Meredith Goggans holding off an Athens defender. Photo credit Gary Bolden

Athens Edges Eagles 1-0

Friday night and for sixty minutes they fought like warriors. Rhea County Middle School Girls,
who have been on a roll, met the Athen’s Middle School girls who have also had a great season
and they clashed from the first kickoff.
Both teams are highly skilled and both put on great displays of passing, footwork and
defending. Twenty minutes into the game an Athens attacker got tangled up with an Eagles
defender and the Cougars were awarded a free kick just outside the box. A well placed Cougar
free kick found the back of the net and the score was 0-1. The battle continued with the Eagles
outshooting Athens more than two to one but none of the shots found the back of the net.
In the second half the cougars mounted a few attacks that were thwarted by a strong back line
of Meredith Goggans, Millie Darnell and Leah Daniels with excellent help from Caroline Dyer.
Goggans in particular used her strength to hold off oncoming Cougar attackers. The Eagles
continued to fight gallantly stringing together passes and shots from outside the eighteen yard
box. With time winding down, midfielders Lidia Butt and Madison Smith brought balls up for
shots but none would fall. Final score 0-1 Athens.
Following the Varsity game the Eagles JV team faced a strong Athens JV team. Athens got on
the board early with a powerful angled shot. The game was back and forth with neither team
showing the upper hand. With five minutes to play Brandi Roddy won a ball at midfield and
drove to goal with two Athens defenders in tow. Roddy sliced a perfect shot low and away
from the keeper for a final score of 1-1.
The Eagles travel to Soddy Daisy on Tuesday at 5:30pm and are at home on Friday against
East Ridge, the game against East Ridge is also at 5:30pm.  

9/16/24 Mark Palmer, RMS Coach