MARIETTA — Athens and Marietta played to a 1-1 draw this week in Marietta, the second tie between the two familiar rivals this season.
Marietta struck first when Grayson Moat finished a chance from the edge of the area into the top left corner, sending the Tigers (6-1-4) into halftime with a 1-0 lead. Athens (7-3-2) answered in the 55th minute: Flynn Ryan played a long pass to Billy Talley on the right wing, and Talley’s cross ran across the face of goal for Theo Smucker to finish with his left foot.
“At halftime, I just told the boys to stay calm and trust themselves,” Athens coach John Kwakye said. “The equalizer came from a goal we practice regularly, so it was great to see that work show up in the game.”
Neither team could find a winner in the second half despite both pressing late, and the second meeting of the season ended the same way the first one did. Athens created the better chances early but could not get a clean shot on goal in the first 40 minutes, while Marietta’s organized passing carved out the opening goal just before the break.
