The current senior class at St. Henry was in fifth grade the last time the Crusaders won a girls’ soccer district championship.
Eight years later, they can say they’ve done it themselves.
St. Henry defeated six-time defending district champion Dixie Heights 3-0 to claim the 34th District title Wednesday night at James Rigney Memorial Stadium, home of Ludlow.
The seniors had witnessed the drought firsthand, falling to the Colonels by scores of 1-0, 2-0 and 4-3 during their time in the program. This time, the Crusaders made sure the result was different.
St. Henry head coach Nathan Henderson credited his senior leadership with helping the team break through this season.
“The captains and seniors lead the charge here,” Henderson said. “They make it a good atmosphere for all the girls to play in. Everyone’s excited to come to practice, they have fun and when it comes time to play the game, they’ve got their mission. This environment is driven by our seniors.”
Seniors Hayden Harlan and Mady Lux earned spots on the 34th District All-Tournament team, with Lux also taking home tournament MVP honors. Junior Macy Garner was the third Crusader named to the team.
Lux opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when her corner kick bounced through traffic and into the net.
“There’s a lot of emotions, a lot of nostalgia,” Lux said. “I’ve been playing for four years and I’ve watched our team do so much in the program and come so far. We’ve been close to the district finals, so I’m just so excited to bring it home and to finally have that win.”
Lux and Harlan are captains alongside fellow senior Bella O’Neill, who doubled the lead in the 50th minute by finding the back of an empty net.
“O’Neill is the president of St. Henry and a great leader,” Henderson said. “She carries the binder around and the girls come a little earlier before warmups and sit around and come up with their individual goals that are in unison with team goals. Mady is our six, controls the middle of the field and Hayden is a great attacker that really encourages people.”
Senior goalkeeper Kaylee Ryan played her part behind a defense that limited Dixie Heights to five shots, with just one on goal. Ryan made the save to preserve the shutout.
The Crusaders generated 17 shots, putting nine on target. Dixie Heights goalkeeper Reese Ragan recorded six saves.
“They’ve been improving the last couple years and the district championship gets more difficult each year. They were worthy of winning tonight,” Dixie Heights head coach Alex Dean said. “They move the ball so quickly and do a great job moving the ball and making us work on defense.”
St. Henry added their third and final goal in the closing seconds, with sophomore Ashlyn Landerwitch scoring with 11 seconds remaining.
Seniors Maggie Brady and Madelyn Kriger earned All-Tournament team honors for the Colonels.
Dixie Heights (7-11-1) enters the 9th Region tournament as one of four district runners-up. The Colonels will face one of the district champions: Ryle, Notre Dame or Highlands.
“This is the first time in a while we’ve gone into the region and faced a district champion,” Dean said. “Since we’ve won the last few years, we’ve had a target on our back in that first game and this time we get to be the spoilers. Everyone’s expecting whoever we face to win and we kind of like it like that.”
St. Henry (12-6-2) advances as a district champion and will face one of the other three district runners-up — Newport Central Catholic, Holy Cross or Conner.
34th District All-Tournament team
Left to right: Hayden Harlan (St. Henry), Macy Garner (St. Henry) Mady Lux (MVP, St. Henry), Madelyn Kriger (Dixie Heights), Maggie Brady (Dixie Heights), Oumy Faye (Lloyd Memorial), McKenzi Marcum (Ludlow)
Not pictured: Emma Tupman (Villa Madonna)
MORE PHOTOS: Provided by Charles Bolton
CRUSADERS 3, COLONELS 0
ST. HENRY — 1-2 — 3
DIXIE HEIGHTS — 0-0 — 0
Game Stats
Goals: (SH) Lux 23′, O’Neill 50′, Landerwitch 80′
Shots (On Goal): St. Henry 17 (9), Dixie Heights 5 (1)
Saves: St. Henry 1 (Ryan), Dixie Heights 6 (Ragan)
Corner Kicks: St. Henry 1, Dixie Heights 4
Fouls: St. Henry 7, Dixie Heights 5
Records: St. Henry 12-6-2, Dixie Heights 7-11-1
