Athens fought hard in Thursday’s Class 6A semifinal but ultimately suffered a 3-0 loss.

The No. 7 Golden Eagles trailed just 1-0 at halftime — top-ranked Mountain Brook found the back of the net at the 31:04 mark of the first half — and that deficit held until two goals by the Spartans (14-3-4) across a two-minute stretch (65:08-67:08) late in the match.

Mountain Brook registered 23 shots to Athens’ three — though Mazee Townsend earned 12 saves to keep the Golden Eagles (14-8-4) within striking distance.

While the outcome wasn’t what Athens wanted, coach Chelsea Hurst couldn’t be more proud of her team. 

“People thought we were crazy for creating such a challenging schedule, but it was to prepare this team for what we knew they could do,” said Hurst, whose Golden Eagles doubled their win total from a season ago. “Was it easy? No. Did we win all of those difficult games? No. However, it did mold this team into the team that was prepared to make this run through the playoffs. 

“The coaching staff asked the girls to buy-in to the process regardless of roles, playing time, etc., and they did just that, which showed the character of this team and of these ladies. Through the love, care, support, and fight they had for one another, this group didn’t just grow as players but as young women. 

“I want to say thank you to this senior class for the leadership they provided and for building the new stepping stone for the teams to come. This team got the Golden Eagle program back to soaring at the top of 6A, and with the young talent coming up along with our returning group, the future is bright in Athens.”