The Spartan boys soccer team defeated Steilacoom 1-0 in league play Wednesday scoring the winning goal with just 2 minutes left on the Sunset Chev scoreboard.

“When we are struggling to score, we are normally pretty frugal defensively,” Coach Peter Voiles said. “Wednesday was that scenario.”

The Sumner High boys were missing senior center midfielder Sam Hoyt, whom Voiles described as a calming presence in the middle of the field.

“[Junior forward] Jaron Petcovic did a great job of bringing consistent energy in the game Wednesday as his work rate is second to none,” Voiles said. “We were struggling to keep possession in midfield. William Mortell—normally a defender—went on with about 20 minutes left in midfield and changed the midfield shape.”

The team began to maintain solid defense through the middle of the pitch, keeping Steilacoom on its end of the field. Mortell scored the winning goal, kicking past a corner defender.

In the coming week, the Spartan footballers will play two away games: against Franklin-Pierce High School on Monday, and White River High School on Wednesday. Both games begin at 7 p.m.

The boys will also engage the Bonney Lake Panthers in nonleague play Friday at 8 p.m.