Wildcat Travis Brinkman, shown above, had one goal and one assist versus Highlands while teammate Mackenzie had one assist versus Highlands and ended up with a fractured foot at the Highlands game and is out 4-6 weeks. Photo by Gail Farwell.

By: Sam McClanahan, Reporter

Over the past few seasons, the Pendleton County Wildcats soccer team has taken on a certain mentality when it comes to competition: In order to be the best, you have to play the best, and win.

Head coach Lisa Feltner prides herself in putting together a challenging regular season schedule to help her team develop, endure and ultimately thrive when post-season play arrives in October.

Last week, the 'Cats kicked off their 2012 campaign with perhaps the most daunting slate of road games to open a season in the program's history. It began last Thursday evening with a matchup against the Thoroughbreds of Newport Central Catholic, who entered the game ranked fifth in the pre-season Northern Kentucky Coaches poll. By the end of the night, history would be made.