Valley Sports ReportWELLSBORO — Senior Delanie Patton scored two goals, including the game winner late in the contest to lift Athens to a 2-1 win over Wellsboro here Tuesday night in NTL girls soccer action.
The Wildcats can clinch its first division title since 2020 with wins over Wyalusing Thursday and Wellsboro Saturday. Both games are at Athens.
""I'm proud of the girls for how hard they worked all night versus a very good team," said Athens coach Rich Pitts.
"We look forward to getting back to work Wednesday as we prepare for Wyalusing on Thursday," he added.
Athens took an early lead when Patton got open on the right side of the box and drilled a ball off the keeper's hand, but inside the post for a 1-0 lead.
Wellsboro scored midway through the second half when Megan Newrick broke through the defensive line and beat the keeper in a 1-v-1.
Athens responded with a direct kick in the 33rd minute of the second half from about the 30-yard line.
Senior Aubrey Nichols lined up to take the shot from the middle of the field, and Wellsboro created a line at the top of the box to hold the Athens attack.
Nichols lofted a chip shot over the line of defenders and in front of Patton, who fired a shot past the keeper to make it 2-1.
Both teams had six shots-on-goal, and Athens had a 5-3 edge in corner kicks.
Junior Annika Lezak recorded five saves in net for the Wildcats.
Athens hosts Wyalusing Thursday at 5 p.m.
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IN PHOTO 1: Athens senior Brinley Nichols. IN TOP PHOTO: Athens junior Annika Lezak (pink). ... PHOTOS BY MATT PATTON.
