Hillcrest and Highland Tie in Hard-Fought Conference Match

Hillcrest Soccer vs Highland  5.6.2025
Hillcrest 1, Highland 1

The Ravens faced a determined and much improved Highland team at Highland on a warm spring evening and came away with a 1-1 tie. 

Highland struck just a minute into the game when the Ravens were whistled for an obstruction call just a couple of yards outside the penalty box and directly in front of the goal. The direct kick cleared the defensive wall and knuckled into the upper corner of the goal. The back line of Bryce Bailey, Kale Bailey, Lincoln Miller, and Isaac Birky, along with Garret Bontrager, settled in and limited Highland’s chances.  From there the Ravens settled down, limiting Highlands’ offense, shutting them out the rest of the way. 

The Ravens’ midfield of Seth Ours, Jesse Blossom, Isaac Beachy, and Angel Sambrano helped the team maintain possession and create opportunities, but Highland did their best to plug up the middle of the penalty box, making it difficult to break through and leading to a halftime score of 0-1.

Halftime adjustments focused on sending in early crosses, shooting more, and crashing the goal on shots. This paid off 4 minutes into the half when Mason Bender got a ball to Mason Helmuth, who turned and put a strong shot on goal. The ball deflected off the goalie’s hands, right to Micah Gerber, who directed the ball by the goalie and back into the net. 

Both teams worked to create chances, but the defenses held strong, including the goalies. Kyle Nueschwander recorded six saves while cutting off numerous other balls before they could become shots. 

Hillcrest is now 6-2-2 on the season and 3-1-2 in conference play. The Ravens travel to Mediapolis on Thursday.

In JV action, goals were scored by Mateo Rodriguez-Yoder, Gibson Scott on an assist from Beckett Slaubaugh. Charlie Hughes finished off the scoring.  Despite the goals, the JV lost 3-,4 with a couple of the Highland goals being scored by varsity players.