Boys soccer: Buckeye 'Sticks' it to Normandy

YORK TWP. — Former United State President Theodore Roosevelt once famously advised to speak softly and carry a big stick. The Buckeye boys soccer team heeded those words all the way to a 1-0 Cleveland West Conference over Normandy on Wednesday night behind junior Jonathan Kruk's first varsity goal. Kruk was given the nickname "Sticks" by teammate Nate Miller as a skinny, little sixth-grader. Now much taller and stronger, the still lean and fast forward was given a championship belt for being the man of the match after he made the winning play just over one minute into the second half. The nickname has spread, with a number of fans and teammates alike shouting the name throughout the game, especially after the goal "In 2019, I was skinny and I weighed around 67 pounds," Kruk said. "(Miller) started Calling me 'Sticks' and it stuck. I've enjoyed the name ever since." The goal came off a corner kick from sophomore Cael Miller that found Kruk near the back post, where he was able to deflect the ball past Invaders goalie Stefan Ilic. "It feels amazing," Kruk said of the win. "We got a goal, we had good communication and just worked together as a team. "It was a cross. I tried to go for a header, but it was a little low, so I just puffed out my chest and watched it go in." Making the victory more special was the fact it came on senior night, when the Bucks were celebrating Nate Miller, Dalen Martin, Jackson Powell, Tanner Cuson and Cole Rowland. It was Buckeye's first victory in the newly formed CWC. "It feels good," Nate Miller said. "This is what we've worked for all season and I'm glad we could get one on senior night. It'll make me be able to sleep tonight. I was looking forward to this game and I'm happy we got the win." After a slow start to the season, Buckeye (3-5-3, 1-2-1) has won two in a row and tied Valley Forge 0-0 since the team's last loss on Sept. 7, 2-0 against Medina County rival Cloverleaf. "I needed that, especially with how our season's been going," Cuson said of the win. "Once we get the snowball rolling, we'll do pretty well." Cuson saved both shots that came his way and made a number of other great plays by coming off his line before Normandy (0-7-2, 0-3) could get off a shot. The biggest came when he grabbed a ball on a cross just in front of Zach Victor. In front of Cuson, the defensive effort led by Brody Winter, Rowland, Nate Tessman, Rhys Cielma and Nate Miller was solid. Nate Miller credited a switch moving him up the field slightly and bringing Tessman back to help the defense, which now has three straight shutouts. "We just kept working in the back," Miller said. "We've been working on pressure and cover and our communication has been up. Our guys are strong in the back." Offensively, the Bucks were able to control the vast majority of the second half thanks to the efforts of Dimitri Teneika, Martin and Cael Miller, along with Kruk. Buckeye's confidence is growing with its recent success, but the Bucks also know things don't get any easier with games against Bay (4-7), Brunswick (7-1-2) and Rocky River (5-2) up next on the docket. "This will get us started rolling downhill," Nate Miller said. "We've got a couple of tough games coming up, but this will get us rolling into next week. We've got something behind our backs to play for." Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com. Buckeye 1, Normandy 0 NORMANDY 0 0 — 0 BUCKEYE 0 1 — 1 Second B — Jonathan Kruk (Cael Miller), 38:46. Shots on goal — Normandy 2, Buckeye 6. Corner kicks — Normandy 3, Buckeye 2. Saves — Stefan Ilic (N) 5, Tanner Cuson (B) 2. Records — Normandy (0-7-2, 0-3), Buckeye (3-5-3, 1-2-1).