Sherwood Christian girls battle Valwood to draw

ALBANY — After two straight state championships, one each in the Georgia Independent Schools Association and another in the Georgia Independent Christian Athletic Association, Sherwood Christian’s girls soccer program has quickly made a name for itself.

To maintain this new success, head coach Jayson Davidson knows the value of strategic roster management.

In a non-region game against Valwood Thursday night that was shortened by weather, the Lady Eagles fought back to a 2-2 draw, thanks to the efforts of one of three eight-graders starting for the home team — Maddie Allen.

“These girls know it’s never over,” Davidson said afterward. “They don’t quit, they went back and evened it up. I just wish they’d have got one more.”

After the Lady Valiants took a 1-0 lead early in the first half, Sherwood goalie Hannah Crooke pursued Valwood’s Sarah Sable a bit too aggressively and the striker casually sent a shot across the far side of the net to put the visitors up by two goals.

“They came out slow, half of them are on spring break now, truthfully,” Davidson said with a chuckle. “I’m missing some of my guns up top, so I put more of my strength at the back line to start with. After we took those two goals, I put my strength back up top and they got two (goals) with no problem.”

Fighting for possession in the following minutes, Allen broke away from the Lady Valiants’ back line, got a one-on-one matchup with the goalie and cashed it in to pull within one score. Until that point, the Lady Eagles were 0-for-5 in shot attempts on goal. No more than five minutes later, Allen provided the equalizer for the home team.

“I had Maddie playing in the back most of the match,” Davidson said. “When we got down two goals, I had to move her and my centerback, Ashley Hughes, up. They give us two scoring threats, and she went and got them.”

Despite the tie, Davidson sees the silver lining in the under-manned effort.

“This is a game where I can play some of my younger ones, give them time against a quality team,” Davidson said. “And I know my veterans will step in when I need them to finish the job. It gives us time to keep building the program. Our whole goal is to build the young guns for the future of the program. A lot of the young ones got time in this match, and that’s what it’s about.”

The subsequent boys’ matchup was cut short by lightning, but Valwood snuck in a quick score before the game was eventually canceled.