It was a high-scoring affair between the only two programs to win the 9th Region crowns since the current format began in 2012.
Notre Dame defeated Highlands on Saturday, 4-3 at the Buenger Sports Complex in Park Hills.
The Pandas improve to 12-3-2 on the season while the Bluebirds drop to 8-6-2.
“I’m happy that we pulled out the result,” said Suli Kayed, Notre Dame head coach. “Physicality-wise, I think the ref did a good job not getting too emotional because I think other referees would have started giving out cards and this is the way I like it – just keep it under control. I’m proud of our girls for grinding and finding a way to get the win. But again, can we stop allowing teams to breath against us and can we just take over the game for 80 minutes? I can count on my hand the number of times we’ve been broken down and scored on and then the rest of the goals, we give to the other team. Not taking credit away from Highlands. But on two of the three goals they got, we didn’t do our job. We could have prevented the goals. So that is our focus leaving this game.”
Highlands freshman goalkeeper Natalie Hinegardner made two saves while Panda junior goalkeeper Hannah Renaker had one.
“They’re defending state champions for reason,” said Chris Norris, Highlands head coach. “They have some fantastic players. They ping the ball around really well. They had a big night with their Homecoming and everything like that. So emotionally, they had more to fight for. I thought we gave them a pretty good run for it. The scoreboard didn’t go in our favor. Their set pieces are fantastic.”
The Pandas scored two goals in the final 25 minutes off corner kicks to win the game. Notre Dame senior Ellie Greenwell shot a corner kick and senior Ava Summe scored her sixth goal of the season to tie the game at 3-3 with 23 minutes, 44 seconds left in the game.
“We’ve been preaching set pieces because a lot of times when you are facing a top team in the state, it comes down to them,” Kayed said. “If you allow a set piece goal in my philosophy, you have to score two set pieces. Number one is defending your set pieces. We gave away one because we didn’t clear it, which we should have. But again, credit to the girls because we’ve had so many set pieces that we didn’t put in the back of the net and we did it twice (Saturday). So I’m happy with that.”
Then with 20:37 left in the game. Greenwell put in another corner kick. In the scramble, sophomore Riley Robertson scored the game-winner for her ninth goal of the year.
Tied 2-2 at halftime, Highlands junior standout Laney Smith gave the Bluebirds the lead when Renaker tried to clear a ball but it deflected off Smith into the goal. That is Smith’s 17th goal this season.
Smith is known to make a move to right in the middle and fire one toward the goal but Notre Dame junior Kimmie Woeste marked her and the Pandas did not allow anything like that.
“I think it’s been something we’ve been working on all season is making sure one of our center backs is marking the nine (opposing forward),” Woeste said. “That was especially in this game because Laney Smith is so good. I think it took an extra special focus to not let her get on the ball and anticipate.”
Smith recorded her fourth assist of the year just 62 seconds into the game to senior Anna Melson to give Highlands an early 1-0 advantage. Melson has eight goals this year.
But after Renaker recovered to stop the ball with Smith drawing near with 17:36 left in the first half, Greenwell booted in a free kick to tie the game at 1-1 for her 10th of the season. Then sophomore Maya Lawrie scored from the left side with 12:58 left to give Notre Dame the 2-1 lead.
“I really haven’t shot that much all year and my teammates have been encouraging me to shoot it,” Lawrie said. “There’s nothing bad that can happen from shooting it. It was like, ‘Alright. This is my chance. I’m going to rip this.’ It was a perfect shot.”
Highlands tied the game with 4:37 left in the first half when junior Lindsay Stein booted a corner kick into the box and junior Katie Jamie scored, her seventh goal of the year.
Highlands travels to Simon Kenton (10-3-4) on Monday for a 7:30 p.m. game. Notre Dame plays host to Cincinnati Mercy McAuley (2-4-4) on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
All A Soccer State Girls Tournament
Walton-Verona knocked off Prestonsburg, 2-1 on kicks from the mark in the state quarterfinals.
Senior midfielder Kaylee Neace scored her sixth goal of the season unassisted with one minute, 27 seconds left to send the game to overtime tied 1-1.
Walton-Verona won kicks from the mark 3-1 with senior goalkeeper Payton Kenny making two saves. She made nine in regulation. Junior defender Kassie Evans, junior midfielder Trinity Bauwens and sophomore forward Cam Christy made the kicks from the mark for the Bearcats.
But the Bearcats (12-4-1) then lost 3-0 to Bardstown Bethlehem in the semifinals. Kenny had 18 saves for Walton-Verona. But it is still the furthest the Bearcats have advanced in the All “A” State Tournament.
The Bishop Brossart Mustangs (9-6-2) goal-ruled Middlesboro, 11-0 resulting in the game ending at halftime in the quarterfinals. But they then lost 1-0 to Owensboro Catholic in the semifinals.
Walton-Verona plays host to Villa Madonna on Monday at 7:30 p.m. Bishop Brossart plays host to Lexington Catholic on Monday at 7 p.m.
Other Girls Soccer Scores
Bishop Brossart 3, Scott 0
Villa Madonna 9, St. Patrick 0
Bourbon County 1, Boone County 1
St. Henry 4, Cincinnati (Ohio) McNicholas 2
Dixie Heights 6, Ryle 1
Newport Central Catholic 4, Villa Madonna 2
Boys Soccer
Ceylan Breaks School Record for Walton-Verona
Walton-Verona senior Arif Ceylan scored four goals in the 4-2 win over Boone County on Saturday. Ceylan has a school-record 27 goals on the season.
The Bearcats also beat Owen County, 5-0 on Saturday to move to 11-6-3 on the season. They have one regular season game remaining against Beechwood (8-8-1) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
Boone County (5-10) travels to St. Henry (4-7) on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. game.
