Ryle to host girls' Soccerama

By James Weber • jweber@nky.com • July 20, 2010

Eleven matches will be played from Thursday, Aug. 12, through Saturday, Aug. 14, at Clifford Borland, Sr. Stadium. The matches will feature 22 Northern Kentucky teams. At press time, there was a potential of adding another game with two additional teams.

"We hope to have a very enjoyable tournament where all the teams have great weather and great sportsmanship," Ryle girls' head coach Edmundo Echeverria said. "I think it will be a great season this year. My goal is to get the teams everything they need."

Ryle hosted the boys' Soccerama last year. John Horton, former Covington Catholic head coach and current Ryle teacher, organized that and gave a lot of help to the Raiders' girls' staff for this year's event.

Besides the soccer, Ryle is working to provide concessions, kids' play areas, vendors and area businesses, and other community events.

The marquee match looks to be on the first night, when two-time state champion Highlands meets recent upstart St. Henry, who lost to Notre Dame in the state round-of-16.

Notre Dame, last year's state runner-up, will play another local improving program in Campbell County.

The host Raiders will have Friday night to themselves, playing Scott.

The matches are a key prelude to the regular season, which begins Monday, Aug. 16.

"We're excited for the beginning of the season," said Echeverria. "Once the season starts, we're all over the place and this is the one event where we're all together."

Tickets are $5 per session and $10 for all three. The schedule:

Thursday, Aug. 12: 4:30 p.m., Beechwood vs. Walton-Verona; 6 p.m., Villa Madonna vs. Cooper; 7:30 p.m., Highlands vs. St. Henry; 9 p.m., Conner vs. Dixie Heights.

Friday, Aug. 13: 9 p.m., Ryle vs. Scott.

Saturday, Aug. 14: 8 a.m., Bellevue vs. Ludlow; 9:30 a.m., Calvary vs. Covington Latin; 11 a.m., Newport Central Catholic vs. Holy Cross; 4:30 p.m., Holmes vs. Carroll County; 6 p.m., Notre Dame vs. Campbell County; 7:30 p.m., Bishop Brossart vs. Simon Kenton.