Notre Dame Academy and Highlands square off Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 8 p.m. in a 9th Region girls soccer semifinal at Highlands Tower Park Complex.

The two programs have won every 9th Region championship for 14 consecutive years, according to the NKY Tribune. After eight-team region brackets were introduced in 2012, Notre Dame won the first six titles. Highlands has claimed six of the last eight, with the Pandas taking the other two.

Both teams advanced through Monday's quarterfinals. Notre Dame shut out Dixie Heights 2-0, while Highlands rolled past Conner 6-1, according to Link NKY's tournament scoreboard.

The Pandas and Bluebirds already met once this season. Highlands won that September regular-season match 1-0 in Park Hills, with sophomore forward Ally Lickert scoring the only goal, according to Link NKY. At the time, Notre Dame was ranked No. 2 and Highlands No. 16 in the Kentucky High School Girls Soccer Coaches Association poll.

Lickert has been Highlands' primary scoring threat. Through early September, she had scored five of the Bluebirds' 11 goals, the NKY Tribune reported.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that Highlands head coach Kelsey Etherton's squad is a younger group than last year's Ninth Region champions, who reached the Kentucky state final before falling to Sacred Heart for the state runner-up trophy. Etherton has relied on a few seniors anchoring the back line in front of junior goalkeeper Bailee Class. The Bluebirds' defense tightened as the season progressed, with three wins in four games allowing just two total goals during a mid-September stretch, the Enquirer reported.

Notre Dame junior Taylor Murphy was among the Pandas' leading scorers through early September, according to the NKY Tribune. Through their first 11 games, the Pandas outscored opponents 25-5, with five players recording six or more points on goals and assists.

The two teams have met in the 9th Region final seven times. Highlands holds a 4-3 edge in those title matches after beating Notre Dame 1-0 in last year's championship.

The winner Wednesday advances to the 9th Region championship Saturday, Oct. 24 at 4:30 p.m.