NTL GIRLS SOCCER: TROY EDGES ATHENS, 2-1; WINS FIFTH STRAIGHT LEAGUE TITLE (24 PHOTOS) (2024-10-15)
Valley Sports ReportEAST TROY — Athens nearly knocked off league unbeaten Troy, taking an early lead and having a penalty kick to tie late, but ultimately fell 2-1 to the Trojans in NTL girls’ soccer action Monday.
With the win, Troy clinches its fifth consecutive NTL title.
“The game lived up to the billing and I expect nothing less on Wednesday night,” said Athens coach Rich Pitts. “Congrats to Troy on winning the NTL.
“I could not be any prouder of how my girls battled to the final whistle.
“I thought we played really well and executed the game plan I laid out to them on the bus ride to the field,” added Pitts.
The Wildcats put the Trojans on upset notice with a goal less than 10 minutes into the game off a rebound to junior Abby Burgess, and held that lead until just after the halfway point of the first half. Troy took a lead with just under 10 minutes left in the half.
There weren’t many chances in the second half but Athens had the best when Burgess was taken down in the box. Sophomore Delanie Patton took the penalty kick with 11:38 left in the game, but Troy keeper Madelyn Seeley made the save.
Athens later had a free kick but it went wide.
Burgess gave Troy’s defense fits all night, and Athens is the only team to score on Troy on home field all season long.
Defensively, the Wildcats mostly held their own, keeping Troy’s attempts outside the box.
Athens got the scoring started when Patton took a shot off a breakaway. Seeley deflected it out, but right to Burgess on the backside, who knocked it in for the 1-0 lead with 30:12 on the clock.
Troy’s Kylee Roy got a clean shot at the keeper five six minutes later, but Athens senior Carmelita Pomaquiza made the save.
However, just after the halfway point of the first half Pomaquiza fumbled the ball in front of the box. Renzi was right place, right time, and kicked it in the open net to tie up the game 1-1 with 18:55 on the clock.
Five minutes later, McRoberts fired off a shot at Pomaquiza, who saved it.
However, with just under 10 minutes left Roy put in a corner kick close to the net. Back-up keeper Anika Lezak tried to knock it away, but the ball spun off her hand and into the goal for a 2-1 Troy lead.
The Wildcats had a good chance to tie it up with just under seven minutes left in the half. Patton got the ball on a breakaway, and got a pass off to Burgess, but her touch was deflected outside the post.
Early in the second half, Seeley was out of the net, but Burgess’s shot went wide.
Troy had some forays into the Athens box for much of the second half, but the Wildcat defense held.
With 11:38 on the clock a through-ball to Burgess saw her taken down in the box. A penalty kick was called, but Patton’s attempt was right at Seeley, who reacted quick enough to deflect the ball out of the goalie box, and down the line away from danger.
The Wildcats also had a free kick opportunity just outside the penalty box with 4:50 on the clock, but junior Lizzie Gorsline’s attempt was just wide.
Athens will have another chance against the Trojans as they host them on Wednesday.
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IN PHOTO 1: Athens sophomore Delanie Patton. IN TOP PHOTO: Athens junior Abby Burgess. … PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING and MATT PATTON.
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