Other Boys Soccer Scores
St. Henry 4, Villa Madonna 0
Ryle 4, Lexington Catholic 3
Ryle 1, Daviess County 0
Lexington Dunbar 0, Dixie Heights 0
Cincinnati (Ohio) Elder 3, Conner 0
Covington Catholic 1, Simon Kenton 1
Villa Madonna 1, St. Patrick 0
Scott 4, Carroll County 0
Central Hardin 3, Holy Cross 0
Bryan Station 5, Holy Cross 0
Volleyball
Highlands Wins Cake Classic
Highlands (11-11 overall) won its own Cake Classic for the second straight year edging Bishop Brossart, 2-1 (19-25, 25-14, 15-13) in the championship game.
“We definitely are building off the win Thursday after we played NewCath,” said Michelle Woods, Highlands Head Coach. “We came back at 8 a.m. then took Campbell County in three. We had some moments (Saturday). But we build and feed off our home tournament. We wanted to win it so there we go.”
The Mustangs (15-11), Campbell County and Highlands split in pool play during the morning session. Bishop Brossart beat Boone County and then Campbell County, 2-1 in the semifinals to make it back to the championship game. Highlands beat Lloyd Memorial and then Beechwood for the first time in three meetings to make it back to the title game.
Senior Emma Daly led the way for the Bluebirds with six kills with senior setter Kenzi Vennefron recording eight assists and sophomore setter Ella Cox making six assists. Vennefron and freshman defensive specialist Hayden Gessner had two aces each.
“Honestly, it’s a lot of hard work we put in,” Gessner said. “It’s a relief when it pays off. We have a lot of fun together and we love each other so much. That helps with team camaraderie.”
Bishop Brossart had 26 kills, two aces from junior defensive specialist Cecilia Phirman, seven blocks and 18 assists. Sophomore Corrine Blackburn had 10 kills and three blocks with junior middle blocker Payton Parker recording six kills and four blocks. Eighth grade setter Aubrey Rebholz had 13 assists.
Blackburn controlled the net in the first game recording four kills to help Brossart built an 8-3 lead. Highlands came back to tie the game at 13 before the Mustangs pulled away.
“It was awesome seeing our team come together and just play as one because we’ve been trying to figure that out this whole season,” said Ava Thomas, Brossart senior hitter/defensive specialist. “Having fun on the court was a big deal. When we (do those things), we play amazing.”
But the Mustang errors mounted in the second game allowing Highlands to build a 5-1 lead. Brossart cut it to seven before the Bluebirds won it.
“We kind of lost that second game at the very beginning,” said Sydney Bragg, Brossart assistant coach. “We kind of came out a little slow. We tried to get our groove back, keep communicating, get our spirits up. They came back and fought that third game so we’re definitely proud of them.”
Highlands opened the decisive third game with two Vennefron aces and a Phirman kill to go up 4-0. The Bluebirds led 6-1 prompting a Brossart timeout.
Blackburn landed a kill to tie the game at 13. But two Brossart errors gave Highlands the championship.
“I definitely think we’ve had a turn in the season,” said Bailey Houston, Highlands senior. “Our energy has to be up all of the time. We found a way to dig deep because we enjoy (the game) so much. Our motivation is playing as a team to help get it done.”
Highlands plays host to Bellevue (4-13) on Monday at 6 p.m. Brossart travels to Calvary Christian for a 7 p.m. game Tuesday.
Cooper Earns Program Win 300 on Saturday
The Jaguars finished 3-2 in the Kentucky Challenge over the weekend, but recorded the 300th win in program history.
On Friday, Cooper knocked off Tates Creek, 2-0 (25-15, 25-7) and South Warren, 2-1 (25-19, 23-25, 16-14). Then on Saturday, Cooper beat Franklin (Tennessee) Page, 2-0 (25-19, 25-23) and losing 2-1 (23-25, 25-21, 15-13) to Great Crossing and 2-1 (25-14, 25-27, 15-9) to McCracken County.
Cooper travels to Notre Dame (16-3) on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. game.
Other Volleyball Scores
Bellevue 2 (22-25, 25-16, 15-13), Mason County 1
Bellevue 2 (25-18, 25-11), Holmes 0
Ludlow 2 (25-16, 25-18), Bellvue 0
Ludlow 2 (25-21, 25-17), Mason County 0
Ludlow 2 (25-21, 25-14), Dayton 0
Ludlow 2 (23-25, 25-16, 15-13), Heritage Academy 1
Dayton 2 (25-16, 25-15), Holmes 0
Dayton 2 (25-22, 25-18), Heritage Academy 0
Dayton 2 (25-23, 19-25, 15-12), Bellevue 1
Heritage Academy 2 (25-23, 25-18), Holmes 0
Heritage Academy 2 (25-10, 25-17), Mason County 0
Heritage Academy 2 (25-22, 26-24), Bellevue 0
Holmes 2 (17-25, 25-22, 15-13), Mason County 1
Ryle 2 (25-8, 25-16), Bryan Station 0
West Jessamine 2 (25-22, 25-11), Ryle 0
Ryle 2 (25-11, 16-25, 15-6), Scott County 1
Floyd Central 2 (31-29, 18-25, 15-13), Simon Kenton 1
Great Crossing 2 (25-19, 19-25, 15-13), Simon Kenton 1
Lexington Dunbar 2 (25-19, 27-25), Conner 0
Logan County 2 (25-19, 27-25), Conner 0
Conner 2 (20-25, 25-21, 15-10), Tates Creek 1
Conner 2 (26-24, 25-23), Greenwood 0
Greenwood 2 (25-23, 25-15), Conner 0