By RYAN WALKER
Norwell got its revenge with Heritage.
Noah Schamerloh came in the clutch, connecting for a late goal with 1:22 remaining to cement the Knights’ (6-7) 3-2 victory over the Heritage Patriots (4-5-1) Thursday night.
The score put the Knights in a frenzy after Sai Po La had just gut-punched Norwell to tie the game with 4:44 left.
“Most teams probably would have been like ‘Ok, we got our tie, let’s sit back and finish it out,’” Norwell head coach Kiel Nunn said. “Our guys just kept fighting hard. We’ve always had that, even this year where we’ve fought through so much.”
Nunn left the 2-2 tiebreaker up to his senior captains Hudson Gerbers and Kyler Morris to change the tone of the team. Right away, the Knights flocked to attack the Patriot net with a sense of urgency rather than sulking through the moment.
The seniors remember Heritage all too well from last year, when the Patriots won a tightly-contested two games over Norwell by one goal. The second game they played ended Norwell’s season with a 1-0 loss in the sectional.
“Oh, there’s some motivation,” Nunn said. “They beat us in sectionals. I’m like, ‘Hey, we need to let them know.’ It’s healthy, but definitely motivation.”
To add to the magnitude of the win, Norwell has been struggling with several injuries and absences throughout the year. It hit them after they were a red-hot 4-0, then fell in six straight. Since getting a few members back, the team is now hoping to find its groove with three games left on the schedule.
Norwell got the scoring started after a continuous amount of pressure in the first half cashing in from Morris to Gerbers on a well-executed pass and shoot.
Halftime kept the score at 1-0, but not for long. Twa Rit was left all alone on a rebound to score the equalizer.
But teams were deadlocked at 1-1 until Zane Borne’s goal at 17:49. By that point, the way Norwell was playing, the game looked over.
Credit the defense for keeping the Patriots out of the net. Goaltender Philip Gaier was making several saves against a determined opponent doing everything it could.
Nunn shared that he gives a player of the game after every match. Tonight, it was the entire defense’s honor.
“I do a player of the year every game,” Nunn said. “So this game, it went to all of the defense. They earned it. They totally deserved it. It makes a big difference having Phil back in the net. It’s just confidence.”
Assists for Norwell were Kale Fuess and Morris.
Norwell won the junior varsity game 3-0. Simon Isch netted a hat trick, assisted by Mikah McCartney and Augi Arellano.
Norwell will be at Columbia City for Northeast 8 action starting at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28.
ryan@news-banner.com
