NTL GIRLS SOCCER: ATHENS SNAPS THREE-GAME SKID, CLOSES OUT REGULAR-SEASON WITH 2-1 WIN AT NEB (24 PHOTOS) (2023-10-18)
Valley Sports ReportROME, Pa. — Athens snapped a three-game win, and ended the regular-season with a 2-1 win over Northeast Bradford in NTL girls soccer action here Wednesday afternoon.
"It’s nice to get back in the win column," said Athens coach Rich Pitts.
"It’s a tough surface and tough place to play, but we worked hard," noted Pitts. We went deep into the bench, and finished on a high note headed into districts.
"I am super proud of the entire team as our energy from all the girls who traveled was amazing," he added.
Senior Mya Thompson scored five minutes into the game on a "beautifully struck" direct kick from 30 yards out to make it 1-0. It was Thompson’s first goal since her freshman year.
About seven minutes later, freshman Delanie Patton drove into the box "with great foot skills," and found junior Addy Wheeler, who slammed a shot into the back of the net to make it 2-0.
"That was a goal we really needed because we talked about burying balls in training on Tuesday, and worked on it," said Pitts. "It was nice for it to show up in games."
Malaria Maynard put the Panthers on the board about 4 1/2 minutes later to close the gap to 2-1, but the Athens defense, which did not allow NEB a shot-on-goal in the second half, and junior keeper Carmelita Pomaquiza kept them off the board for the final 63-plus minutes.
Athens had a 7-5 edge in shots-on-goal, and a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks.
Pomaquiza had four saves in net for Athens, all of them in the first half.
Athens, 8-10, awaits word on its seed and opening-round opponent in the District 4, Class 3A playoffs.
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IN PHOTO 1: Athens junior Addy Wheeler. … PHOTOS BY MATT PATTON.
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