James Wood girls complete sweep of Sherando

STEPHENS CITY — On Friday night, James Wood girls’ soccer fans experienced the familiar sight of Jolie Jenkins and McKenna Newcome playing a role in numerous goals, and Sherando girls’ soccer fans reacquainted themselves with watching Rob Kilmer coach from the Warriors’ sideline.

Jenkins had three goals and one assist and Newcome had one goal and one assist to lead James Wood to a 5-1 win over Sherando at Arrowhead Stadium that completed a season sweep of the Warriors.

The Colonels — who also received two assists from Sloane Ferrebee — remained undefeated at 6-0 overall and 4-0 in the Class 4 Northwestern District, and the Warriors fell to 5-4 (2-4). James Wood led 2-0 at halftime and extended its lead to 3-0 two minutes into the second half on a goal from Jenkins.

Unlike the first time James Wood beat Sherando (2-0 on March 19), Stacey Macoff was not on the sidelines coaching the Warriors. Macoff — who provided information by email of the team’s game on Tuesday against Millbrook — and assistant coach Lacey Caviness are no longer on Sherando’s roster online. Macoff is a 2006 Sherando graduate who played soccer for the Warriors. She took over as head coach prior to the 2022 season.

Macoff’s former head coach Kilmer is now Sherando’s head coach again. Kilmer stepped down as head coach after the 2021 season, compiling a record of 207-129-28 over 22 years with the Warriors. Sherando coordinator of student activities Jason Barbe said Kilmer is the interim coach for the remainder of the season.

In an email, Macoff said she resigned.

“I have so many roles in my life,” Macoff wrote. “I am a mother, wife, daughter, sister, teacher and friend. I cannot allow one role to take away so much from the most important roles in my life. Because of this I have resigned as varsity coach at Sherando High School to focus on my health and my family.”

Though Kilmer is now the head coach, he didn’t serve in that capacity on Friday. Sherando JV head coach Caitlyn Sturlaugson held that role. Kilmer spoke to the team before the game, then spent the first half observing on the sideline away from the team bench. Kilmer spoke to the Warriors at halftime. During the second half, he became more involved with Sturlaugson and offered one-on-one tips to players on the sideline.

The Warriors had four coaches on the sideline. Kilmer’s brother Keith — the longtime Millbrook girls’ and boys’ head coach — is joining the staff as an assistant, and Isabella Unrath is staying on as a varsity assistant. Kilmer said he could not speak to the media after Friday’s game.

As far as the action on the field for a cool and windy contest, the game was closer than the score indicated. James Wood (16-10 shot edge) just happened to do an excellent job finishing its opportunities.

With the wind at its back, James Wood took four of the game’s first five shots, with Rhys Neff recording four saves in goal for the Warriors. In the 13th minute, Jenkins crossed the ball in from the left side. It bounced off a Sherando player, and Newcome was the first person to the loose ball. After taking two touches to give herself an open look, she put her third touch into the back for a 1-0 James Wood lead.

A few minutes later, the All-State center midfielder Newcome checked out of the game and sat on the bench for about 17 minutes. Newcome — who was hospitalized for three weeks in February with a rare kidney disease — played about 45 minutes on Friday, the most she’s played all year.

Newcome played less than a minute in James Wood’s first two games and 20 minutes against Clarke County in the Colonels’ third game. James Wood head coach Donavan Russell said Newcome played eight minutes against Millbrook in the fourth game and 20 to 25 minutes against Liberty on Monday.

Newcome has been highly productive despite playing limited minutes. She had an assist against Clarke County, two goals against Millbrook, and two goals and two assists against Liberty.

“It’s definitely been great to get back out there again, and gradually increase my activity and get to play with everybody,” Newcome said. “I just can’t speak enough about the players around me that have helped me kind of bring my game back into play, and feel comfortable.”

Newcome’s freshman sister DeLaney had the assist on McKenna’s first goal of the season against Millbrook.

“That was really cool,” said McKenna, who added that she and Delaney have been looking forward to being teammates for a long time.

Friday marked Newcome’s first extensive action playing as an attacking center midfielder, where the Marshall University signee is most comfortable. Newcome had been playing on the outside this year.

“I’ll play anywhere you need me to play, but playing on the outside is not really my main position,” said Newcome with a laugh. “Being able to get back into the middle, seeing the passes, being able to dictate the speed of play, that’s kind of what I like to do. It was really great to get back out there and get kind of involved in everything.”

Newcome set up the final goal of the game by sending a pass back to Nayah Edwards in the 75th minute. The outside back fired a high shot from outside the 18 that went off the hands of Sherando’s second-half goalkeeper, Morgan Catalano, and Newcome and Edwards had huge smiles on their faces as they embraced each other.

Edwards was able to play in her normal spot on Friday, but Russell noted he had to shuffle things around with the rest of his defense. Sophomore center back Meadow Falkner suffered a significant hand injury on Monday against Liberty, so DeLaney Newcome had to shift from outside back to center back, and Maddie Shirley was moved to outside back. Along with center back Madeline Heustis, James Wood’s defense kept Alaynah McGuire (three saves) from being tested much.

“It’s a testament to the kids to be able to make adjustments,” Russell said. “DeLaney has never really played the center back position before, and she did an outstanding job.”

Russell said he was glad James Wood was able to take advantage of the wind early.

“The wind is tough on the defense, tough on the goalkeeper,” Russell said. “We wanted to jump on them early, and it worked with a two-goal lead going into the half. We had good chances, and we finished them. In the second half, we’ve been pushing a ball a little too far at times, too quick, so into the wind we got a chance to work the ball through the lines, and pass the ball and work together.”

Jenkins put the finishing touch on the middle three goals, with Avery Wright providing the first assist and Ferrebee the last two. Jenkins’ last goal was a left-footed blast from just inside the 18 that sailed inside the far right post.

“I thought we moved the ball really well as a team,” said Jenkins, a Clemson commit.

Olivia Lee scored Sherando’s lone goal in the 48th minute after running onto a long pass to make it 3-1.

Sturlaugson thought the Warriors gave a strong effort in their first game of a transition phase.

“I think the girls gave all that they had to give,” Sturlaugson said. “They played their hearts out.”

Neff had six saves and Catalano had two for Sherando.

Both teams will next play at home on Tuesday. The Colonels will take on Liberty and Sherando faces Brentsville.

— Contact Robert Niedzwiecki at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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