EAST TROY — For 80 minutes, Athens’ defense stood on it heads to keep Troy out the goal. They allowed a goal in the first minute, but then shut Troy down for the next 79. However, inside the first minute of overtime, Troy scored for the 2-1 win here Saturday during NTL girls’ soccer action.

The win clinches the NTL title for Troy. If Athens had won, the two teams would have been tied.

Troy’s first goal came 39 seconds into the match off the foot of Addy Parker. However, Athens held strong after that, sticking to Troy’s forwards — Parker and Saydi Renzo, while Mya Thompson cleaned up the Trojan through balls.

“I am very proud of how the girls responded,” Athens coach Rich Pitts said. “To get scored on that early can cause it to go sideways on you, but they didn’t panic.”

Athens’ goal came when Ally Thoman found Emma Yohe, who beat two Troy defenders, and the goalie, to knot things up just past the halfway mark of the first half.

“We worked our way back into the game, and got a great goal rom Emma Yohe, who has just returned from injury,” Pitts said. “She was so excited, and that was huge for us.”

After a scoreless second half, Troy’s Camille McRoberts found seam into the box, and buried her shot into the high near corner for the game-winner.

“In OT, we just didn’t make a good play on the ball, and it just fell to Camille’s foot, and game over,” Pitts said.

Troy’s had some fast starts this season, but this may have been the fastest, as Saydie Renzo found Parker, who beat the goalie with a far corner shot to put the Trojans up 1-0.

The Trojans had two more good chances within the first 10 minutes as Bartlow stopped a strong Alexis McRoberts shot, and Parker would hit the crossbar.

Athens’ first good chance came in the 21st minute, as Troy’s defense turned it over in the middle of the penalty box. Athens got a hard shot off, but Troy keeper Madelyn Seeley challenged the shot, and blocked it out of the box.

Troy had another chance a minute later, as a Parker cross went through Bartlow’s hands across the face of the goal, but the Trojans weren’t able to get a touch on it.

Then, with 17:19 to play, Athens found the equalizer. Thoman hit a streaking Yohe, who got her shot off with two Troy defenders on her. She beat the goalie low, and it just snuck inside the far post to make it 1-1.

Early in the second half, Alexis McRoberts had a good look on a direct kick just outside the box, but her shot was just over the crossbar. At the other end, with 31:07 on the clock, Thoman had a hard shot that was saved by Seeley.

Troy’s best opportunity to take the lead came at the 28:55 mark as Parker had a nice lead pass to Renzo into the box behind the defense. Renzo, though, lost her footing, and couldn’t get a good shot off.

Alexis McRoberts would follow that up with another direct kick, this one also stopped by Bartlow. With 13:30 on the clock, Parker crossed it high just inside the post, but Bartlow was able to make a clean grab.

Inside 10 minutes, both teams each had a chance for the winner. Seeley would make a good stop on an Athens shot, while a Renzo attempt was just wide of the net.

“The second half they had a bit more of the looks, but we kept battling to get the next goal,” Pitts said. “That didn’t come.”

Then came Camille McRoberts’ goal in overtime for the winner.

Bartlow finished with 10 saves on the night, as Troy had a 16-8 edge in shots.

“I’m disappointed four our seniors, but they have had great careers so far, including a district title, and two NTL titles in their four years,” Pitts said. “We will see if they have any magic left for probably next Saturday in the district semifinals.”

Athens finishes the regular season at 8-9-1, including an 8-3-1 NTL mark.

ATHENS — Athens held off a second-half rally to pull out a much-needed, 3-2, win over Wellsboro here Thursday evening in NTL girls soccer action at Alumni Stadium.

The win keeps the Lady Wildcats’ hopes of a league title alive. They are 8-2-1 in NTL play, trailing division-leading Troy (9-1-1) by one game. Troy hosts Athens Saturday at 2 p.m. in the regular-season finale.

I’m super-proud of the girls tonight,” said Athens coach Rich Pitts.  “After a tough game (6-0 loss at Bloomsburg), and a long ride home, they came out tonight and got themselves a great lead in the first half.

