by Owen Smith ’27

Boys soccer’s momentum could not be higher as they approach the halfway point of the season. After early struggles riddled the Warriors, the team’s comeback victory last Thursday displayed a portrayal of winning that Sherwood desperately needed after an 0-2 start to the season. Two back-to-back one-goal losses, including an overtime heartbreaker vs Richard Montgomery, got the Warriors on the wrong foot in early September, but two straight wins vs NEC opponents Springbrook and Paint Branch have seemed to put worries at ease.

The team is coming off a run to the State Semifinals, where they were ultimately one goal shy of making the State Championship in a tough 3-2 loss to the eventual champion, Stephen Decatur. Returning talent and early grit have shown that this squad can return to those heights.

¨I don’t really have season expectations. I am big on focusing on one game at a time and improving each practice and each game,” said Coach Tom Homan.

On the heels of a winning streak, the team feels good about its upcoming schedule as they enter a slate of rivalry matches vs Gaithersburg, Magruder, and Blake within the next two weeks.¨We feel confident. We started off slow but have picked it up since the beginning of the season and plan to carry the momentum through the rest of our season¨ said senior captain Tate Atanda.

The starpower this group has across the field is undeniable, pinpointed by a dominant defense led by fullback Luca Perez and goalkeeper Whitt Robinson, both playing key roles in the boys’ two home matches. Other standouts include senior forward Affan Ansari and senior midfielder Mateo Doldan, who both headline an offense that has scored eight goals in the last two games.