For the second time, the two best teams in Boys 5A Section 8 soccer competed. And for the second time the match went to overtime.

And unfortunately for Athens, for the second time the result was a heartbreaking to the Cullman Bearcats — this time by a 2-1 score.

Two weeks earlier the Bearcats defeated Athens in a 1-0 penalty kick shootout.

Unlike the previous match, when neither team scored in 90 minutes of play, Cullman scored their first goal with only six minutes of play having elapsed. The Bearcats’ corner shot hit the post, deflecting to Cullman’s Casey Harbin who placed the rebound into the Athens goal.

Cullman won the battle of ball possession in the first half, but could not add to their lead.

In the second half of play, the Golden Eagles played more aggressively, controlling the majority of the offensive action. Still neither team could score a goal. Athens goalkeeper Matt Bailey made several outstanding saves, including a penalty kick early in the second half.

With 25:02 remaining in regulation, Athens tied the score. Javier Serrato’s shot from just outside the 18-yard line went over the Bearcat goalkeeper and into the net.

The remaining minutes of regulation were full of action, but both defenses rose to the occasion time after time.

With a 1-1 score at the end of regulation, the teams moved to the first 5-minute overtime period. However, the defenses were up to the task.

The teams then proceeded to another 5 minutes of overtime. With only 1:02 left on the clock in this second overtime, the Bearcats scored the winning goal. Conner Johnson made a nice crossing pass and Juan Moreno was there to put it into the Athens goal.

For the match, Athens took 12 shots on goal, while Cullman took 17. Defenders Tom Woodroof, Matt Jackson, Davis Simmons, Bryan Dean and Braedon Hilliard each played very well against the 5th ranked Bearcats.

“I was very proud of the effort of our team tonight,” said Athens Coach Ron Oakley. “Cullman is an outstanding team, and the match could have gone either way. Playing on the road and down a goal for 48 minutes, without giving up another goal gave us an opportunity to win.

“Two outstanding teams played their hearts out tonight. Our players will respond to the challenge of getting ready to overcome this loss.”

The Athens record now stands at 12-8-0 and 6-2 in section play. The Golden Eagles, ranked 8th in the most recent Coaches’ Poll, will travel to play the Huntsville Panthers—currently 3rd in the state—in the first round of state playoff action in a May 2 match. The match will be played at John Hunt Park.

The Golden Eagles play their last regular season home match Thursday night against the always-tough 6A Austin Black Bears. The match is set to begin at 6:30 p.m.