“We have two goals this year, and that is win the NTL and win districts,” noted Pitts. “Both are still in play.

“We will show up and play our hearts out Saturday against a very talented Troy team,” added Pitts. “We are excited for the challenge.”

Senior Ally Thoman took a cross from sophomore Addy Wheeler about 4 1/2 minutes into the game, split a pair of Wellsboro defenders, and punched a shot past the keeper to make it 1-0.

About six minutes later, Thoman took a through-ball from Wheeler, beat one defender, and fired a shot into the back of the net to make it 2-0.

With 12:07 remaining in the first half, Wheeler took a feed from Thoman, and fired a shot from about 12 yards out to extend the lead to 3-0.

“I thought we controlled much of the game and played great soccer when in possession,” said Pitts.

Sara Seeling scored about five minutes into the second half, then scored again with 8:09 remaining in the contest to pull Wellsboro within a goal, at 3-2.

“Hats off to Wellsboro,” added Pitts. “They battled us to the end and made it interesting, but in the end we got an important win.”

Athens had a 10-4 advantage in shots-on-goal, and a 6-0 edge in corner kicks.

Senior Karlee Bartlow recorded two saves in net for the Lady Wildcats.

Athens improves to 8-8-1 on the season.

BLOOMSBURG — Junior Brynna Zentner scored three goals and dished out two assists to lead Bloomsburg in a 6-0 win over Athens here Wednesday in non-league girls soccer action.

Junior Ava Billmeyer had two goals and two assists for the Lady Panthers, and sophomore Teagan Serrano added one goal

Bloomsburg outshot Athens 16-4.

Athens, now 7-8-1, hosts Wellsboro Thursday.

ATHENS — Seven different players put their names in the scoring column as Montoursville remained unbeaten here Saturday with an 8-0 win over Athens in non-league girls soccer action at Alumni Stadium.

Junior Reese Bainbridge scored in the 18th minute, then senior Madison Moll scored back-to-back goals about 2 1/2 minutes apart to give the Lady Warriors a 3-0 lead with 14:50 remaining in the first half.

Seniors Lydia Earnest and Shyanne Klemick scored less than two minutes apart to give Montoursville a 5-0 lead with 3 minutes left in the half.

Senior Abby Hartman, junior Nyla Kutney, and junior Ava Lilley added second-half goals for the Lady Warriors to provide the final margin.

ATHENS — Senior Ally Thoman scored a second-half goal to help Athens overcome an early NEB goal on its way to a 2-1 win in the annual “Pink Out for Sarah Reid” game here Wednesday evening in NTL girls soccer action at Alumni Stadium.

“It was a great victory over a very good NEB team on Sarah Reid Pink Out night,” said Athens coach Rich Pitts. “NEB came in with a great game plan, and really came at us the first 20 minutes.

“We were able to survive, then get a goal back before half to help us settle in.

“In the second half, I thought we played pretty good soccer,” noted Pitts. “We were moving the ball around and doing a lot of the things we work on every day in training.

ATHENS — Senior Ally Thoman continued her goal-scoring ways, and she received some help from junior Kendra Merrill here Saturday morning in Athens’ 6-0 win over North Penn-Mansfield in NTL girls soccer action.

Thoman, who had scored six goals in her last three games, scored four more against the Lady Tigers, and Merrill added two goals.

Thoman put the Lady Wildcats on the board in the 11th minute, taking a through-ball from sophomore Addy Wheeler, and beating the NP-M keeper with a shot inside the far post.

About three minuted later, Merrill scored off a pair of quick passes from Thoman and Amber Galvin to make it 2-0.

With 3:39 remaining in the first half, Thoman collected a through-ball from Wheeler, and beat the keeper in a 1-v-1 to give the Lady Wildcats a 3-0 lead, which it carried into the halftime intermission.

Thoman scored an unassisted goal with 29:25 remaining game. Two minutes later, Merrill scored an unassisted goal to make it 5-0.

