By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Highlands and Covington Catholic boys soccer teams will square off in a 9th Region semifinal match on Thursday, one day before a district seeding football game between the two schools.
In the first round of the region tournament on Tuesday, Highlands defeated Cooper, 4-1, and CovCath clipped St. Henry, 2-1, to set up their semifinal showdown to be played at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at St. Henry.
Zach Barth
The last time CovCath won a region tournament game against Highlands was 2015. The Bluebirds won the last three playoff games between the two teams with two of them decided in a penalty kick shootout.
Dixie Heights knocked off Beechwood, 4-1, and defending champ Ryle defeated Newport Central Catholic, 2-0, in Monday’s other first-round matches. The semifinal game between Ryle and Dixie Heights is set for 5 p.m. Thursday at St. Henry.
Ryle (13-5-2) got goals from seniors Cameron Engel and Zach Barth in the win over NewCath. The Raiders have not lost a match this season, but they had to forfeit five wins in September for using an ineligible player, an infraction the team reported to the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.
Highlands (18-4-1) has an 11-0 record against 9th Region opponents this season, but has not played Ryle. In their region playoff game against Cooper, the Bluebirds took a 3-1 lead in the first half on two goals and an assist by Colin Pieper.
All of the goals in the CovCath-St. Henry match came in the first half. Camden Montgomery gave the Crusaders a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute, but the Colonels jumped ahead on goals by Andrew Roland and Colton Pieper late in first half.
Dixie Heights senior Danny Pujuls scored two of his team’s four goals in the win over Beechwood, which was making its first appearance in the region tournament since 2016.
George Rogers Clark defeated Campbell County, 2-0, in the opening round of the 10th Region boys tournament on Tuesday. Brossart had a first-round bye and will play Montgomery County in the region semifinals at 8 p.m. Thursday at Harrison County.
Boys soccer region tournaments
9th REGION
Thursday at St. Henry
Dixie Heights vs. Ryle, 5 p.m.
Highlands vs. Covington Catholic, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday at Boone County
Championship final, 4 p.m.
10th REGION AT HARRISON COUNTY
Thursday
Harrison County vs. George Rogers Clark, 5:30 p.m.
Brossart vs. Montgomery County, 8 p.m.
Saturday
Championship final, 6 p.m.
Girls soccer region tournaments
9th REGION AT BOONE COUNTY
Wednesday
Conner vs. Notre Dame, 5:30 p.m.
Highlands vs. Dixie Heights, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship final, 7:30 p.m.
10th REGION AT CAMPBELL COUNTY
Wednesday
Harrison County vs. Campbell County, 5 p.m.
George Rogers Clark vs. Brossart, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship final, 2 p.m.
8th REGION AT CARROLL COUNTY
Wednesday
Simon Kenton vs. North Oldham, 6 p.m.
South Oldham vs. Walton-Verona, 8 p.m.
Thursday
Championship final, 8 p.m.
