ASHLAND — Ontario’s Amanda Nething scored the biggest goal of her brief varsity soccer career Tuesday at wind-swept Community Stadium. A freshman forward, Nething rocketed a left-footed shot past Norwalk goal keeper Kaitlyn Gilson and the Warriors escaped with a 1-0 win over the upset-minded Truckers in the nightcap of a Division II district doubleheader.
Clear Fork won the opener 8-0 and will meet Ontario in Saturday’s district title game at 3 p.m. in Ashland.
The game was scoreless midway through the second half when Nething broke free behind the Norwalk defense. Gilson, who had left her line, had no chance.
“The defender went down and I thought that I could get around her,” Nething said. “The goalie was off balanced and I struck it solidly.”
It was one of just a handful of opportunities for the Warriors (13-3-2), who beat Norwalk 6-1 in late August. The Truckers packed it in defensively in an attempt to slow down an Ontario team that had outscored its two tournament opponents by a combined score of 22-0.
“I was expecting them to bunker like they did,” Ontario coach Larry Atkinson said. “We’re finding out that a lot of teams will stay in the game by putting nine people behind the ball and pick and choose their counter attacks. With the weather conditions, anything can happen.”
Anxious Moments: The Warriors had to withstand three Norwalk corner kicks in the final minute. Keeper Katherine Beech injured her hand in the closing seconds as Ontario scrambled to prevent a possible game-tying goal.
“You never want to give corners up because anything can happen, especially in wet and cold conditions,” Atkinson said. “Our keeper got hurt a little bit. It was her thumb so we will get it X-rayed and see what happens.”
Call-Up: Nething started the season on Ontario’s junior varsity team before getting promoted in early September. She had a hat trick in her first start against Lexington.
“She’s got good speed and when she saw the keeper coming out, she made good contact on the ball,” Atkinson said. “She’s progressed a lot this year. She’s going to be very good for us in the future.”
Rematch: Ontario and Clear Fork will be for a second straight year in the district finals. The Warriors won last year’s game 3-0 before being knocked out of the tournament in the regional semifinals by eventual state champ Rocky River.
Ontario and Clear Fork met back in August. The game ended in a weather-shortened scoreless tie.
“It was early in the year. We pressed a little bit and they pressed a little bit,” Atkinson said. “Neither team played real well so hopefully it’s going to be a better game on Saturday.”
“She’s got good speed and when she saw the keeper coming out, she made good contact on the ball,” Atkinson said. “She’s progressed a lot this year. She’s going to be very good for us in the future,” said Coach Atkinson.