About 4 1/2 minutes later, Thoman took a feed from Merrill, and punched a shot into the net from close range to extend the lead to 6-0. It's the second four-goal game this season for Thoman, who now has 15 goals.

Brooke Wilcox scored with a shot over the keeper’s head from 30 yards out with 3 minutes remaining to put NP-M on the board.

Athens outshot NP-M, 15-7, and had an 8-2 edge in corner kicks.

Carmelita Pomaquiza recorded five saves in the “clean sheet” for the Lady Wildcats.

Athens, now 6-6, hosts NEB Wednesday.

HORSEHEADS — Tes Eisner scored late in the game to lift Horseheads to a 1-0 win over Athens here Friday night in non-league girls soccer action.

“It was a great game, and a great atmosphere to play in,” said Athens coach Rich Pitts. “Horseheads played a great game, and I think we battled the entire 80 mins.  

“I’m super-proud of all the girls … we went deep into the bench,” added Pitts.

After more than 76 minutes of scoreless action, Eisner took a cross from Leila Vargas, and knocked a shot into the side of the net.

Horseheads had a 13-4 advantage in shots-on-goal, and a 4-3 edge in corner kicks.

Senior Karlee Bartlow recorded nine saves in the net for the Lady Wildcats.

Athens, now 5-6-1, returns to action Saturday morning against Northeast Bradford.

WYALUSING — Senior Ally Thoman scored four goals to lead Athens in a come-from-behind, 5-3, win over Wyalusing here Tuesday afternoon in NTL girls soccer action.

“We played a great game for 80 minutes against a very tough team,” said Athens coach Rich Pitts. “I’m super-proud of how we buckled down second half and defended as a team brilliantly.

“I thought the back four and (keeper) Karlee (Bartlow) held it down, while we sorted it out in the first half,” noted Pitts. “Then, we really got in rhythm the second half offensively and put in two quality finishes.”

The first half was a shoot-out.

Addison Bly scored an unassisted goal about 2 1/2 minutes into the contest to give Wyalusing a 1-0 lead, but Thoman scored off a feed from sophomore Addy Wheeler just 46 seconds later to tie the game at 1-1.

About 5 1/2 minutes later, Thoman scored an unassisted goal from 25 yards out on a shot off the keeper’s hands to make it 2-1.

With 23:41 remaining in the half, Bly, off an assist from Olivia Haley, scored to tie the game at 2-2. About 7 1/2 minutes later, Haley found the back of the net to give the Lady Rams a 3-2 lead.

With just 1:39 left in the first half, Thoman scored on a direct kick that sailed over the keeper’s hands and into the side of the net to tie game at 3-3, which is where it stood at the intermission.

About 12 1/2 minute into the second half, senior Taylar Fisher collected a rebound in the box, and drove a shot into the side of the net to put the Lady Wildcats ahead, 4-3.

With 2:07 remaining in the contest, Thoman tacked on an insurance goal with a bender from the corner to extend the lead to 5-3.

Wyalusing had a 9-8 edge in shots-on-goal, while Athens had a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks.

Senior Karlee Bartlow recorded six saves in net for the Lady Wildcats.

Athens, now 4-5-1, hosts Northeast Bradford Saturday morning.

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.

ATHENS — Athens scored a pair of second-half goals to rally for a 2-1 win over Wyalusing here Tuesday evening in NTL girls soccer action at Alumni Stadium, snapping a three-game losing streak.

Layla Botts, off a feed from Chloe Bennett, broke a scoreless tie with 7:04 remaining in the first half to give Wyalusing a 1-0 lead, which it carried into the halftime intermission.

About nine minutes into the second half, senior Ally Thoman drove a shot into the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1.

With 11:06 remaining in the contest, sophomore Addy Wheeler took a cross from Kendra Merrill and knocked in a shot from 20 yards out to put the Lady Wildcats ahead 2-1.

