GALLIPOLIS — The Athens boys varsity soccer team took a seven game winning streak to Gallipolis on Thursday but the Blue Devils stopped their momentum, taking the 3-1 victory over the Bulldogs.
Athens hadn’t lost in a month, with four wins on their home turf, two wins on visitor turf fields and a victory on Alexander’s grass field. Gallia Academy’s long grass pitch, wet with evening moisture, caused problems for the visitors and an aggressive home squad came ready to play.
The Bulldogs almost got on the scoreboard in the first five minutes of the match when Emmanuel Mends played a cross to the back post where a leaping Emerson Crowl met the ball on the run but could not get his shot on frame, missing just outside the right upright…