These games have been known to be tight battles until the very end as the two remaining teams in the 33rd District soccer tournaments battle not only for the district championship, but also for better positioning in the 9th Region quarterfinals.
When the dust settled, the Ryle Raiders boys (17-2-1) won their fourth district title in a row and the Cooper Jaguars girls (12-6-2) won their first since 2020. Both will play host to a district runner-up in the region quarterfinals.
Girls
Cooper 2, Conner 1
One year after losing in the district semifinals as the top seed, Cooper won the tournament at Fred Nevel Stadium against the host and top-seeded Cougars.
Senior Maleah Alexander, who almost didn’t play soccer this year to focus on basketball, made a huge difference in the game scoring both goals with Kamdyn Hamilton assisting both. The first one came on a breakaway just 3:54 into the game on a counter. She dribbled right and slipped it past Conner goalkeeper Ally Welch in what turned out to be Cooper’s lone shot of the first half.
“The main thing (with one-on-ones) is staying focused,” Alexander said. “I have to just focus on me, the goal and the goalkeeper. Wherever the goalkeeper is at, you have to block out all the noise, where the defenders are and just execute because I know I can do it because I’ve been practicing.”
Conner had a couple scoring chances before tying it with 24:25 left in the half. Ella Mann put in a rebound for her ninth goal of the year as the teams went into halftime tied, 1-1.
Conner (16-4-3) dominated time of possession in the first half outshooting Cooper, 11-4 for the entire game. Both teams put four shots on net overall. Cooper goalkeeper Allie Ames had three saves and Welch had two.
“We’ve been that way all year to be honest,” said Mike Hughes, Conner head coach. “Cooper didn’t have a shot the last time we played. We dominated on defense. We possessed and played the way we play. We just didn’t finish. I think at the end of the day when you let teams hang around, anything can happen.”
Despite that, Cooper employed the strategy of doubling Conner near the sidelines unlike the regular season game that Conner won 2-0 on Sept 13. The Jaguars won many balls back that way or forced Conner to restart with throw-ins.
But Cooper won more 50-50 balls in the second half creating more shot opportunities. After an injury to Cooper freshman Raegan Johnson stopped play with 26:31 left, Hamilton had a free kick that Welch stopped.
But with 18:35 left in the game, Hamilton found Alexander up the right side for the game-winning goal. Alexander owns a team-high 17 goals on the season.
“Maleah brings a lot to the team as far as her leadership,” said Scott Hughes, Cooper head coach. “She is not afraid to point things out to her teammates and even pulls people along with her. We can put her all over the field wherever we need her.”
After that, Cooper buckled down on possessing the ball and defending. The Cougars did not get any good looks at the net after Cooper took the lead.
“It’s about going after the ball and keeping your team in mind,” said Claire Tveton, Cooper midfielder. “You always have to give it your all. This is my last year as a senior. I have a very limited time to play so I just want to give it my all on the field and keep my teammates in mind.”
It was a clean game as neither team had any cards. Cooper had 13 fouls to nine for Conner.
Cooper senior Kathrynne Day won the tournament’s most valuable player honors with Alexander and Hamilton joining her on the All-Tournament team. Mann and Reagan Buchert made the all-tournament team for Conner with Boone County’s Emma Hicks and Ryle’s Ella Hoenderkamp joining them.
Cooper is back in the region tournament for the first time in three years. Conner is going for the fifth straight year. The Cougars won their last district championship two years ago.
Boys
Ryle 2, Cooper 1
Ryle withstood a huge challenge from the Union neighbors on the way to district crown.
The Raiders put up more shots at 14-5 including eight on net. Cooper goalkeeper Carson Morgan made six saves and Ryle goalkeeper Landon Barth had four.
“I think the experience kept us calm,” said Stephen Collins, Ryle head coach. “In a game like this, whenever you play Cooper, it’s a wrestling match. That’s how they like to play. Even with everything going against us, we kept our composure. We made it to halftime and were able to refocus. We came out in the second half and played some really good soccer. We possessed the ball and moved the ball.”
Both teams scored goals in the game’s first 20 minutes. Ryle struck first as Diego Hoenderkamp scored his team-high 23rd of the season on an assist from Anes Smajlovic.
Cooper came back to tie the game with 21:20 left in the half. Jermaine Cameron scored on a pass from Maddox Pemberton. The score stayed tied 1-1 at halftime.
Ryle had a free kick blocked by the wall and the rebound go high with 22:19 left in the game, but the Raiders scored the game-winner with 19:46 left when Brice Denigan scored his 21st of the season.
“I was composed. I didn’t feel much pressure,” Denigan said. “I just wanted to help our team win and make sure our seniors got four years of winning this (tournament). It feels good to have a great win going into the regional tournament.”
Ryle buckled down on defense after that. The Raiders have allowed just 16 goals on the season, posting 11 shutouts.
“They place two strikers so you have to drop a defender from the midfield,” said Chris Maraduaga, Ryle defender. “The communication has been good. We talk a lot on defense. You just bring each other up. If someone makes a mistake, I tell them to do better next time.”
Cooper is still going to the region tournament for the first time in two years. The Jaguars won their last district championship in 2018.
“It was an extremely physical game like we always plan for,” said Doug Flesch, Cooper head coach. “They play like the always do so there were no surprises there.”
Smajlovic, Barth and Hoenderkamp earned all-tournament honors with Barth earning MVP honors. Landon Hughes and Tanner Musgrave made it for Cooper along with Conner goalkeeper Owen King and Boone County goalkeeper David Courtney.