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NTL BOYS SOCCER: NP-LIBERTY DASHES ATHENS' UNBEATEN LEAGUE SEASON WITH 1-0 OVERTIME WIN (14 PHOTOS) (2025-10-09)

Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — North Penn-Liberty dashed Athens' hopes of an unbeaten and unscored upon league season with a 1-0 overtime win here Thursday in NTL boys soccer action at Alumni Stadium.

The Wildcats, who clinched the NTL title Tuesday, finish NTL play with a 9-1-2, having outscore its league opponents, 24-1.

"This is a tough one, especially on Senior Night," said Athens coach Travis Reynard. "We dominated for 80 minutes and the first five minutes of overtime ... we truly played some great soccer and had possession for the majority of the contest.

"It was our own small error that cost us and although it hurts, we are still NTL champs and have proven all season we deserve that title," noted Reynard. "I am beyond proud of this group of boys, especially this senior group which has a lot to be proud of.

"The job isn’t done yet and our eyes are set on that district title," he added.

Reynard reiterated how well his team played.

"Offensively, we moved the ball well," he said. "We changed our point of attack with every play and attacked from all angles and created opportunities, but just couldn’t find that one shot in the back of the net.

"Defensively, we were very strong," noted Reynard. "We won our 50-50 challenges, stuck tackles and did not have much pressure defensively as there were no true chances on goal for Liberty.

"We have been strong all season and have one of the best defensive units in the league," added Reynard. "We have proven that every game with only conceding one NTL goal on our own mistake."

After 85 minutes of scoreless action, NP-L booted a long ball into the Athens end, where junior keeper Zach Fisher slid to play the ball, but mishandled it. The deflected off an NP-L players and an Athens defender and into the net.

Athens, now 10-4-2, returns to action Saturday at Central Mountain.

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IN PHOTO 1: Athens junior Brycen Wood. IN TOP PHOTO: Athens freshman Rory Smart (26). ... PHOTOS BY LEIGHANNE INGRAM.

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