NTL BOYS SOCCER: ATHENS BLANKS TROY, 4-0; RUNS RECORD TO 4-0 (24 PHOTOS) (2025-09-09)
Valley Sports ReportATHENS — Athens was dominant defensively, and sophomore Patrick Umber and senior Chase Ingram highlighted the highest-scoring game of the year for the Wildcats in a 4-0 win over Troy here Tuesday afternoon in NTL boys soccer action.
Umber scored two goals and had one assist, while Ingram dished out two assists.
However, first-year coach Travis Reynard expects more from his squad.
"We did what we needed to win the game, but all over the field it simply was not good enough.
"We were slow and lazy at times, and simply did not play at the level we are capable of playing," said Reynard. "It has to be better.
"Offensively, we had flashes of good moments that we capitalized on and saw success, but other than that we were trying to do too much in the attacking-third and did not play together as a team, instead it was all individual," noted Reynard.
"On the positive end, we saw great attacking play throughout from key individuals off the bench like Noah Thompson and freshman Caden Brennan, who came back from injury and made a great impact on the wing — both can definitely be dangerous depth this season.
"Patrick Umber and Chase Ingram had some key moments and connections as well that helped us escape this game with the win, but offensively the boys know it has to improve," added Reynard.
The Wildcats had a 20-0 advantage in shots-on-goal, and a 14-1 edge in corner kicks.
Reynard tipped his cap to his defense.
"It’s always a good day when our keeper Zach Fisher has to make zero saves," said Reynard. "That means we are doing our job defensively all over the field, starting from our strikers all the way back.
"Definitely some minor defensive things to clean up, but overall a great game for our defensive unit," he added.
Midway through the first half, Umber started a run with a chip off the ball over the defender's head to himself. It ended with a short cross to freshman Caden Brennan, who punched it into the net for his first varsity goal.
Late in the first half, Ingram fired a low cross to junior Noah Thompson, who finished it off for his first varsity goal, to make it 2-0.
About 5 minutes after the halftime intermission, Umber picked up a rebound off the keeper and deposited it into the net for his second varsity goal to extend the lead to 3-0.
In the final minutes of the game, Umber took a feed from Ingram, and found the back of the net to provide the final margin.
Athens, now 4-0, travels to Liberty Thursday.
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PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
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