Blue bloods could meet first-time finalists in state soccer championships
Kentucky will know its 2018 boys’ and girls’ soccer champions by the end of the week.
The semifinals the KHSAA State Soccer Tournament presented by U.S. Army ROTC will be played on Wednesday (girls) and Thursday (boys) with the finals scheduled for Saturday. All six of the remaining games will be played at Frederick Douglass High School.
Neither Henry Clay nor defending state champ St. Xavier had any trouble setting up a bout in the boys’ semifinals. The Blue Devils — sixth in the Maher Rankings — have not allowed a goal in the state tournament after dispatching Southwestern (3-0) and Boyd County (5-0). St. X, ranked No. 1 in the state, gave up only one goal to semi-state foe South Oldham (6-1) before a 6-0 victory against Corbin in the quarterfinals.
Henry Clay is bidding for its seventh finals trip; it would be the Tigers’ 16th trip overall and seventh since 2007.
Hopkinsville, the lowest-ranked team in the field at No. 13, upset Butler after prevailing, 2-1, in a shootout, to set up a match with No. 4 Highlands, which knocked off Daviess County, 3-0, in the quarterfinals following a double-overtime victory against Montgomery County in the semi-state round. Highlands has played in one state championship game (2008) and Hopkinsville has never made it.
The four remaining girls’ teams also happen to be the top four teams in the latest Maher Rankings. Top-rated Sacred Heart — which has lost just one game all year — takes on No. 4 West Jessamine in Wednesday’s first semifinal. The Valkyries defeated Simon Kenton, 3-1, to avenge their only loss before mercy-ruling North Laurel in 47 minutes of play in the quarterfinals.
West Jessamine, the two-time defending state champs, reached this year’s semifinals on 1-0 victories over Paul Laurence Dunbar and Russell in the preceding rounds. The Colts each of the last two seasons defeated Sacred Heart on their way to the title, including in this round last season. Sacred Heart has played for nine state titles, winning five, while West Jessamine had never played in the finals before 2016.
No. 2 Highlands gets No. 3 Bethlehem in the second semifinal. The Bluebirds, looking for their first finals trip in a decade, defeated Clark County, 4-0, in the semi-state round before ending Greenwood’s season with a 3-1 decision.
Bethlehem survived a 6-5 affair against Bullitt East in the semi-state round before knocking off Henderson County, 3-2, in double-overtime for their 13th straight victory in Saturday’s quarterfinals. The Banshees are seeking their first trip to the state finals.
State soccer semifinals
At Frederick Douglass High School
Wednesday (Girls)
6 p.m.: West Jessamine (16-3-5) vs. Sacred Heart (23-1-1)
8 p.m.: Bethlehem (24-2-2) vs. Highlands (22-4)
Thursday (Boys)
6 p.m.: Henry Clay (12-8-3) vs. St. Xavier (24-2-1)
8 p.m.: Hopkinsville (19-6-2) vs. Highlands (22-1-3)
This story was originally published October 28, 2018 at 10:26 PM.