Dixie Heights and Bishop Brossart battled to a scoreless tie to open their respective seasons at the Mustang Athletic Complex on Tuesday.
Both teams came into the season with high expectations of making things difficult on opposing offenses. They left appreciating the defensive efforts.
“They have skills all over the place. They have a good striker,” said Trey Crone, Dixie Heights head coach. “I think they were even missing one of their good players, so they’re going to be a very good team in the 10th. To come away with a 0-0 tie is a positive for us.”
Brossart outshot Dixie Heights, 8-6. Dixie Heights senior goalkeepers Brandon Honnerlaw had four saves and Brady Meyer made one in the second half. Meyer relieved Honnerlaw in the second half after Honnerlaw had to come out with an injury. Mustangs senior goalkeeper Michael Cooney also recorded a clean sheet.
“It’s super encouraging. Right now, we have some technical things that we need to work on,” said Ryle Cullen, Dixie Heights senior defender. “But we’re going to give the same effort, the same energy and the same effort every day.”
Both teams had their scoring chances. Dixie Heights sophomore Trevor Bolte had a free kick to the right just outside the attacking box with 13:21 left in the game, but could not convert.
“We just do our best to get back and cover all the guys running into the middle,” said Carter Goodman, Brossart senior defender. “Everyone is talking and making sure we stop the counter-attacks.”
Brossart junior Luke Alwell put a shot on target with 2:50 left, but Meyer kneeled down to make the save at the right post.
Mustangs head coach Run Dunlevy said he felt the team spent a majority of the game across midfield thanks to good rotations with the outside backs. But he said angles must improve.
“We kind of let them compress our attack often, which stifled our ability to get the ball through on goal,” Dunlevy said. “A key for us trying to get some width and try to pull them out so we can get some more one-on-ones on the outside and get some crosses in the box.”
Brossart plays at Conner on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Dixie Heights plays at Lexington Lafayette in the Fayette County Public Schools Showcase at 8 p.m. on Friday.
Boys Soccer
Newport Central Catholic 2, Simon Kenton 0
The Thoroughbreds ventured to Independence and came away with the shutout victory to open the season.
Junior midfielders Vinny Petroze and Chase Fields scored the goals for the Thoroughbreds. Senior Mason McCloskey had the shutout in goal.
NewCath plays host to Walton-Verona on Thursday at 6 p.m. Simon Kenton travels to Cooper on Thursday at 8 p.m.
Highlands 9, Scott 0
The Bluebirds won in Suli Kayed’s debut as head coach in convincing fashion.
Highlands outshot Scott, 33-0. Senior Jack Wilson played the first half at goalkeeper for Highlands and sophomore Sam Lang played the second half.
Sophomore Harrison Gamble had a hat trick for the Bluebirds with senior Chad Gesenhues scoring one goal to go with two assists. Seniors Zach DeSylva, Adarsh Khullar, juniors Nick Wilson and Sam Arnold added one each to go with a Scott own goal.
Highlands plays host to Beechwood on Thursday at 7:45 p.m., Scott travels to Pendleton County for a 5 p.m. game Thursday.
Covington Catholic 1, Conner 0
Aiden Leach scored the lone goal in the Colonels season opening victory over Conner.
Auggie Eilerman and Lucas Short combined for the shutout, Eilerman recording two saves.
Trey Walker and Owen King combined for 22 saves for the Cougars, the Colonels putting 22 shots on target to the Cougars two.
CovCath returns to action on Thursday on the road at South Oldham in a 7:30 p.m. start, Conner hosts Bishop Brossart on Thursday at the same time.
Other Boys Soccer Scores
Holy Cross 3, Boone County 0
Campbell County 10, Calvary Christian 0
Montgomery County 2, Cooper 1
Mason County 4, Holmes 1
Pendleton County 2, Villa Madonna 2
Girls Soccer
Ludlow 3, Bellevue 0
The Panthers shut out the Tigers in the first-ever game on the new red turf at James Rigney Stadium.
Ludlow outshot Bellevue, 36-7. Senior goalkeeper Brooklynn Huff turned back every Tiger shot to record the shutout.
Sophomores Addy Garrett, Gracie Jones and Ruby Dorger had the Ludlow goals. Seniors Quinn Dorger, Elizabeth Hibbard and junior Riley Bowen had assists.
Ludlow plays host to Holmes on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., Bellevue travels to Dayton for a 6 p.m. game Wednesday.