NTL GIRLS SOCCER: FIRST-HALF BARRAGE CARRIES ATHENS TO 5-3 WIN OVER WILLIAMSON (20 PHOTOS) (2025-10-08)

Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — Athens scored four goals in less than 15 minutes late in the first half to erase an early deficit on its way to a 5-3 win over Williamson here Wednesday evening in NTL girls soccer action at Alumni Stadium.

"We played a good match," said Athens coach Rich Pitts. "We were finally rewarded with goals for our hard work.

"I'm super-happy overall with our play," added Pitts. "And, I'm happy we were able to dip deep into the bench."

Senior Lizzie Gorsline put the Wildcats on the board about two minutes into the game, but Williamson answered about 90 seconds late with a goal to tie the game at 1-1.

With 18:26 remaining in the half, the Warriors scored off an indirect kick to take a 2-1 lead, but the remainder of the half was all Wildcats.

With 16:05 remaining, junior Delanie Patton tied the game, off an assist from Gorsline, and two minutes later Gorsline assisted junior Brielle Mayo with the go-ahead for that put the Wildcats up 3-2.

With 1:54 left in the first half, senior Abby Burgess scored, off a feed from Patton, to make it 4-2.

Just 43 seconds later, Burgess scored again, this time off an assist from senior Olivia Thompson, to extend the lead to 5-2, which is where it stood at the halftime intermission.

Williamson scored a goal with 3:19 remaining in the contest to provide the final margin.

Athens had a 17-15 edge in shots-on-goal, and a 4-2 edge in corner kicks.

Sophomore keeper Annika Lezak recorded 11 saves in net for the Wildcats, including one on a penalty kick, and a shot off the rebounds moments later.

Athens, now 8-7, returns to action Tuesday when it hosts Tioga in its final home game of the season.

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IN PHOTO 1: Athens senior Abby Burgess. ... PHOTOS BY MATT PATTON. 



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