VANDALIA — Last season, the Sidney High boys won the first league soccer championship in school history.

Tuesday night, the Jackets made it two in a row.

Sidney wrapped up the Greater Western Ohio Conference North Division championship with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Vandalia Butler.

The victory finishes Sidney’s North schedule at 3-0, thereby clinching the championship for the second year in a row.

“It’s awesome,” said longtime Sidney coach Eric Harlamert. “The kids were extremely excited about it because the game was so close and so intense. When you play at Vandalia, you have to play on their football field, and that forces you to change your tactics and make adjustment.”

The Jackets scored first with 24:29 left in the first period, but Vandalia came back to tie it with just under seven minutes to go in the first period.

“I mentioned to the kids at the half that we would still win the league title if we tied, and they all said ‘we’re not going to tie’,” harlamert said.

Vandalia is just 3-10 on the season, but Harlamert knew his team was in for a battle.

“They’re still Vandalia, and they used to beat us all the time,” he said. “It was their Senior Night, and they knew what was on the line for us. And they were ready.

The first goal for the Jackets came on what Harlamert called a “textbook” play. Evan Rees, Sidney’s center midfielder, played a ball in the air to Evan Schlagetter, and Schlagetter kicked it in out of the air.

“It was an outstanding goal,” said Harlamert.

Vandalia came back with 6:47 left to tie the game at the half, however.

“That goal was a little disappointing,” Harlamert said. “We made a mistake in the back and they chipped the ball over the goalie’s head.”

The game would come down to a penalty kick. With just 4:00 left in the game, Vandalia was called for a handball in the box.

Andy Beigel took the shot and it gave the Jackets the win and the league title.

Sidney faces a big test Thursday night at home against Wayne.

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