NTL GIRLS SOCCER: TROY EDGES ATHENS, 1-0, ON SECOND-HALF PENALTY KICK (24 PHOTOS) (September 5, 2026)
Valley Sports ReportEAST TROY — Gianni Renzi scored on a penalty kick midway through the second half to lift Troy to a 1-0 win over Athens in a key early-season NTL girls soccer battle here Saturday afternoon.
"I thought the girls played a great game," said Athens coach Rich Pitts. "We haven’t been that close with them in a while.
"I'm a little disappointed in the outcome and how it came about," noted Pitts. "But that is the game and the girls fought all the way until the end.
"I'm looking forward to next week and continuing our path on what we hope is a special season," he added.
After 65 minutes of scoreless play, the Trojans picked up a foul in the box, and Renzi buried the penalty kick just under the cross bar for her 50th career goal.
Troy outshot Athens, 20-6, and had a 6-5 edge in corner kicks.
Sophomore Annika Lezak had six saves in net for the Wildcats.
Athens, now 1-1, hosts Williamson Wednesday.
————————
IN PHOTO 1: Athens senior Delanie Patton. IN TOP PHOTO: Athens sophomore Annika Lezak. ... PHOTOS BY MATT PATTON.
Print Friendly Version
