DUNCAN FALLS — The Athens Bulldogs Varsity Girls Soccer team made a bold statement Monday evening, edging out the Philo Electrics 3-2 in a heart-pounding showdown.
Facing a Philo squad boasting an 8-3 record and a jaw-dropping 44 goals this season, the Bulldogs didn’t just rise to the challenge—they owned it. Channeling their inner “underdog moment,” they delivered a performance that had everyone buzzing long after the final whistle, proving once again that “it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog” (shoutout to Mark Twain).
From the first whistle, Athens showed they weren’t intimidated by Philo’s formidable attacking reputation. The Bulldogs exploded onto the scoreboard with a perfectly placed corner kick from Wynne Dodrill.
Philo responded with a powerful shot that leveled the match at 1-1. Athens’ goalkeeper, AJ Knapp, was on fire all night, delivering an epic performance with nine crucial saves to keep Philo from stealing the lead.
Unfazed by the scoreboard drama, the Bulldogs ramped up their intensity. Up front, Dodrill, Khyla Brannon, Jesse Vaughn, and Emma Molde created chaos, while Jo Bertuna, Brek Newton, Andie Corrigan, and Calla Martino locked down the midfield, leaving the Electrics looking like their lights had been cut off.
Sensing the power outage, defensive royalty Ella Chapman put on a dazzling show, gliding through the midfield like it was her own personal stage. Chapman delivered a perfectly timed pass to Molde, who coolly slotted the ball home, giving the Bulldogs the surge that Philo desperately needed.
With the tension mounting and time slipping away, Vaughn stepped up like a boss, seizing the moment and turning the game on its head. After relentlessly testing the Philo defense with four shots throughout the game, Vaughn finally broke through in the dying minutes. Assisted by a pinpoint pass from Corrigan, she delivered a strike that sent the Athens fans into a frenzy.
The Bulldogs (7-3-2) are back at home on Thursday, September 26th, at 7:30 PM to take on the Alexander Spartans (5-6) in the second game of the Challenger Cup.
Local News
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