Each member of the Athens High School girls soccer team has the letters RTL written on their cleats to remind them of the team’s motto “Refuse to Lose.”

The players have lived that motto this season, battling through a tough start and a rash of injuries to clinch a playoff spot with a 1-0 victory over Florence Tuesday night.

“These girls never give up,” Athens coach Chelsea Hurst said. “That’s what we’ve talked about all year. Our motto is “Refuse to Lose” and they have taken that and run with it.”

The victory was Athens’ third consecutive 1-0 victory in Class 6A, Area 16 play, with two victories over Florence and a win over Hazel Green. The Golden Eagles will clinch the area championship with either another win over Hazel Green or a Florence win over Hazel Green. The area champion will host a first-round playoff game while the runner-up has to travel in the first round.

“I wish we could score a little more and not make it so tight,” Hurst said. “I think I’ve aged about 30 years this season, but all that matters is the win.”

The game was scoreless in the first half, and Athens got what turned out to be the game-winning goal 5 minutes into the second half.

The Golden Eagles won a corner kick, which Olivia Butler sent in front of the Florence goal. Freshman Ashton Davis was there to head the ball past the Florence goalkeeper and put Athens out in front.

That was all the Golden Eagles would need as the defensive group, consisting of centerbacks Sophie Bodiford and Harriet Shelly, and fullbacks, Chelsea Farmer and Nancy Grace Brown, kept the shutout along with the goalkeeper, Emma Preston.

“We’ve had to adjust our outside (defenders) due to injuries, and freshman Nancy Grace Brown has stepped up, and we’ve also moved Chelsea Farmer, who was one of our outside midfielders, back (to defense). We’ve just adjusted really well. It’s exciting to see these girls perform.”

Athens (5-6-1 overall, 3-0 area) will close area play with a game at Hazel Green Saturday. A win would give them the area championship, which is something a lot of people might not have seen coming after the Golden Eagles began the season with an 0-5-1 record.

“It’s exciting to see where we’ve come from,” Hurst said. “We’ve had several key injuries, but we’re stepping up in places we need to step up. We’re feeling good.”