NTL GIRLS SOCCER: ATHENS EDGES REIGNING N.Y. STATE CLASS B CHAMP IN OVERTIME FOR PITTS' 100TH CAREER WIN (24 PHOTOS) (2024-09-14)

Valley Sports Report
BATH — Junior Abby Burgess scored in the final minute of the first overtime period to lift Athens to a 2-1 win over reigning N.Y. State Class B champion Bath-Haverling here Saturday afternoon in non-league girls soccer action.

The victory was the 100th career win for Athens coach Rich Pitts, who credited all his players for his success at Athens.

“My 100th win is all about every kid who ever played at Athens and allowed me to say ‘I coached 100 wins,” said Pitts. “I wish I could name them all and thank them all personally.  Without them it doesn’t happen. I love every one of them.”

Pitts said the win over last year’s New York State Class B champion was a total team effort.

“I thought we were absolutely amazing in every facet of the game,” said Pitts. “This team works so hard from player 1 through 31,” he said. “Our defense was lock down today with Brin (Nichols), Savannah Finan and (Savannah) Persun, and, of course, McKenna Jarvis.

“E.J. (Denlinger) had the best game she has ever played at the 6, protecting her backs and then being great when we had the ball spraying it around for us.

“Offensively, those five — Lizzy (Gorsline), Livvy (Thompson), Abby (Burgess), Addy (Wheeler) and (Delanie) Patton — are just buzzing all game,” noted Pitts. Then, we had Danica (May), Brielle (Mayo), Chloe (Ostrander) and Grace (Galloway) come off the bench and perform at a high level — the bench gave us so much energy it was crazy.

“Winning 2-1 in OT just shows you what our mentality is every day in training and it shows up in games.
 
“To get my 100th with this group made it even more special because they are special,” added Pitts.

With 26:30 remaining in the first half, junior Olivia Thompson collected a rebound off the Bath-Haverling keeper on a shot by sophomore Delanie Patton, deposited the loose ball into the back of the net to make it 1-0.

Bath-Haverling’s Zoey Winfield scored about 4 1/2 minutes later to tie the game at 1-1.

The final 22 minutes of the second half, the entirety of the second half was a scoreless defensive battle.

More than nine minutes into the first overtime period, junior Lizzie Gorsline got a foot on a corner kick by sophomore Brinley Nichols. Gorsline’s re-direct bounced off the keeper, and Burgess delivered the loose ball into the net for the game-winner.

Athens had an 18-6 advantage in shots-on-goal, and a 9-5 edge in corner kicks.

Senior Carmelita Pomaquiza recorded five saves in net for Athens.



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