The Cooper Jaguars boys soccer team (9-0-3 overall) is rising up strong to challenges lately and it led to a huge road 33rd District seed win on Thursday.
Cooper ventured north to Hebron and downed the host Conner Cougars (8-3-2), 2-0 taking a step toward that top seed in the district tournament to be played in October at Boone County. Both teams entered the game 1-0 in district seed play with wins over the Rebels (4-8).
Cooper scored the only goal it needed just 4:54 into the game when their leading goal-scorer in senior forward Adam Morris took a pass from senior forward Maison Canfield and scored for his 14th goal this season. Canfield had four assists.
“(The first goal) is extremely vital, especially when we have a back four playing as well as our defense is playing right now,” said Doug Flesch, Cooper Head Coach. “The second we get a lead, we’ve trusted out defense throughout the season. It’s tough to get one past them.”
The Jaguars pretty much dictated the tempo from there outshooting the Cougars, 14-4 including an 11-2 advantage on goal. Conner junior goalkeeper Owen King and sophomore goalkeeper Trey Wagner combined for nine saves with the two Cooper goalkeepers in seniors Mason Pemberton and Keegan Truebner tallying one each.
“We both have our different skill sets. It’s a competition every game, every practice,” Pemberton said of splitting halves with Truebner. “But it’s like brotherhood. We’re close. We bring each other together if someone does bad. It just helps.”
“We played hard and we didn’t give up,” said John Walker, Conner head coach. “That’s the most important thing. When you’re down 2-0, it’s hard to keep your head up. It’s hard to keep going. I’m very proud of them. We’re just going to continue on one game at a time.”
Cooper had a nice chance to go up minutes later. But the Morris shot missed left.
The Jaguars added the second goal just three minutes, 23 seconds into the second half. Senior midfielder Vance Dawson found freshman forward Maddox Pemberton for a 2-0 lead. That is Maddox Pemberton’s sixth goal and Dawson’s fourth assist this year.
“A lot of people push me,” Maddox Pemberton said. “I’ve always played up levels. I just have to keep up with them. It was a great ball by Vance. I had to be physical to push the defender off the ball then keep my composure to put it in the back of the net.”
Cooper travels to Ryle (6-3-2) on Tuesday for an 8 p.m. game. Conner takes on Holy Cross (5-6) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Bishop Brossart 3, Campbell County 0
The Mustangs (8-3-2) downed the Camels (6-7-1) in the crucial 37th District seed game to take the top seed in the district tournament to be played at Scott.
Brossart finished 3-0 in district seed play and has won seven in a row overall shutting out five opponents this season. The Mustangs have won the last five meetings against the Camels.
“The seniors sat our our goals this year and this is one goal that they wanted to accomplish,” said Ron Dunlevy, Brossart Head Coach. “Obviously, Campbell County is the closest rival to us and they really gave us a good fight. They seem really dedicated to working hard to achieve the goals they set and honestly, in the first half, they pulled it together in the first half and started to execute the way they needed to execute to make it a victory.”
Junior Tyler Smith had one goal and two assists for the Mustangs. Sophomore Alex Runge had one goal and one assist. Junior Landon Guidugli had the other goal.
“It felt good to win at home,” said Colin Ratcliff, Brossart senior middle defender. “It sure helped when we went over to celebrate with (the home crowd).”
Brossart takes on Newport Central Catholic (10-1-2) on Saturday at Morscher Field at 2 p.m. in the 9th/10th Region All “A” Sectional Game.
Campbell County plays host to Calvary Christian (1-11-1) at 7:30 p.m. in another district seed game. The Camels are 0-1 in district seed with Scott standing 1-1 and Calvary Christian 0-2.
Highlands 4, Holy Cross 1
The Bluebirds (7-4-2) downed the Indians (5-6) at Tower Park in a 9th Region game.
Highlands junior midfielder Adarsh Khullar had one goal and one assist. Junior midfielders Jack Haggard, Chad Gesenhues and senior midfielder Tyler Layman had the other goals with sophomore Ethan Schweitzer and senior midfielder Peyton Helminiak tallying assists.
Highlands junior goalkeeper Jack Wilson had a good game stopping five Indian shots.
Highlands plays host to Montgomery County (9-6) on Saturday at 6 p.m. Holy Cross plays host to Calvary Christian (1-11-1) on Saturday in a 5:30 p.m. game.
