Wellsboro, Athens play to 2-2 draw

By: Ed Weaver | NTL Sports | September 6, 2017

The Wellsboro Varsity Boys Soccer team scored two first half goals but finished with a 2-2 draw in double overtime against NTL rival Athens on Tuesday, September 5.

"It was a heck of a battle," said Wellsboro head coach John Shaffer. "We went after it in the last five minutes to get the win but a tie still allows us win the league, it still allows us to have an undefeated season, and gives us a shot at the #1 seed in districts as long as no one else goes 18-0 so overall I'm happy."

Senior Gabe Leach put the Hornets up 1-0 with 20:29 remaining in the first period as he sent a direct kick on a high-arc towards the goal. The ball caught the top left corner and went in, give the Hornets their first goal at the new Wellsboro Community Athletic Complex. Athens would tie it up with 12:15 remaining in the first as Luke Arnold scored after Brad Cardona threw the ball in, got the ball back, and assisted Arnold.

Wellsboro then retook the lead as senior Tanner Runyan sent a kick towards the goal that bounced off the hands of Athens' Braden Priester with 4:41 remaining.

The score remained 2-1 in favor of the Hornets until Arnold scored for the Wildcats with 34:37 as his shot bounced off senior Devin Webster and into the goal.

Neither team could covert their remaing shots on goal the rest of the second period, or the two overtime periods which resulted in a draw after 100 minutes of play.

"In my opinion, and a lot of other people's opinions we are the top two teams in the league," Shaffer continued. "This was their first game of the year, this was our second, we play again our last game of the year in late October. I expected a battle, I expected to not be many clear chances. Of the four goals they were all a bit 'flukey' and both teams really limited opportunities."

The Hornets are now 1-0-1 (0-0-1) and are back in action on Thursday, September 7 at home against Galeton.