Normington-Slay scores twice in Perkins' 2-0 win

PERKINS TWP. — Perkins wanted a second goal. The balance between playing good defense in a one-goal game and trying to put the game away was evident throughout the second half of the Pirates' boys soccer opener Friday. Titus Normington-Slay took things into his own hands, scoring a second time to help the Pirates defeat Maumee 2-0 in non-league action. "That was really important," Normington-Slay said. "We never felt that security in the second half. We were up a goal, but shaky things happen. If we didn't get that second goal, I don't know what kind of game it would've been." Normington-Slay's second goal put Perkins up 2-0 with 3:54 to play. It gave the Pirates (1-0) a bit of breathing room after Maumee (0-1) had chances throughout the contest. "It was huge," Perkins coach Paul Lea said. "I was telling the boys I really wanted that second one to kill off the game. They had a few chances that kept us on our toes. I knew the second goal would kill the game. "I would much rather push for a second goal than sit too defensive. Otherwise, you invite too much pressure." Down a goal, the Panthers pushed in the second half. Maumee took the opening kickoff from midfield toward Perkins goalkeeper Danny Buga. A shot from 60 yards away sailed just over the crossbar. The Pirates, with 12 seniors on the roster, kept Maumee at bay. The Pirates did a great job on corner kicks with the likes of 6-foot-5 Ashton Wadsworth, Grant Hickman and Talon Walton inside the box to turn away chances before they even get to Buga. "I love the fact that we've got really vocal leaders back there," said Lea of the defense. "If you include our two wingbacks, we've got five seniors that are in their final year. They have a huge sense of pride in trying to keep the other teams out. They want as many clean sheets as possible." Each team had chances in the first 20 minutes of the contest. But wanting to seize the momentum, Normington-Slay got Perkins on the board. He took a pass up past the defenders and used his left foot to get a shot past Maumee goalkeeper Jaxson Blue. "He's always had that in him," said Lea of Normington-Slay, a junior. "He's one of about a thousand kids in his family, but I always said I thought he was going to be the best of the bunch. He's already showing why from what I could see in him as a really young player. "He's going to be a really important player for us this year." Players come and players go, but the Pirates saw improvement year over year. Maumee topped Perkins 4-1 last year. "It was a great way to start the season," Lea said. "We knew they were still going to be a competitive team. I tell the boys we can never take anything for granted. You have to come in and assume it's the best opponent you're going to see all year. You have to have the right mindset."