Covington Catholic made a successful return to the boys state soccer tournament Monday when the Colonels won a first-round match against Montgomery County, 3-2, in a penalty kick shootout.
This is the first time since 2016 that CovCath has qualified for the state tournament as the 9th Region champion. The Colonels will take a 12-8-5 record into a quarterfinal match against 12th Region champion Somerset (12-5-1) that’s set for 5 p.m. Saturday at Somerset.
CovCath goalkeeper Carter Eilers
CovCath took a 1-0 lead in the first half of Monday’s match when Jacob Brandenburg scored off an assist by Luke Gallenstein. Montgomery County jumped ahead 2-1 late in the second half, but the Colonels got the equalizer with three minutes remaining. Aiden Leach scored the tying goal off an assist by Steven Weil.
After two five-minute overtime periods, both teams selected five players for a penalty kick shootout. The Colonels won by converting their first four kicks. Montgomery County put its first attempt over the crossbar and its fourth one was saved by CovCath goalkeeper Carter Eilers.
CovCath is the only Northern Kentucky boys soccer team that owns a state championship trophy. The Colonels won the 2015 state tournament and lost in the 2016 state final on a penalty kick shootout.
Notre Dame will host Campbell County in the first round of the girls state soccer tournament at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Notre Dame is the state’s top-ranked girls team with a 24-0-1 record that includes a state record 22 shutouts. In a regular season game on Sept. 25, Notre Dame defeated Campbell County, 5-0.
