On a cool, windy night on the John Milledge Academy athletic fields Friday, two longtime foes fought to gain the upper hand in a relatively new rivalry.
When both the Trojans’ boys and girls soccer teams beat crosstown rivals Georgia Military College at GMC’s Dr. John S. Robertson Field last year, the game marked the first-ever meeting between the two schools’ soccer programs. With this year’s matchup featuring the Trojans’ attempt to retain bragging rights on their home turf, large contingents of fans from both schools descended on JMA to witness the action.
In the first of the evening’s two matches, the game started well for both teams. Early goings saw both the 12-0 Bulldogs and the 2-3-1 Trojans moving the ball well, attempting to find holes in their opponents’ defense while coaches formulated their plans of attack. The discovery phase turned out to be short-lived however, when GMC midfielder Taylor Sherwood capitalized off a John Milledge turnover in front of its own goal with a well-placed shot to the left side of the net. Ten minutes later, with roughly 19 remaining in the half, GMC striker Walker McDade found an opening off a Bulldog corner to bring the score to 2-0. Both teams traded attacks following the goal but were unable to find the net agin before halftime. Although the Trojans came out of the break looking sharper than they had before half, the comeback was not to be, as neither team was able to add to the scoring during the final period. The Bulldogs, led by Sherwood, moved the ball well all game, tiring defenders with well-placed passes and building their attacks from defense. GMC midfielders looked sharp on both sides of the ball, and outplayed their rivals in terms of passing and getting players forward during attacks. After the game, GMC assistant coach Bobby Jaworski said he was happy with his team’s performance.
“We possessed the way we needed to, and we took our time with it and were able to get two goals there in the first half,” he said. “It was just about maintaining [the lead] and finding a way to finish it off. I’m proud of the guys — they played the way we’re supposed to in a hometown rivalry … I’m proud of all the JMA boys. They did a heck of a job out there, and we wish them the best of luck for the rest of the season.”
After GMC’s boys avenged their home loss from last season, fans of the two schools’ girls teams moved to the JMA football stadium for the evening’s marquee match. The first half saw both the 3-3-1 Lady Trojans and the 8-4 Lady Bulldogs trade several attacking chances back and forth, with not much separating the two teams in terms of play. With slightly more than eight minutes left in the first half, the Bulldogs found an opening when attacker Whitley Ward turned a failed clearance into a beautiful strike to the top left corner to bring the score to 1-0. Trojan defenders played well after the goal to keep their offense within striking distance, but were beaten again a few minutes later when GMC freshman Logan Mitchem found an opening in a crowded 18-yard-box to bring the score to 2-0. John Milledge was unable to find a goal for the game’s remainder. Although both teams looked solid throughout the game, GMC attackers, led by Mitchem, tested JMA’s defense early and often, and won through a combination of good shots and solid defensive structure. After securing Bulldog soccer’s second victory of the night, GMC girls coach Tommy Howell said he was happy with the way his team played.
“It was a very energetic game with a lot of emotion, and we just made the best of our opportunities,” he said. “Our goal for the game was to be more aggressive than they were, and I think it paid off in the end. Logan Mitchem played really well for us and had the goal that sealed it up, and Whitley Ward up front, Brooke Sheffield in the middle, and Lyssa Blair at sweeper did a really good job as well. We’ve got a tough game coming up with an area foe in Athens Academy, who has been one of the better teams in the state — we’re going to have our hands full, but I like the momentum and I like the direction our team is going.”
With the schools’ crosstown rivalry decided for another year, the four sides press on this week in their respective classifications. John Milledge will play at home this afternoon against Athens’ Monsignor Donovan Catholic at 4:30 p.m., while GMC travels to Athens Academy at 5:30.
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