Norwalk controls Pirates for SBC title share

NORWALK — The plan was obvious. But even when Norwalk girls soccer standout Claire Spettle wasn't finding the back of the net, her teammates still delivered. Spettle was a marked player in Wednesday's showdown against Perkins at Contractors Stadium. But the sophomore was able to find two open teammates who delivered three goals in a 3-0 victory over the Pirates. With the win, Norwalk (12-1, 8-0) clinched at least a share of a second straight Sandusky Bay Conference title and a sixth in the eight seasons it has been in the SBC. The Truckers are 60-2-3 in league matches, with all five losses and ties coming against the Pirates (10-1-2, 8-1). "I think it says so much about the strength of our team that we won 3-0," Norwalk head coach Michelle Sandor said. "They only had two goals on them all season, none in league play, so to win like that without Claire scoring is incredible. "She played a phenomenal game the way she created opportunities for her teammates." The Pirates had not been scored upon in league matches (43-0 scoring edge) and just twice this season. But when Spettle placed a perfect cross pass to Audrey Sanders, the junior finished for a 1-0 lead less than 10 minutes into the match. With just 3:16 left in the half, Norwalk struck again. Spettle placed a corner kick in front of the net that Abby Koenig was able to finish in front of the net. The ball actually didn't find the back of the net, but the official ruled the ball had crossed the line to make it 2-0. "Claire's crosses and corners are so good, and I just try to get on every one of them on a header or one touch like I did," Koenig said. "I actually didn't know it went in until he called it … there were a lot of people in the back." After other opportunities came up short, Spettle found Koenig again with 16:19 left in the match. Koenig scored off a pass from about 15 yards out for the third and final goal. "I know Claire throws really far, so I just try and run into the box," Koenig said. "No one was marking me, so I saw that and she gave it to me and I one-touched it in." Spettle was in a physical battle throughout the game. Not long after her pass to Koenig, she hit the turf hard and slid out of bounds. That had been the case throughout the match. "You just have to keep playing as hard as you can every play, and taking all those times you get hit as motivation to play harder," Spettle said. "It's definitely frustrating at times, but you just have to take it and adjust to it, because you can't change it." Spettle has a team-high 29 goals and 14 assists. "I feel like the defenses are packing it in more, we have targets on our back," Spettle said. "We've adjusted well enough to still get the wins." Perkins head coach Scott McVeigh said his team wanted to force other players besides Spettle to beat the Pirates. "And they did," he said. ""I think if we play 10 times it's probably even, that's just how this matchup has been. Obviously when you game plan, you have to try and take away Claire. It's a testament to how she makes everyone around her better. "Obviously she draws a lot of attention as a scorer but tonight she showed she's a complete soccer player. She is the fastest player we'll see and their transition is so good." Sandor noted goalkeeper Lilly Farmer wasn't tested much as well in Wednesday's shutout win. But the head coach also didn't want her players celebrating too much just yet. The Truckers are at Port Clinton Monday with hopes of an outright league title. "We told them we're not celebrating too much until we finish it Monday," she said. "We want to finish unbeaten and outright, so there's still one more. "We knew we were bringing back a lot of players, but everyone in the league got better and anything can happen. But it's been a great ride, and it feels kind of surreal right now … but we want to finish the job on Monday." Koenig said the Truckers were nervous entering the match, but Sanders' early goal relaxed everyone. "It's great to do this two years in a row," the senior said. "It's the best feeling ever. We were nervous, but we knew we could do it and trusted our skills and teamwork. We knew we could do it, and we did."