TRAVERSE CITY -- Scott Batchelor knows it's a cliche that defense wins championship.
But, he said, that axiom was never more true than during Petoskey's run to a state soccer championship this fall. The Northmen allowed just one goal in six tournament games en route to capturing a Division II title, making it the Record-Eagle's No. 10 local sports story of 2008.
The title capped a year in which Petoskey won two state championships in downhill skiing, enjoyed a nine-win season in football and reached the quarterfinals in volleyball.
The soccer title was the school's second. And the Northmen did it with defense.
"In the tournament we had a goal -- that we were not going to allow any goals," Batchelor said.
The Northmen nearly pulled it off, too.
"The only goal we gave up was in a 6-1 win in the district finals and that went off one of our players," Batchelor said. "Our defense really stepped up and our goalie played really well. We didn't score many goals, but we didn't give up any."
Petoskey, which finished 22-1-3, won its two regional games by 1-0 counts over Forest Hills Eastern and Fruitport. After beating Holland Christian 2-0 in the semifinals, the Northmen blanked Dexter 1-0 in the final.
When the Northmen needed a goal, Brad Stempky usually delivered. He netted four of the team's five goals in the final four games.
"He was a huge part of our success," Batchelor said.
Stempky was slowed by an injury during the season so Batchelor decided to rest him for a couple weeks in hopes he would be healthy for the stretch run. The move paid off.
"We knew we had a chance to win it all in the conference, and to win it all at the state level, but we needed to have him healthy to do it," Batchelor said.
Batchelor, who just finished his 26th season at the helm, knows how difficult it is to make a tournament run.
"I've had everything happen," he said. "I've had great teams that lost in the district. I've had teams not as good go to the semifinals. I've a lost state championship in overtime. That was devastating. It's like losing the Super Bowl. You think if you've made it that far you've had a great season. But when you lose that last game it's frustrating to get all that way and not win it."
So what does it take to win it?
"Obviously, you have to be a good team and the kids have to play together and want to win," Batchelor said. "And you need a break here and there. If you get one, you win. If they get one, you lose. We had three 1-0 games and one 2-0 game at the end. That's a matter of one ball bouncing the wrong way. When you get to those final games, the teams are so closely matched you need a break, you have to have things go the right way. Things just fell together for us. And I think we were determined not to lose."
The Northmen did not play one home game during the tournament. District games were in Gaylord and Grayling. The regional was in Cedar Springs, the semifinal in the Grand Rapids area and the final in Rochester.
"It was at least three hours to every game once we hit the regional," the coach said. "It was a lot of traveling. But you don't make a big deal out of it because you don't want your kids to think they can't win because they have to travel."
Batchelor, who credits a strong feeder program for the success, said the win over Forest Hills Eastern in the regional opener was the key.
"That was probably the best team we played," he said. "They were ranked second, we were ranked third. We knew that was huge. And we knew there were no guarantees after that, but we didn't want to lose that game and watch that team go all the way."
Instead, Forest Hills Eastern watched and wondered. And Petoskey celebrated.
"There's something about being a champion that is special," Batchelor said. "The kids still think about it. I still think about it."
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