After two games that left them searching for their trademark sharpness, Covington Catholic finally looked every bit the defending 9th Region champion on Saturday.
The Colonels delivered a complete performance when it mattered most, overwhelming Conner 4–1 to claim a second consecutive boys soccer region title and return to the state tournament.
“Very few teams have repeated in this region and this is a good sigh of relief right now,” Colonels coach Jeremy Robertson said. ‘
From the opening whistle, CovCath imposed its will. The Colonels’ attack was relentless, firing 30 shots — 19 on target — and earning 10 corner kicks. Senior forward Cole Bishop struck twice in the first half to give the Colonels control, while Chase Kokocinski and Ethan Eibel added insurance goals in the second half to put the game out of reach.
“Everybody was connecting and we were getting forward and our defense was clicking,” Robertson said. “
Defensively, Covington Catholic’s veteran back line — anchored by Tournament MVP Tanner Robertson — set the tone. Robertson, the son of head coach Jeremy Robertson, led a senior-laden defense that allowed few chances and nearly posted a clean sheet.
“Our back line, we went from four to three, and we transitioned really well,” Tanner Robertson said. “We’ve been playing the whole four years here, so we just got a good
connection.”
The only breakthrough for Conner came in the 72nd minute, when Ayden Terry converted a penalty kick to get the Cougars on the board.
The win capped a region tournament run that began with a 1–0 victory over St. Henry and a penalty-kick shootout triumph against Newport Central Catholic in the semifinals. The Colonels admitted those early-round performances didn’t meet their standard, but Saturday’s dominant display showed what happens when everything clicks.
If not for Conner goalkeeper Abram Dostal and his 15 saves, the scoreline might have been even wider.
For Robertson, the championship carried a little extra meaning. Just days before the final, he learned he hadn’t been named Northern Kentucky’s Defensive Player of the Year. Rather than dwell on it, the senior responded with a performance that earned him the tournament MVP award — and another championship trophy for the case on the campus in Park Hills.
The Colonels will now turn their attention to the state tournament, where they’ll travel to face West Jessamine on Monday at 7 p.m.
“Different look, different team, someone we haven’t seen before,” Jeremy Robertson said. “But with our schedule, it sets us up to be equipped and adjust and we’re excited for it.”
Last year, CovCath fell in the opening round to eventual state champion Henry Clay, but this group looks primed to make a deeper run after finding its stride at the perfect time.
For Conner, Saturday marked the end of a memorable season. The Cougars reached the region final for the first time since 2008 and finished with 14 wins, setting a new bar for the program’s future. Eleven seniors will graduate, leaving behind a legacy that helped reestablish Conner as a contender in Northern Kentucky soccer.
“Told them after the game that I love them and I’m going to miss them like hell,” Cougars coach John Walker said. “We’re losing a lot, but we still have a lot of young talent. We just got a lot of work to do.”
In the end, it was Covington Catholic’s experience, composure, and timing that made the difference — a champion once more, playing its best soccer when it mattered most.
All-Tournament team
Ronan Joyce, Cooper
Wyet Rechtin, Beechwood
Jacob Prieshoff, Dixie Heights
Logan Thoss, St. Henry
Jason Frisk, Newport Central Catholic
Mitchell Franzen, Newport Central Catholic
Nick Wilson, Highlands
Luis McVicker, Highlands
Dallas Marshall, Conner
Ayden Terry, Conner
Abram Dostal, Conner
Cole Bishop, Covington Catholic
Booker Gifford, Covington Catholic
Matthew Witte, Covington Catholic
Tournament MVP: Tanner Robertson, Covington Catholic
