Ryle makes state soccer final

Raiders shut out Henderson Co. 3-0 in semis

by Marc Hardin, Enquirer Contributor

LEXINGTON - Ryle wanted to strike quick in Wednesday's boys' soccer state tournament semifinal against Henderson County. When the Raiders pounced with a pair of early first-half goals to take the lead, they had the Colonels right where they wanted them.
Emboldened by their two-goal lead to begin the second half, the Raiders turned it over to their relentlessly tight-marking defense and defeated Henderson County 3-0 at Lexington Paul Laurence Dunbar.

Ryle (23-2-3) advanced to the championship match for the second time in six years and will play Louisville St. Xavier at 5 p.m. Saturday. Henderson County (22-4-1) fell short of its first title game appearance.

"It was something we talked about," coach Stephen Collins said of the Raiders' plan to take the early lead. "With our defense, if we can get an early goal, the other team has to expend a lot of energy and they have to work harder. With a 2-0 lead, it's that much tougher."

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Early Goals Send Ryle to State Final

By John Lachmann, KY Post

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The 1-2 punch of strikers senior Cole Willoughby and junior Tyrus Sciarra has scored clutch goals all season for Ryle.

That trend continued on Wednesday, as both found the net in the first 20 minutes of the Raiders’ state semifinal at Paul Dunbar in a 3-0 win over Henderson County.

Ryle (22-2-3) advances to play Louisville St. Xavier, which won 2-0 over Lexington Henry Clay in the other semifinal, at 5 p.m. on Saturday. No Northern Kentucky team has even won a state title, and none have advanced to the championship game since Highlands in 2008.

“They play so well with each other that it’s unbelievable,” Ryle coach Stephen Collins said. “They just seem to know where the other is and then they can make those passes and connect all the time.”

Read more: http://www.kypost.com/dpp/sports/early-goals-send-ryle-to-state-final#ixzz1cg2VpgF1