Boys soccer: Two goals in 41 seconds cap Cloverleaf comeback over Norton

WESTFIELD TWP — It took less than a minute for the Cloverleaf boys soccer team to turn what looked like a deflating loss into a comeback win in a 6-4 Metro Athletic Conference win over Norton. After the Panthers (1-6, 1-3) took their first lead of the game at 4-3 midway through the second half, the Cloverleaf offense never stopped attacking. In a span of 41 seconds, the Colts (4-3-1, 3-1) scored the tying and game-winning goals. "It was insane," Cloverleaf senior Isaiah Kurtz said. "It really helped that we had a lot of people here at senior night, so they obviously kept the intensity going. I think it really helped that we didn't get off the gas as soon as we went down." Branson Pavlik set up for a corner kick to the left of Norton goalkeeper Noah Heffleman and played a perfect ball into the box, where Jackson James went up and connected on a header to tie the game with 9:09 left. "I just played a high ball because I knew they weren't going to get to it," Pavlik said. "We are good with headers, especially Jackson James and Braylon Young. They got to it and that's a goal." On the next possession, it was James with the pass, this one to Isaiah Kurtz, who fired a shot into the back of the net with 8:28 remaining for a 5-4 Colts lead. "I was able to get it through," James said. "I was able to flick it back and got it right to Isaiah and he finished it." It was the second time in the game that Cloverleaf scored a pair of goals in less than a minute, as Pavlik and Kurtz did so in a span of 32 seconds in the first half with the game tied 1-1. The first came off the right foot of Pavlik with 15:17 left in the half, as he hammered a ball off the crossbar that fell down and across the goal line. It was a delayed reaction, but eventually he was awarded the goal. The goal, the second of the game for Pavlik, momentarily tied him for the team lead with Kurtz at 12. Kurtz didn't let that tie last long, as 32 seconds later he fired a shot off the leg of Norton goalkeeper Noah Heffleman and into the net to make it 3-1. "It's back and forth every game," Pavlik said with a laugh. Kurtz also laughed when asked if he knew about the battle between him and Pavlik. "We're a team," he said. "Branson's a great player. I can never get mad at him." The two also hooked up for the first goal of the game as Kurtz fed Pavlik, who beat Heffleman with 27:34 left in the first half. James joined his teammates with two goals, as he scored his second of the game with 2:12 left in the contest. "I mean, that's our front three," Kurtz said. "That's all we can ask. I'm proud of the guys tonight." After a loss to Springfield on Aug. 19, the Colts have won three MAC games in a row. "That Springfield game, it was tough," James said. "But we knew after that it was our time." Contact Ryan Isley at sports@medina-gazette.com. Cloverleaf 6, Norton 4 NORTON&emsp;2 2 — 4 CLOVERLEAF&emsp;3 3 — 6 First C — Branson Pavlik (Isaiah Kurtz), 27:34. N — Seba Tavera, 16:16. C — Pavlik, 15:17. C — Kurtz, 14:45. N — Lincoln Russell, 1:17. Second N — Colton Gergon, 21:15. N — Gergon, 20:10. C — Jackson James (Pavlik), 9:09. C — Kurtz (James), 8:28. C — James, 2:12. Shots on goal — Norton 6, Cloverleaf 16. Corner kicks — Norton 4, Cloverleaf 12. Saves —Noah Heffleman (N) 10, Hudson Pavlik (C) 2. Records — Norton (1-6, 1-3), Cloverleaf (4-3-1, 3-1).