ATHENS, TOWANDA PLAY TO 1-1 DRAW
By: Tim Birney / September 22, 2022 / Photo: Chris Manning
TOWANDA — Athens scored early in the game, but played more than 90
minutes without another goal in a 1-1 double-overtime tie against
Towanda here Thursday evening in NTL girls soccer action.
“I
thought after an emotional game on Tuesday (2-1 win over Wyalusing), we
came out strong and got a goal early, then towanda battled well thru the
first half to keep it that way,” said Athens coach Rich Pitts.
“In the second half, and especially in OT, we just continued to have chance after chance but could not get a goal,” Pitts added.
Athens is now 3-5-1 on the season, and had a 3-2-1 record in NTL play.
“I
know our record doesn’t look fantastic, but I am so proud of the work
these girls put in daily,” said Pitts. “We will fix it, as they were
unhappy getting on the bus tonight.
“It’s how you finish the
race, not how you start it, and I believe in them 100 percent,” added
Pitts. “Adversity brings opportunity.”
Senior Ally Thoman scored
on a rocket shot from 35 yards out that went off the keeper’s hands and
into the net in the seventh minute of the game to give Athens a 1-0 lead
it would enjoy for nearly 50 minutes.
With 15:49 remaining in regulation. the Lady Black Knights tied the score on a goal by Anna Dunn.
The two teams finished regulation, and two 10-minute overtime periods without another goal.
Athens had a 12-5 advantage in shots-on-goal, and a 4-1 edge in corner kicks.
Senior Karlee Bartlow had four saves in net for the Lady Wildcats.
Athens travels to Wyalusing Tuesday.
About the Author
Tim Birney
Tim Birney is the founder / owner of River Road Media Group. He was born and raised in the Valley, graduating from Waverly High School in 1984.
Birney earned an Associate's Degree in Journalism from SUNY Morrisville in 1986 and a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism / Public Relations from Utica College of Syracuse University in 1988. He began his newspaper career at The Daily Review in Towanda in 1989, before moving on to The Evening Times in 1995. He spent more than 10 years at the Times, the last four as Managing Editor.
River Road Media Group includes five sites in "The Sports Reports" family that cover 24 school districts in five counties: Valley Sports Report (launched Aug. 10, 2009), Tioga County (NY) Sports Report (Aug. 13, 2018), and Northern Tier Sports Report (Aug. 31, 2020); Northern Tier West Sports Report (March 15, 2021) Southern Tier Sports Report (Aug. 16, 2021).
