Bulldogs' season of highs, lows and a show-stopping senior night

THE PLAINS - The Athens girls varsity soccer team (8-5-3) is on a wild rollercoaster this season, experiencing thrilling highs, frustrating lows and everything in between. The past few weeks have been nothing short of dramatic for the Bulldogs, with games that left the crowd on the edge of their seats—or grumbling in them.

First up, on September 26th, the Bulldogs clashed with Alexander in what turned out to be a nail-biting home match. Despite a late surge of energy and a goal by Jesse Vaughn, assisted by Ella Chapman, Athens fell just short with a 2-1 loss. The Bulldogs nearly clawed their way back in the second half with their goal lighting a spark of hope.

Fast forward to October 3rd, where Athens hosted Point Pleasant in a game that, well, didn’t exactly bring the heat. Ending in a 0-0 draw, the match was a bit of a snoozer. But while the score stayed flat, the physicality didn’t.

Shoves and fouls dominated the game, once again with only two referees struggling to maintain order on the field. It was a rough-and-tumble contest, but fortunately, AJ Knapp, the Bulldogs keeper, gained another shutout.

But just when the Bulldogs thought they had seen it all, October 7th rolled around, bringing a trip to Marietta for what would turn out to be a truly chaotic showdown. The Athens JV squad showed up in style, scoring a clean 3-0 victory thanks to two dazzling goals by Andie Corrigan and a solid strike from Mary Harris, with an assist from Amina Patterson.

The varsity game, however, was a different story. A hostile environment—with jeering fans and some less-than-welcoming Marietta students—set the tone for a match that quickly spiraled into disorder. Athens fell 4-0, but the Bulldogs held their heads high despite the rough loss. Showing real class, they kept their composure and didn’t let the toxic atmosphere rattle them. No goals, but plenty of pride for this resilient crew.

And then came October 9th: Senior Night. Under the lights at home, the Bulldogs put on a show to remember. Explosive play in front of the net saw Vaughn sink two first half goals before Quinn Murphy added a third, sealing a triumphant 3-0 victory over Circleville.

It was a night filled with smiles, tears, and hugs as Athens celebrated their seniors—Murphy, Wynne Dodrill, Jo Bertuna, Emma Molde, and Khyla Brannon—with a win that felt like pure redemption.

As the season winds down, Athens finds itself seeded second in the tournament, earning an automatic advance to the second round. On October 16th, at 6 pm, the Bulldogs will take the field at Joe Burrow Stadium to face the winner of Miami Trace (10-6-1) and Washington (3-13-1).