NTL BOYS SOCCER: ATHENS BACK ON THE DEFENSIVE; EDGES WILLIAMSON, 1-0 (18 PHOTOS) (2025-09-20)

Valley Sports Report
TIOGA JUNCTION, Pa. — Senior Chase Ingram scored late in the first half, and the Athens defense made it stand for more than 48 minutes in a 1-0 win over Williamson in a key NTL boys soccer battle here Saturday afternoon.

With the win, Athens improves to 7-1-1, and 6-0-1 in league play. The Wildcats lead Wellsboro, 5-1 in league play, by 1 game.

"It definitely took some time to get use to the grass, considering turf is what we are used to," said Athens coach Travis Reynard. "But, we settled in and adjusted and were able to create some great combinations at times and apply pressure to Williamson's back line.

"We struggled to find good opportunities, but the chances we did have we just couldn’t finish off, so we have to be better on the attacking front regardless of the field conditions," noted Reynard.

"Defensively, we held our own and played well, especially out of the air," added Reynard. "It definitely helped coming off a very physical game Thursday, so defensively we were ready for it and completed yet another shut out on the season."

The Wildcats have posted eight shutouts on the season, including a 0-0 double-overtime tie at North Penn-Liberty.

The game was scoreless until Ingram bent a low corner kick across the box that curled into the inside the far post with 8:45 remaining in the first half.

The rest of the game, like the first 32-plus minutes was ruled by the defenses.

Athens had a 6-5 edge in shots-on-goal, and both teams had three corner kicks

Junior Zach Fisher had five saves in net for the Wildcats.

Athens returns to action Wednesday when it hosts Williamson.

"We see (Williamson) again on Wednesday on our turf," said Reynard. "It will definitely be a different game. We have to play our style, come out on top and put this win behind us."

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF LEIGHANNE INGRAM. 

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