University Heights Academy will play Louisville Holy Cross in the first round of the All-A Classic Boys’ State Soccer Tournament Saturday in Frankfort.
UHA (6-3) is making their first appearance in the state tourney since 2013 when they lost to Somerset 2-1 in the first round. They advanced to Frankfort with a 7-4 win over St. Mary last Monday – a game they trailed 4-2 in the first half.
Their last win at the All-A State Tourney came in 2007 when they beat Glasgow 1-0. They dropped a 4-1 decision to Lexington Christian in the semifinals.
UHA is led by William Bryan’s 20 goals and five assists. Tanner Thomas has 13 goals and six assists, and Conner Dill has five goals and a team-leading eight assists.
Their quarterfinal opponent is Louisville Holy Cross, who beat Fifth Region champ Campbellsville 7-0 Saturday. The Cougars are 7-3-2 with losses to an 8-4 Frankfort team and a 13-2 Butler squad.
Holy Cross averages 2.9 goals per game, while giving up just 10 goals in 12 games. Triston Key (8 goals) and Luke Brutscher (7 goals) are the only Cougars with more than four goals. Their goalie Jackson Gawarecki has posted four shutouts and a 0.8 goals against average.
According to a new experimental Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) formula released on the KHSAA website Sunday, both teams have similar ratings. UHA is a 0.521, while Holy Cross is at 0.534. The formula will take into account win-loss records plus opponents’ win-loss records, and opponents’ opponents’ win-loss records. Teams get one point for a win, 0.5 points for a tie and zero points for a loss
Holy Cross is making their fifth appearance in the state tourney in five years but have never won an All-A state tourney game.
UHA will play Louisville Holy Cross Saturday afternoon at 1:00 (ET) at Capital View Park in Frankfort. If they win, they will play in the semifinals Saturday night at 8:00.
