Covington Catholic secured a dramatic victory in the KHSAA Boys’ Soccer State Tournament semifinal, defeating South Oldham 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a tense 0-0 draw in regulation and two overtime periods. The match, held at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School on March 12, 2024, marked the third consecutive time the Colonels triumphed from the penalty spot this postseason.
Colonels goalkeeper Booker Gifford emphasized the importance of practice in their shootout success. “It’s just like every other thing in life, the more you practice it, the better you get at it,” he stated. This win propels CovCath to the state championship match, their fourth appearance in the finals within the last decade, while under the stewardship of head coach Jeremy Robertson.
The semifinal match was a gritty affair, featuring a total of 24 fouls from both teams. “It wasn’t the prettiest game, but these kids are showing a lot of grit,” Robertson remarked. “Our athletic ability kept us in it, and the defense did an awesome job preserving the shutout.”
The penalty shootout presented early challenges for Covington Catholic. After Cole Bishop had his shot saved in the second round, the Colonels found themselves trailing 2-1. Gifford, however, proved to be a crucial asset, saving a penalty from South Oldham’s Judah Walker in the fourth round. This pivotal moment set the stage for Tanner Robertson to score the game-winning penalty, putting CovCath ahead 4-3.
When South Oldham’s Quin Brice missed his shot, sending the ball over the crossbar, celebrations erupted on the field. The goals in the shootout came from Cole Spaulding, Charlie Baaker, Leo Dyas, and Tanner Robertson, demonstrating the team’s resilience and skill.
The preceding match was equally competitive, with South Oldham initially controlling possession. Gifford was forced into a critical save midway through the first half. Bishop nearly broke the deadlock late in the period with a shot that was deflected by South Oldham’s goalkeeper, Ethan Briscoe. Both teams exchanged numerous scoring opportunities after halftime, with CovCath striking the crossbar and South Oldham nearly scoring from a corner kick.
As the match moved into overtime without a goal, the Colonels entered their comfort zone. “I know we got the best goalie in the state back there, so I knew we were going to win,” Spaulding said, reflecting on the team’s confidence in Gifford.
With this victory, Covington Catholic improved to 4-0 in state semifinals under Robertson’s leadership. The team is now set to compete for its second state championship, having last won the title in 2015. The championship match will take place on Saturday, March 15, 2024, at 16:00 local time at Lexington SC Stadium, where they will face the winner of the St. Xavier versus Bryan Station semifinal.
Gifford concluded the match with six saves, while Briscoe recorded three saves for South Oldham, who finished their season with a record of 17-3-1.
As the Colonels prepare for the final, Robertson expressed his pride in the team. “We’re excited about that. Just really happy for the boys. They’ve really shown some grit and paid attention to detail.”
