Beating Boone bodes well for Ryle

By Marc Harden, Enquirer Contributor

Ryle girls' soccer coach Edmundo Echeverria is wary of high-scoring Boone County as the Raiders and Rebels attempt to unseat three-time defending district champion St. Henry, which lost eight starters from last season's state championship team.

Ryle, which hasn't won a 17th District crown since 2006, and Boone, without one since 2007, view 2011 as a year of opportunity. The Raiders enhanced their chances of district success by defeating the Rebels 1-0 on Wednesday in a seeding game at Ryle.

Lauren Zembrodt scored the lone goal off a pass from Lauren Duggins at the 30:44 mark of the first half.

"Lauren had three people on her and I told her to lay it off middle, and I came down with nobody on me and shot it," said Zembrodt, who scored for the third time this season.

Ryle's reconfigured defense and goalkeeper Lindsay Otis, who turned aside four shots, made the lead stand up over the final 50 minutes.

"I thought we played great defense and did a good job of controlling pace," Echeverria said. "We can't get into a kickball match with Boone because it'll hurt you, so I'm proud of the girls for having moments of brilliant soccer."

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