VINCENT - The Athens Bulldogs boys soccer team traveled to Warren on Tuesday evening and managed a 1-0 victory, improving their record to 3-1 on the season.
It was a hot summer evening in Vincent, Ohio with temperatures still in the lower 90s for the 8:15 kickoff. Each squad took some time to find their rhythm with the Warriors having the upper hand in controlling possession in the early going.
As the half progressed the Bulldogs began to find their shape and senior Sully Pelot found space to launch from distance but couldn’t put balls on frame. Striker Emmanuel Mends was getting into the Warrior penalty area, but he also couldn’t find the back of the net.
In the final 10 minutes of the half each side had solid chances to take the lead. It looked like the home team might get on the scoreboard first but a volley in front of Athens goalkeeper Luke Rodgers went just outside the left upright.
On the other end Pelot found fellow captain Emerson Crowl with space in the center of the pitch outside the box and the midfielder took a touch and ripped a dipping shot at keeper Hayden Wells. The senior netminder dove to his left and punched the ball away for a corner kick.
A few minutes later Rodgers had to use all his frame to tip a Warrior strike from 25 yards over the bar, and then punch away a dangerous ball from a freekick barely outside the box near the end line. The halftime whistle came just after Athens had its best chance of the night when Crowl fed a streaking Pelot down the left side, but his shot was wide of goal.
The second half mirrored the first with both teams orchestrating chances but not able to finish, starting with the home side in the first minute but Rodgers was there for the save. For the Bulldogs, Malek Alasmari found himself one-on-one with Wells in the early going but pushed his attempt wide right.
Athens defenders Miles Issac and Matty Pigman rescued the visitors several times with tough plays in the back, and senior Brayden Metzler’s speed in the midfield broke up Warrior connections throughout the contest.
With 18 to play Athens got the game winner on a great individual play by Pelot, who juggled the ball over an oncoming defender, chested the ball forward and volleyed the bounce from 20 yards past a diving Wells into the back left corner of the net. The Athens fans first enjoyed the skill displayed and then were ecstatic with the result.
Pelot almost hit paydirt again less than a minute later when Crowl played him through for another one-on-one with the tough Warrior keeper but his textbook rush at the ball and diving stretch ended in a kick save to keep the lead at a single goal.
Wells had eight saves on the night, Rodgers four. After the game Athens' coach Simon Diki commented “It was a good game, I didn’t expect this type of challenge from Warren. They played so well, now we have to fix some of the mistakes, but I think they gave it all.”
The Athens JV won 2-0 on goals by Param Khanal and Ezra Hatch.
Both Athens squads return to the home pitch at Joe Burrow Stadium this Saturday against Tri-Valley, kickoff for the JV is set for 11:00am with the varsity following.
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