Notre Dame's girls soccer season ended Wednesday, Oct. 21, in a penalty-kick shootout at Tower Park in Fort Thomas.
Highlands edged the Pandas 4-2 in the shootout after the teams played to a scoreless draw through regulation and overtime in the 9th Region semifinal. It marks the third straight year Highlands has ended Notre Dame's postseason.
Highlands junior goalkeeper Bailee Class stopped Julia Stegman's attempt in the shootout, and Notre Dame's Gabby Meiners sent another kick wide left, LINK nky reported. Highlands converted all four of its attempts. Hailey Fritz, Maddy Lickert and Ally Lickert scored the first three before Gabby Neufarth drilled the clincher into the left side of the net.
The two programs have combined to win the last 14 Ninth Region championships. Both defenses held firm Wednesday, limiting the teams to five shots on goal combined, according to LINK nky's box score. Notre Dame controlled possession in the first half before Highlands gained more of the ball after halftime.
The Pandas threatened late. Class made a diving stop on a breakaway, a shot in the 73rd minute went wide, and another chance fizzled near the goal in the 77th. Highlands nearly found a winner in the 79th minute when a header off a corner kick bounced inches over the crossbar.
Class, now 2-1 in elimination games decided by penalty kicks over three years, told LINK nky she changed her mindset after a shootout loss to Lexington Catholic as a freshman. "After that, I was like, I'm never losing in PKs again," Class said. "That feeling's terrible."
The Bluebirds have won seven of the last eight postseason meetings between the programs, according to LINK nky, following a run in which the Pandas captured six straight region titles from 2012 to 2017.
Notre Dame finished the season 10-6-1, per LINK nky's box score. The Northern Kentucky Tribune listed Highlands' record at 15-6-1, while LINK nky's box score had it at 12-6-1. The discrepancy was not explained in either report.
In the other semifinal, Ryle routed St. Henry 6-1. Six different players scored for the Raiders, led by Lexi Andros in the seventh minute and Kourtney Rahschulte six minutes later. Liza Andros buried a free kick from about 40 yards out to make it 3-0 before halftime. Hailey Chalfant, leading scorer Ella Hoenderkamp and Kiera Mathis added second-half goals. St. Henry's Kate Mueller scored with 12 minutes remaining, but the outcome was already decided. St. Henry finished 11-7-2.
Highlands and Ryle will meet Saturday, Oct. 24, at 4:30 p.m. at Tower Park for the 9th Region championship and a spot in the state tournament. Ryle beat Highlands 1-0 in a regular-season meeting on Aug. 22.
