring opportunities have been limited. Leach led the Colonels with four assists after the first six weeks. Hubert had three assists. Roland had two. Owen Robertson and Tanner Robertson, the coach’s sons, had one goal and one assist each.
Colin Weiler, Jacob Brown and Hudson Schreiber key the defense.
“Our goal, obviously, is to win a state championship,” Pieper said. “If everybody gives 100 percent, we can win it.”
The last and only CovCath state crown came in 2015. Parts of the squad remain. Robertson’s entire staff played on that team.
With regard to milestones this season, one belongs to coach Robertson. He earned career win No. 250 with the Sept. 14 victory at Dixie Heights. He’s won 168 games in 12 seasons at CovCath. The other milestones could belong to the team. The Colonels are pursuing their 36th championship in the 35th District. If they win their first regional title in two years, it will be their 20th regional crown.