Athens has an 11-10 edge in shots-on-goal, and a 7-6 advantage in corner kicks.

Senior Karlee Bartlow recorded nine saves in net for the Lady Wildcats.

Athens, now 3-5, returns to action Thursday.

NORTH SYRACUSE — Athens dropped a pair of decisions over the weekend, falling to Baldwinsville and Cicero-North Syracuse — both Class AA programs — at the “North-South Challenge” here at Cicero-North Syracuse High School.

Saturday
Baldwinsville 2, Athens 0
The Bees scored a pair of goals in a seven-minute span early in the first half, and then made it stand up in a 2-0 win over Athens Saturday.

“We played pretty well, especially in the second half,” said Athens coach Rich Pitts.

Adrianna Orlando scored about nine minutes into the game on a shot from 35 yards out to make it 1-0.

Nicole Pelletier put one in the net from 25 yards out about seven minutes later to make it 2-0.

Baldwinsville had a 10-3 advantage in shots-on-goal, and a 2-0 edge in corner kicks.

Senior Karlee Bartlow had eight saves in net for the Lady Wildcats.

Sunday
Cicero-North Syracuse 4, Athens 0
The Lady NorthStars scored a pair of goals in less than three minutes, and dominated possession in a 4-0 win over Athens Sunday.

“We were a bit over-matched, but we battled until the end,” said Pitts.

Brianna Dorrance scored in the 23rd minute to give C-NS a 1-0 lead, and Emilee Rio tacked on another goal a little less than three minutes later.

Mya Jenkins and Chloe Tice added goals in the second half for C-NS to provide the final margin.

C-NS had a 20-2 advantage in shots-on-goal, and a 4-1 edge in corner kicks.

Bartlow had 16 saves in net for Athens.
 
Athens, now 2-5, hosts Wyalusing Tuesday.

ATHENS — Defending league champion Troy remained near the top of the league standings with a 3-0 win over Athens here Thursday evening in NTL girls soccer action.

The Lady Trojans (7-2 overall) improve to 4-1 in league play. NEB is 5-1, and Wyalusing is 3-1, while Athens falls to 2-2.

Saydi Renzo netted a hat trick to account for all of the Lady Trojans’ offense.

Renzo found the net about 3 1/2 minutes into the contest, and led 1-0 at the half.

Renzo added a goal with 27 minutes remaining in the game, and close out the scoring with 3 1/2 minutes left in the game.

Troy controlled the possession throughout the game, and had an 11-3 advantage in shots-on-goal, and a 7-0 edge in corner kicks.

Senior Karlee Bartlow recorded seven saves in net for the Lady Wildcats.

Athens, now 2-3, will play two games Saturday at the Cicero Tournament.

MANSFIELD —  Freshman Kaitlyn Sutton netted her second hat trick of the young season as Athens bounced back from a loss to Waverly Monday night with a 4-0 win over North Penn-Mansfield here Tuesday afternoon in NTL girls soccer action.

“It’s a nice bounce-back from (Monday) night,” said Athens coach Rich Pitts. “We scored two early in each half, which allowed me to use the full bench and tinker with the lineup and formation.

“Now, we focus on the defending champs on Thursday,” added Pitts in reference to the Lady Wildcats’  home game against Troy Thursday.

Sutton put Athens on the board 3 1/2 minutes into the game when she collected a rebound off the keeper’s hands and knocked it into the net.

In the 16th minute, Sutton took a through-ball from junior Mya Thompson, and beat the keeper in a 1-v-1 to make it 2-0.

Senior Ally Thoman fielded a pass over the back line from sophomore Emma Yohe, and beat the keeper 1-v-1 to make it 3-0 just 61 seconds into the second half.

Sutton finished off her hat trick 3 1/2 minutes later when she punched a rebound off the keeper into the net to make it 4-0.

Athens had a 16-4 advantage in shots-on-goal, and a 3-1 edge in corner kicks.

Senior Abby Chapman recorded four saves in net for the Lady Wildcats.

Athens improves to 2-2 on the season.