Athens soccer redeems early-season loss with shutout over Marietta

THE PLAINS - Some of the most heated, physical action at Joe Burrow Stadium happens when the football team isn’t even around.

Meeting up once again this year in the regular season finale, Athens and Marietta continued its emotional rivalry on Thursday night. Redeeming the one-goal loss to the Tigers back in August, Athens made an emphatic statement under the lights, walking away with a convincing 4-0 shutout victory.

The expectation coming in was anticipating a physical, slow-constructing game between two programs that are currently set to meet in the district finals if each makes it that far. Marietta is currently ranked No. 1 in the Division III Southeast bracket while Athens is slotted at the No. 3 spot.

Continuing the chaos of the previous matchup at the beginning of the season, both teams found early chances to score. Within five minutes of the match, the Bulldogs’ Malek Alasmari found himself with the ball just outside the six-yard box but it was sent just wide.

The Tigers responded with their own early opportunity a few minutes later but Luke Rodgers was up for the test. Really, the senior was ready to show out all night. Consistently seeing a talented Marietta attack, Rodgers matched up at every opportunity, refusing to let the ball past his line.

With Rodgers helping to keep Athens alive early, the Bulldogs finally broke through roughly midway through the opening half. Sully Pelot sent an ball over the top of the defense in the box with Jack Cablash-Kristofco right in the middle of the fight for it.

In a fortunate turn of events for Athens, Marietta attempted to clear the ball in hectic environment but the senior was perfectly placed in the way. The ricochet from Cablash-Kristofco bounced directly into the back of the net, breaking the tie as the Bulldogs grabbed a first half advantage.

Pelot would be directly involved with another goal not too much later. Sprinting down the right wing with just over 10 minutes left in the half, the star senior laced another pass into the box. This time keeping it on the pitch, Pelot passed over to an open Emmanuel Mends right in front of the net.

The attacker proceeded to sneak one right under the near-side of the keeper, tucking it in right past the post as Athens secured a massive two-goal lead going into the halftime break.

Entering the second 40 minutes of play, it didn’t take too long for the Bulldogs to completely suffocate Marietta in the frigid night. Roughly five minutes into the second, Braeden Talley was able to fire one past the Tigers keeper to add on to the lead. The junior celebrated with a Ronaldo-style jump in front of his bench with the team taking a three-goal advantage.

From there, the Bulldogs’ back line and Rodgers continued to do their thing, stonewalling Marietta for the rest of the night. Adding on one more goal by the end of the night, it was the absolute best-case scenario to end the season for Athens.

Redeeming an emotional loss earlier in the year, striking down the No. 1 seed in the region and going into the postseason with a boat-load of momentum, the Bulldogs can rest up for the next few days in good spirits.

Soon though, it’s do-or-die time. It seems as if Athens is prepared for the challenge.