By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Dixie Heights won a dramatic penalty kick shootout to hand Ryle its first on-field loss of the season in the semifinals of the 9th Region boys soccer tournament on Thursday at St. Henry.
Both teams scored a goal in the first half and the match remained tied through the second half and two overtime periods. After both teams converted on four penalty kicks in the first shootout, Dixie Heights got a goal and Ryle did not in the sudden death round of penalty kicks.
Dixie Heights coach Trey Crone
Ryle finishes the season with a 13-6-2 record, but five of those losses were forfeits for using an ineligible player. Last year, the Raiders posted a 17-1-0 record with their only loss coming on a penalty kick shootout in a state semifinal match against South Warren.
Dixie Heights takes a 15-3-2 record into the region championship match against Covington Catholic (10-8-5) at 4 p.m. Saturday at Boone County High School. In the other semifinal on Thursday, CovCath defeated Highlands, 1-0, in a penalty kick shootout.
After neither team got a goal during two 40-minute regulation periods and two five-minute overtime periods, CovCath won the shootout, 3-1, to advance to the region final for the fourth consecutive year. The Colonels were region runner-up the last three years.
The last time Dixie Heights won a region championship in boys soccer was 1993, but the current team coached by Trey Crone defeated CovCath 1-0, in a regular season game on Sept. 30. That victory ended a long losing streak against CovCath that began before any of the players on either team were born.
Brossart lost to Montgomery County, 2-1, in the 10th Region semifinals on Thursday. The Mustangs end the season with a 14-7-2 record.
Boys soccer region tournaments
9th REGION
Thursday at St. Henry
Dixie Heights 2, Ryle 1 (penalty kick shootout)
Covington Catholic 1, Highlands 0 (penalty kick shootout)
Saturday at Boone County
Championship final: Dixie Heights vs. Covington Catholic, 4 p.m.
10th REGION AT HARRISON COUNTY
Thursday
Harrison County 4, George Rogers Clark 3
Montgomery County 2, Brossart 1
Saturday
Championship final: Harrison County vs. Montgomery County, 6 p.m.
Girls soccer region tournaments
9th REGION AT BOONE COUNTY
Saturday
Championship final: Highlands vs. Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m.
10th REGION AT CAMPBELL COUNTY
Saturday
Championship final: Campbell County vs. Brossart, 2 p.m.
