By Richard Skinner, Enquirer contributor
LEXINGTON – The Ryle soccer team got far more scoring chances against perennial state power Louisville St. Xavier in Saturday’s state championship match than head coach Stephen Collins expected coming into it, but the Raiders just couldn’t convert any of them.
St. Xavier scored a little less than five minutes into the match, added an insurance goal a little over 10 minutes into the second half and tallied another goal against substitutes with 10 minutes left to beat Ryle 3-0 at Lexington Paul Laurence Dunbar High School for its fourth state title in the last five years. It’s the Tigers’ 11th state title in their history, which is a state record.
Ryle (23-3-3), which was also state runner-up in 2006, was trying to become the first team from Northern Kentucky to ever win the state title.
The Raiders had numerous chances to score in both halves, but either had shots go wide or get turned away, sometimes in spectacular fashion, by St. Xavier senior keeper Nathan James, who was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
“I thought our speed would cause them some problems and we could get some chances, but after watching tape of them the last week I wouldn’t have thought we would have had 7-8 point blank shots like we did,” said Ryle coach Stephen Collins, who also guided the Raiders to the 2006 runner-up finish. “I would have thought that many solid chances we would have put one in.”
To read the entire story go to Ryle falls short against Louisville St. Xavier in state title game
Ryle falls to St. X in state final
By Mark Maloney
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The final score hardly did justice to the match.
St. Xavier blanked Ryle 3-0 Saturday in the finals of the KHSAA State Soccer Championships, held at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School.
“I don’t think the final score reflects exactly how close the game was,” Ryle striker Cole Willoughby said. “And I think they would say the same thing. … We just wanted to come out here and compete, and we gave it our all.”
Led by tournament MVP Nathan James, the Tigers claimed a record 11th boys’ state crown.
“It’s not about this award,” said James, a senior. “It’s about the team. It feels great to win State. ... These guys are great, and I love every one of them.”
The top-ranked Tigers, winning their 26th consecutive match, topped off a 27-1-1 season. Overall, they outscored opponents 124-15. The title is their fourth in five years and seventh since 2000.
Mitchell Metzger, Neil Henley and Danny Belza scored, while James came up with several spectacular saves to keep the ninth-ranked Raiders at bay.
“My kids worked hard,” Ryle Coach Stephen Collins said. “We went out and gave it all we’ve got and just met a buzzsaw of a team today.”
In the first half, James got a hand up to tip Connor Jordan’s bullet of a shot off and over the crossbar. “A little bit in the sun,” James said. “I was off-balance and just got as much as I could on it; just keep it out of the net.” Metzger had the only goal of the half, 4:47 in, assisted by Henley.
The Raiders (23-3-3) continued to press in the second half.
Willoughby worked his way into the penalty box on the right wing. James came out to make the stop, but couldn’t control the rebound.
Teammate Drew Hillebrand made a sliding kick save just as Willoughby was about to re-fire. “The keeper had one — I can’t say the word — but one heck of a game,” Willoughby said. “He made outstanding saves.
“In the first half, I had one and he made an outstanding save on a free kick. In the second half, I took a free kick, bounced right back to me, left-footed shot. I thought for sure it was going in. … He stopped it. That’s what they had to do, and that’s why they got the ‘W’.”
“I don’t think the final score reflects exactly how close the game was,” Ryle striker Cole Willoughby said. “And I think they would say the same thing. … We just wanted to come out here and compete, and we gave it our all.”
Led by tournament MVP Nathan James, the Tigers claimed a record 11th boys’ state crown.
“It’s not about this award,” said James, a senior. “It’s about the team. It feels great to win State. ... These guys are great, and I love every one of them.”
The top-ranked Tigers, winning their 26th consecutive match, topped off a 27-1-1 season. Overall, they outscored opponents 124-15. The title is their fourth in five years and seventh since 2000.
Mitchell Metzger, Neil Henley and Danny Belza scored, while James came up with several spectacular saves to keep the ninth-ranked Raiders at bay.
“My kids worked hard,” Ryle Coach Stephen Collins said. “We went out and gave it all we’ve got and just met a buzzsaw of a team today.”
In the first half, James got a hand up to tip Connor Jordan’s bullet of a shot off and over the crossbar. “A little bit in the sun,” James said. “I was off-balance and just got as much as I could on it; just keep it out of the net.” Metzger had the only goal of the half, 4:47 in, assisted by Henley.
The Raiders (23-3-3) continued to press in the second half.
Willoughby worked his way into the penalty box on the right wing. James came out to make the stop, but couldn’t control the rebound.
Teammate Drew Hillebrand made a sliding kick save just as Willoughby was about to re-fire. “The keeper had one — I can’t say the word — but one heck of a game,” Willoughby said. “He made outstanding saves.
“In the first half, I had one and he made an outstanding save on a free kick. In the second half, I took a free kick, bounced right back to me, left-footed shot. I thought for sure it was going in. … He stopped it. That’s what they had to do, and that’s why they got the ‘W’.”
Read more: http://www.kypost.com/dpp/sports/ryle-falls-to-st.-x-in-state-final#ixzz1cwDuS0nb
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment