“Let’s go Highlands!,” the Bluebirds fan yelled Tuesday. “Keep it up!”
The Bluebirds on the pitch kept it up. They won another boys 36th District soccer title, a 4-1 win over Newport Central Catholic at Tower Park.
Highlands (9-5-1) won largely because of what Ethan Adhikary, Wyatt Zepf and Nick Wilson did in the first four minutes – Adhikary had a goal and an assist, Wilson had a goal, and Zepf added an assist.
“The last four games, we have come out and scored in the first five minutes, which is always a good way to start,” Highlands coach Suli Kayed said.
Tuesday’s win also added to NewCath’s (7-11-2) misery against Highlands. The Bluebirds are 38-12 over the Thoroughbreds, including a 17-2 streak since 2016.
It was perhaps understandable NewCath coach Ben Williams tossed the runner-up trophy toward his bench about 10 minutes after the final horn.
“Tough start for us,” Williams said. “I thought (Highlands) moved the ball pretty well and caught us, just caught us in some bad spots. They had good width, and I mean their execution in the final third was great. We definitely watched the ball too much, didn’t track our guy, and they were able to put those (goals) down and kind of set the tone.”
Adhikary’s goal in the second minute was essentially a tap-in past NewCath goalkeeper Mitchell Franzen, the result of Adhikary’s addition to the English language – Zepf’s being “super-pacey.”
“I saw that (NewCath’s) center back was already pushed up, so I had a free goal in the (18-yard) box, and I know my guy Wyatt (was) super-pacey,” Adhikary said.
Two minutes later, Adhikary’s help led to the first of Wilson’s two goals. The play started with Adhikary’s free kick from about 35 yards out, and Wilson beat two NewCath defenders and Franzen from about 12 yards out.
Wilson scored in the 33rd minute on Zepf’s assist.
NewCath had two early scoring chances. In the 16th minute, Ian Darnell’s shot sailed over the crossbar, as did Jason Frisk’s shot three minutes later.
The Thoroughbreds started with a 4-3-3 alignment, with its four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards – the setup they’ve used most of the season because NewCath can transition into other alignments. The goal: contain Highlands’ Luis McVicker, whose 13 goals going into Tuesday led the team.
Highlands countered with a 3-5-2, Kayed liked because he can have up to six attackers or defenders depending on the situation.
Williams’ halftime plea: quit sending every ball into a three-player umbrella at midfield and do not let McVicker dribble.
“We just weren’t active and weren’t very good ball-winners … consistently,” Williams said. “Occasionally, we would come out with the ball, but we needed to play a little bit better to feed and try to find our wingers a little bit more. It was just a little bit too direct, and we weren’t up for the challenge to win the ball in the air.”
NewCath avoided the shutout in the 46th minute when Andrew Green beat Highlands keeper Keifer Sower. Three minutes later, McVicker converted Wilson’s second assist.
According to the Kentucky High School Athletic Association, the region draw is scheduled for 9 a.m. Sunday at St. Henry. The semifinals and finals are at Holmes.
PHOTOS: Slideshow provided by Charles Bolton
