NTL GIRLS SOCCER: ATHENS BLANKS TOWANDA, 3-0; TAKES SOLE POSSESSION OF FIRST PLACE (23 PHOTOS) (2019-09-21)
Valley Sports ReportATHENS "” Junior Emma Roe scored with one minute left in the first half, and Athens added a pair of second-half goals in a 3-0 win over Towanda here Saturday morning in NTL girls soccer action at Alumni Stadium.
With the win, the Lady Wildcats take sole possession of first place in a wild NTL race. Athens is 5-0-1, while Troy is 4-0-2, and Towanda is 3-1-2.
"I thought Towanda came in with a great game plan against us," said Athens coach Rich Pitts. "They made us work hard to try and break them down defensively.
"Emma Roe's goal with a minute left in the first half was huge. It gave us a feel-good moment after some good chances that missed early," he noted. "The last 10 mins of the half, we played really well, so to get a goal gave us energy headed into the second half."
Senior Abby Sindoni, off a feed from sophomore Hannah Walker, and Roe, off an assist from Sindoni, scored in the second half to pad the lead.
"In the second half they continued to test us and we responded well with some adjustments in style of play, where we possessed a little deeper into their final third and it paid off with two very nice goals," said Pitts.
"I have told people all year, Towanda is for real and they showed it again today," he noted. "(Towanda coach) Joe (Picco) and his girls put in everything they have for 80 minutes every game. We have nothing but the utmost respect for them and are pleased to come away with a quality win versus a top team in the league."
Athens, now 7-1-1, travels to NEB Tuesday for the first of seven consecutive road games.
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IN PHOTO 1: Athens junior Emma Roe. ... PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID ALLIGER "” TRAVELING PORTRAITS PHOTOGRAPHY.
