Sherwood, Deerfield-Windsor girls soccer teams gunning for titles

ALBANY — Two local girls soccer teams are looking to win a state title this weekend.

Sherwood Christian is looking to win its third straight, while Deerfield-Windsor is going for its first in school history.

The Lady Eagles (20-3) will take on Creekside Christian Saturday in the Georgia Independent Christian Athletic Association state championship game at 3 p.m. at Twelve Oaks Stadium in Hampton. This will be the second straight year that Sherwood has faced Creekside in the championship game.

Sherwood earned a spot in the championship after beating Killian Hill Christian 2-1 Monday night.

If they win, this would be the second straight title in the GICAA. They won one in their final year as a member of the Georgia Independent Schools Association in 2014.

“This is the opportunity of a lifetime,” Sherwood coach Jayson Davidson said after the Lady Eagles defeated Killian Hills Monday night.

“How many other sports teams get to do this? These girls have earned it.”

The Deerfield-Windsor girls have a semifinal matchup with Westminster at 4 p.m. Friday at Blanchard Woods Soccer Complex in Evans. If the Lady Knights win, they would face the winner of Augusta Prep-Frederica Academy Saturday at 4 p.m. in the championship game.

The Lady Knights beat Atlanta Girls Academy 5-2 in the first round and dismantled First Presbyterian Christian Academy 9-0 in the quarterfinals last week.

Deerfield-Windsor coach Aly Joslin said he is fairly confident in the game plan he put together for his team’s final four matchup.

“I think all things being equal, we should be able to exploit their weaknesses,” Joslin said. “If the girls can execute the game plan, I think we have a really good chance.”

Westminster has become a perennial soccer power in the GISA. The Lady Wildcats made it to the finals last season but fell to Augusta Prep.

The Lady Wildcats are led by midfielder Daria Stan, who has signed to play at Georgia.

“When you have a player at that level it is a different dynamic,” Joslin said. “Even though it is a team sport, sometimes the level of just that one player kind of makes you think about what you’ve got to do.”