THE WEEK AHEAD: GOLF ENTERS DISTRICTS, WHILE SEVERAL SPORTS ENTER THEIR SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON (2022-09-25)

Northern Tier Sports Report
District golf starts this week, while we’ve hit the midway point for most other fall sports. Along with a few big NTL football games, girls’ soccer also has quite a week ahead of it.

GOLF

Monday, September 26

NTL at Tomasso’s, 1:30 p.m.: It will be a victory parade for Athens at their home course as they already clinched the league title. It’s the final league match of the season, and several teams will be turning up for the district championships later this week.

Wednesday, September 28

Tunkhannock at Towanda, 4:30 p.m.: The Knights will host Tunkhannock for their final match of the season. 

Thursday, September 29

District IV Championships (Williamsport CC): Wyalusing, along with Athens, Wellsboro, and NP-Mansfield, have qualified for the team postseason tournament at Williamsport Country Club. The first day of districts will end with a team champion, and is a shotgun start.

Saturday, October 1

District IV Championships (Williamsport CC): The top individuals from Thursday’s action will compete for the district champion, with the top six Class AA golfers getting a regional berth.

FOOTBALL

Thursday, September 29

Troy (5-0) at Wellsboro (0-5), 7 p.m.: The Trojans are coming off an impressive win over Athens, while the Hornets are coming off another second half letdown in their loss to Towanda. Wellsboro has been competitive in four of their five losses, so this is no ordinary winless team.

Friday, September 30

Canton (5-0) at Wyalusing (2-3), 7 p.m.: The Rams are coming off a big road win over Montgomery. In their two wins they’ve allowed no points. No team seems to be playing better than Canton, at the moment, who’ve put teams in the mercy rule that last four weeks. This is Wyalusing’s homecoming.

Towanda (2-3) at Athens (3-2), 7 p.m.: The Black Knights came alive last week, out scoring Wellsboro 27-0 in the second half to pull off the win. Athens will be looking to rebound from a tough loss out at Troy. Both teams have wins over the Hornets in the last two weeks.

GIRLS’ SOCCER

Monday, September 26

Montoursville (9-0) at Towanda (1-6-2), 6 p.m.: The Knights face another top-3 district team in the undefeated Warriors. Towanda recently lost to Hughesville on Saturday.

Tuesday, September 27

Troy (9-2) at NEB (7-2), 4 p.m.: The Panthers won the opener at East Troy, the Trojans came back to beat them in their own tournament. Both teams are co-leaders in the NTL standings. Troy hasn’t allowed a goal in the last three matches, while the Panthers are coming coming off a thrilling OT win over Williamson.

Athens (3-5-1) at Wyalusing (8-3), 4 p.m.: The two teams just met, with Athens winning 2-1 up there. The Wildcats have always had a problem at Wyalusing’s field, and the Rams will be looking to avenge their loss from last week.

Wellsboro (4-5) at Towanda (1-6-2), 5:30 p.m.: The Knights lost in a heartbreaker out at Wellsboro the last time, despite out shooting the Hornets 2-to-1. Towanda has gone 0-3-2 over their last five.

Thursday, September 29

Athens (3-5-1) at Troy (9-2), 4 p.m.: Another tough one for the Trojans, who beat Athens 3-0 up there in their first meeting. The Trojans are riding a 5-match winning streak coming into this week.

Wyalusing (8-3) at NEB (7-2), 4 p.m.: The last one was a barn burner with the Rams winning on the final goal with four minutes left in the match. Even outside the league, this game has big district standings implications, with NEB third and Wyalusing fourth coming into the week.

Towanda (1-6-2) at NP-Mansfield (1-8), 4 p.m.: The Knights’ lone win came against the Tigers at home, so they’ll be looking to get the season sweep.

BOYS’ SOCCER

Monday, September 26

Towanda (1-10) at Athens (6-5), 5:30 p.m.: The Knights are coming off their first win of the season, and have been competitive in their last two matches. 

