St. Xavier and Paul Dunbar, two Kentucky boys soccer powers, battle to yet another draw
Not much has separated the St. Xavier and Paul Dunbar boys soccer programs over the past few seasons, and Tuesday night was more of the same.
The host Tigers and Bulldogs battled to a 1-1 tie, the third year in a row their regular-season match has ended in a draw.
“I guess a tie is what we do,” Paul Dunbar coach James Wray said. “They’re obviously a top team, and I think we’re right there with them. It will be a fun postseason.”
St. X (15) and Paul Dunbar (six) have a combined 21 state championships, including five of the past six. The Bulldogs have won two straight state titles after beating the Tigers in last year’s final, with Paul Dunbar winning a penalty-kick shootout following a 0-0 tie.
Tuesday’s rematch was a tale of two halves, with the Bulldogs (7-1-3) dominating possession in the first 40 minutes. Joany Chavez’s goal in the 23rd minute gave Paul Dunbar a 1-0 lead.
Dismayed by the early effort of his starters, St. X coach Andy Schulten had 11 reserves on the field by the time the first half ended.
“Everything we train them, it’s almost like they were willfully doing the exact opposite,” Schulten said. “It was frustrating.”
The Tigers (10-1-1) looked like a different team early in the second half, attacking from the start. Junior striker Trip Campbell tied the score in the 47th minute after Frankie Klein played a long pass from the right side of the field to T.J. Kascoksak, who found Campbell for the goal.
Campbell, who leads the Tigers with eight goals, said the team lacked focus early, trying to prove too much after last year’s loss to Paul Dunbar.
“It was on everybody’s mind,” Campbell said. “We came out a little too strong and didn’t calm down. In the second half we got our bearings and kind of honed in that focus and that anger from last season’s final.”
The Tigers had two late chances to take the lead but couldn’t convert. Campbell was awarded a penalty kick in the 68th minute, but Bulldogs goalkeeper Zahid Diaz dived to his right to make the save.
“I hit it where I wanted,” Campbell said. “ Just didn’t hit it with enough power.”
With less than 10 seconds remaining, Owen Johnson got a shot on goal that Diaz saved.
Diaz, a junior, got the start Tuesday after spending most of the season as the backup goalkeeper behind senior David Betancourt.
“He’s been on a hot streak,” Wray said of Diaz. “It’s one of those things where you trust your feel and hope it works out. It did tonight.”
Schulten said he was proud of the way his team responded in the second half, especially with junior striker Stone Work (seven goals, three assists) out with a minor knee injury.
Schulten expects Work to return Saturday when the Tigers – ranked No. 12 in the nation by United Soccer Coaches – travel to Centerville (Ohio).
The coach will be looking for a more complete effort then.
“You saw the best of us and the worst of us all in one game,” Schulten said. “If we can put together more games like the second half, I think we’re going to be difficult to knock out.”
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @kyhighs.
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This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KHSAA boys soccer: Powerhouses St. Xavier, Paul Dunbar tie in 1-1 draw
