'Shutouts win games:' Ryle boys soccer team returns to top form after 0-2 start
UNION, Ky. – As the head coach of Northern Kentucky’s most decorated boys soccer program in recent years, Stephen Collins knows that a hot streak early in the season can lead to success in the postseason, but not necessarily.
Last year, Ryle started with one win, two losses and two draws in its first five games and eventually reached the Kentucky High School Athletic Association state semifinals.
In 2020 and 2021, the Raiders didn’t lose a game in the regular season. In 2020, Ryle reached the state semifinals, but in 2021, the Raiders lost in the regional semis.
This year, after losing its first two games to Lexington powers, the Raiders have won 10 straight heading into a 33rd District game at Conner Thursday.
The win streak has included victories over usual Ninth Region contenders Covington Catholic (1-0), Highlands (3-0) and Dixie Heights (3-0).
“I've had teams in the past going to October, they lose three or four games in September and you come out hot,” Collins said. “And I've seen teams go into September or October winning everything, and if you play a bad game, you're going to get knocked out. So it’s nice because you get a little bit of momentum, but the reality is once October first hits, everybody's zero and zero.”
More: Vote: Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky high school athlete of the week, Sept. 11
To start the season, Ryle allowed three goals apiece in losses to Frederick Douglass (8-0-2) and Henry Clay (6-2-3). Those games happened in a tourney in Lexington.
Since then, Ryle has allowed only three goals in its 10 wins while scoring 49, nearly five goals per contest.
Ryle has four new starting defenders in front of veteran senior Landon Barth. Most of those new starters got significant playing time last year, said Collins.
Chris Maradauga is one of the 11 players named to the Best XI in Northern Kentucky by the local coaches association. Barth is the goalie in the Best XI.
“So that's kind of our mantra is shutouts win games,” Collins said. “And we've talked about it since the first two games when we defensively we had some guys missing and some guys hurt and we had to move some guys around. If you looked at the scores, it wasn't pretty and we basically reset. And we just started working from the defensive end forward.”
The Raiders regrouped after those two losses, said Barth.
“The big thing was just chemistry, because the Lexington trip we were getting on each other a little bit too much,” Barth said. “But I feel like now we've been able to get a little bit more constructive criticism, and not hide from it. And we've definitely been able to connect with each other. Obviously, we're not where we want to be, but we’re still getting better.”
While the defense has been working its way into shape, the offense has prospered with several returning playmakers who are having big seasons.
Senior Diego Hoenderkamp and sophomore Brice Denigan are also in the Best XI.
Both have 15 goals this season. Hoenderkamp has 14 assists and Denigan five. Senior Josh Line has six goals and eight assists.
“This year kind of shows that we can do it again,” Hoenderkamp said. “As long as we just take off of what we did last year, it should be good. We had a really good run last year and it's just nice to keep that going. Me and Josh are seniors now and then Brice coming off a good freshman season. It's just really nice to build from last year and get better.”
Collins said the team’s defense allows its offensive stars to relax more.
“Defense. Because you know when you hold a team scoreless, you have a really high percentage of winning that game,” Collins said. “When we can control the defense and we can control the pace of the game, it allows Diego and Brice to get loose in the second-half. They’re a handful, and we have some other guys that can score.”
The Raiders know that regular-season wins won’t mean much in October.
“We know our region is probably one of the hardest regions in Kentucky,” Barth said. “We have confidence because we know we can play with the best teams. As long as we play like that, then we're good.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ryle boys soccer team returns to top form after 0-2 start