Wednesday, September 28

Wellsboro (8-2) at NEB (5-4), 4:15 p.m.: The first of two meetings between these two teams, with the Panthers riding a 2-match losing streak. The Hornets come in undefeated in NTL play.

Galeton (4-5) at Troy (1-10), 4 p.m.: The Trojans picked up their first win of the season on Saturday, 2-1 over NPL, while Galeton is looking to make a playoff push. The Tigers won the first game out in Galeton.

Saturday, October 1

NEB (5-4) at Athens (6-5), 10 a.m.: The Panthers will be looking to break even in the season series, as they recently lost to the Wildcats. Both teams are playing for their postseason lives.

VOLLEYBALL

Monday, September 26

NEB (3-3) at Towanda (2-5), 7:15 p.m.: The Panthers won their match-up last week, 3-0, as both teams start a 3-match week.

Tuesday, September 27

Canton (7-1) at NEB (3-3), 7:15 p.m.: The two teams split in the regular season last year, and this has the makings of a good match. The Panthers have been up-and-down this season, while Canton has rebounded from their loss to NPL with two straight wins.

NP-Liberty (7-1) at Wyalusing (7-3), 7:15 p.m.: A rematch of last year’s District IV title match. NPL had a strong week last week, beating Canton and Corning, while the Rams are whole again, and riding a 2-match win streak.

Towanda (2-5) at Williamson (6-2), 7:15 p.m.: The Knights will be hitting the road as they look to continue their strong play after beating CV last Thursday. The Warriors have won six straight after two season opening losses.

Troy (4-4) at Athens (3-5), 7:15 p.m.: The Trojans have won two of their last three to get back to .500 as they make a push. The Wildcats have lost four straight after starting the year 3-1.

Thursday, September 29

CV (0-9) at Canton (7-1), 7:15 p.m.: The first of two meetings between the two teams. CV is still looking for their first win, while Canton will look to keep rolling.

Sayre (0-5) at NEB (3-3), 7:15 p.m.: The Panthers will host Sayre for a small school tilt. The Redskins are looking for their first win, while NEB hopes to get on the sunny side of .500.

Troy (4-4) at Towanda (2-5), 7:15 p.m.: The third match in four days for Towanda for the second week in a row. Troy is coming off a win over Loyalsock, while the Knights will be looking to use this week to get back towards .500.

CROSS-COUNTRY

Tuesday, September 27

Wyalusing (Boys 2-1, Girls 3-0), Canton (Boys 2-1, Girls 2-1) at Troy (Boys 2-2, Girls 3-1), 4:30 p.m.: A big NTL meet, as the Rams look to continue their strong early season performance for both boys and girls. Troy will be seeing if they can close the gap on Wyalusing from the Owego Invitational this past weekend.

Athens (Boys 2-2, Girls 3-1) at Towanda (Boys 3-1, Girls 3-1), 4:30 p.m.: Another big one, as the Athens girls look to solidify their hold on the Large School division after besting Troy last week. On the boys’ side, Towanda will be looking to continue their strong early season performance.

NEB (Boys 3-0, Girls 3-0), CV (Boys 4-0, Girls 1-3), at Wellsboro (Boys 1-3, Girls 0-4), 4:30 p.m.: A strong match-up on the boys’ side as the Panthers are coming off a very strong Owego Invitational. It should be an interesting race up front between CV’s top three, and NEB’s Creed Dewing.

Saturday, October 1

NEB, Wyalusing, Troy at McQuaid Invitational: One of the premier invites on the East Coast, all six teams will be looking to test themselves against some of the best competition out there.

Towanda, Canton at Bloomsburg Invitational: Another top flight invite, that would give area runners an idea of where they stand before districts in four weeks.

GIRLS’ TENNIS

Tuesday, September 27

Towanda (3-10) at NP-Liberty (2-6), 4 p.m.: The Knights will be looking to get the season sweep as they head out to NPL. Towanda’s won two matches this year against them, both at home.

Saturday, October 1

Montgomery (5-5) at Towanda (3-10), 11 a.m.: The final match of the season for the Knights. The Red Raiders will be playing for their postseason lives.