Other Boys Soccer Scores
Archbishop McNicholas (Cincinnati) 4, Covington Catholic 1
Dixie Heights 3, Beechwood 1
Ryle 9, Boone County 1
Walton-Verona 9, Calvary Christian 0
St. Henry 4, Scott 0
Girls Soccer Score
Ludlow 3, Dayton 1
Volleyball
Notre Dame 3, Holy Cross 0
The Pandas (14-3) downed the Indians (15-2) by 25-10, 25-18, 25-14 scores in 35th District action.
Notre Dame had 32 kills, four aces, 10 blocks, 29 digs and 25 assists in the victory. Senior Sydney Nolan had 10 kills with sophomore Ava Tilden and senior Peyton Mast tallying four and two blocks respectively. Sophomore Lauren Ott had 19 assists and freshman Lizzy Larkins had seven out of the 6-2 system.
“It means a lot. The coaches and players have all been supportive,” Ott said of receiving help adjusting to the varsity level. “It’s a team effort. I think it’s been going well. We’ve been mixing it up with the different hitters.”
The Pandas did well with the first passes. Senior Kamden Schrand had seven digs with senior Ava Hostetler and sophomore Julia Grace recording five and four digs respectively.
The Indians had 23 kills. Junior power hitter Julia Hunt had 18 kills and two aces with senior setter Maya Hunt recording 21 assists.
“That’s what we focused on in practice (Wednesday) was moving over, communicating and finding (Julia Hunt),” said Jenna Leistner, Notre Dame Associate Head Coach. “I’m glad that they transitioned what we worked on in practice to the match. They did a really good job.”
Holy Cross faces Community Christian at 6:45 p.m. and Trinity Christian in Pool C play on Friday in the All A State Tournament. Notre Dame plays host to Dixie Heights (8-3) on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
Scott 3, Newport Central Catholic 0
The Eagles (16-4) downed the Thoroughbreds (10-9) by 25-19, 25-22, 25-18 scores surpassing last year’s win total.
“We talked all week about how tough this was going to be,” said Andrea Sullivan, Scott head coach. “It’s our Homecoming week, too at school. The girls have that going on in the back of their heads over anything so it was about staying focused. We talked about being road warriors. We had to go out to three different gyms this week. If you count going down to South Oldham this week, that’s four. I think it was a lot about preaching toughness and mentally staying in the game being ready for the next play no matter what comes our way. We just had to stay solid and I thought we did a much better job passing the ball than the last time we played NCC.”
Senior Laine Morman had 24 digs and senior Audrey Griffin had 27 assists and 16 digs. Freshman Milyn Minor had 11 kills and 10 digs with senior Makaylah Mitchell recording eight kills and 10 digs. Sophomore Elise Manhardt had 10 digs and junior Brooke Balsley had six kills.
“I think that we do a really good job of noticing when players get down on themselves and having a little chat with them to get them up so they’re not all in their heads,” said Lexi Rogers, Scott senior. “We let them know everybody makes mistakes and they can do better.”
NewCath senior Camryn Kohrs had 17 digs, one kill and three assists with junior Kori Reckers recording five kills, 16 assists, 13 digs and two aces. Sophomore Reese McCloskey had six kills with junior Lucy Simons tallying six digs and two aces.
Scott plays host to Beechwood (9-8) on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Dixie Heights 3, Boone County 0
The Colonels (8-3) won the 9th Region game by 25-6, 25-20, 25-18 scores over the Rebels for their eighth straight win.
Senior Maia Long had 16 kills and junior Maggie Best had 12 kills for the Colonels. Junior Christen Tarter had 28 digs and freshman setter Riley Byrne had 28 assists.
Dixie Heights travels to Notre Dame (14-3) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Boone County plays host to Grant County (6-5) on Monday at 7:30 p.m.
Other Volleyball Scores
Campbell County 3 (25-20, 25-11, 25-17), Calvary Christian 0
Conner 2 (25-19, 25-21), Villa Madonna 0
Simon Kenton 3 (25-11, 25-14, 25-11), Campbell County 0
St. Henry 3 (25-10, 25-10, 25-13), Highlands 0
Williamstown 2 (25-7, 25-14), Covington Latin 0
