LOGAN - Athens' boys soccer team traveled to Logan Friday night to take on the Chieftains and came away with a scintillating 1-0 victory. The match was tight throughout and physical, with numerous yellow cards issued.
The two sides know each other very well, with many players joining forces in the off-season on various Old Town Soccer Club teams. Familiarity may often breed contempt, but in this relationship also respect between these close communities as seen with the intensity on the pitch but also friendly banter, helping one another up off the turf, and joining in small groups for pictures after the contest.
The first 15 minutes of the game was a back-and-forth affair, with neither squad able to penetrate the defense and test the keepers, Luke Rodgers for Athens and Harris Bell for Logan. With 25 minutes to play a freekick from 30 yards by Sully Pelot was the first solid chance of the game but the senior captain’s shot went over the crossbar.
For the remainder of the half Athens pressure in the attacking third began to change the game as the Bulldogs were creating turnovers and largely keeping the ball on Logan’s side of the field. Athens earned several corner kicks but could not produce quality attempts through a staunch Chieftain defense close to goal.
The home squad was not without threats, however. Exquisite ball control by Isaac Jennice and run by speedy forward Braden Shriner resulted in a close range shot on the Athens goal but a quick reaction from Rodgers parried the dangerous ball away. Jennice worked his way into the penalty area on another play but was thwarted by defender Jacob Krause whose hard work frustrated the Logan offense all night.
The best chance for Athens to get on the scoreboard came with eight to play in the first half when a through ball from winger Emerson Crowl to Enzo Servedio left the sophomore striker with a narrow opportunity but his rolling try went just outside the left upright.
Halftime adjustments from Logan coach Ian Riddlebarger appeared to tighten up the Chieftain defense and possession in the second half was more equal, with neither side able to orchestrate good shots on frame. Athens defenders Matty Pigman, Brayden Metzler and Krause disrupted several promising attacks by the home side just outside the box, and several shots from distance by Pelot went wide or over.
In the final 15 minutes of play the game began to open up and each side had deep runs that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats. A breakaway by sophomore Logan forward Daniel Bauers gave the purple and white their best chance to take control of the game from close range, but an outstanding kick save by Rodgers kept the Chieftains off the scoreboard. Pelot penetrated closer to goal on several occasions but pushed shots wide right.
With just under three to play a second half substitution by Athens Coach Simon Diki produced the magic the Bulldogs had been seeking. Sophomore midfielder Carter Boeninger, seeing his first varsity minutes, played a perfect ball over the top to Pelot streaking down the center of the pitch. A quality touch put the talented goal scorer behind the defense and one-on-one with Bell, and Pelot’s effort found the back of the net for the late lead.
The nerve-wracking final minutes were tense for fans and players alike, but the hard-working Athens defense held on for the victory. Afterwards Diki commented “Logan is a great team, we always have a wonderful battle. But tonight we played so well, those guys gave it all on the field. This is Athens boys, this is Green and Gold, this is our culture.”
The Athens girls suffered a defeat to the home team in the first varsity game on the evening with an identical 1-0 final despite a well-played game from Coach Nick Bohuslawsky’s Bulldogs.
On Tuesday evening the Athens boys travel to Marietta to take on the Tigers. First touch for the JV is 5:30pm.
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