Sherwood soccer heads to GIAA Final Four on penalty kicks

ALBANY – The Sherwood Christian Eagles are headed to the Final Four after surviving one of the most dramatic matches of their season Thursday night.

Sherwood defeated Westminster Christian in penalty kicks after battling through regulation and two overtimes in a thrilling state playoff matchup that ended tied 2-2 before the Eagles finally advanced on penalties.

The Eagles controlled much of the match early behind strong play from senior Elim Russell and junior Landon Chambless.

Sherwood carried a 1-0 lead into halftime before Russell struck again early in the second half to give the Eagles a 2-0 advantage. For most of the night, play remained on Westminster Christian’s end of the field but Sherwood kept the Lions from scoring until late.

But the Lions refused to go away.

Westminster scored two late goals in quick succession to erase the deficit and send the match into overtime.

Neither team could break through during two 10-minute overtime periods, forcing the match into penalty kicks with a trip to the Final Four hanging in the balance.

Senior goalkeeper Colton Mathis delivered one of the biggest moments of the season for Sherwood.

Mathis stopped Westminster’s opening penalty kick before the two teams traded successful attempts. The decisive moment finally came on the Lions’ final kick when the shot struck the crossbar and bounced over the goal, sending the Eagles into celebration.

“I was staring right at him the whole time he was placing the ball on the line and getting ready to take the kick,” Mathis said. “I do that during PK’s to try to see any subtle movements. I believe I saw his eyes move towards the left part of the goal and so I focused my attention on the left side of the net.

“When he struck the ball, I was moving that way, but the ball went over my head and over the goal. When I saw it hit the top of the net, I knew we had won and that was an exciting feeling.”

Sherwood Christian now advances to the Final Four and will travel to Newnan next week to face top-seeded Heritage with a spot in the state championship match on the line.