Sherando's Sirbaugh nets another winner

April 8, 2011

By Robert Stocks       

STEPHENS CITY- Shortly after Sherando's players shook hands with James Wood following the final whistle Thursday night, Warriors senior Megan Sirbaugh sought out sophomore teammate Rose Carey.

"That was the best ball I've ever got in my life," Sirbaugh yelled to Carey and a group of her teammates.

Carey's perfect pass to Sirbaugh through a trio of James Wood defenders in the middle of the 18-yard box left Sirbaugh with a one-on-one opportunity with James Wood senior goalkeeper Kaleigh Fincham with five minutes left in the match. And Sirbaugh made sure she finished it.

She took her time, dribbled in front of the goal and beat Fincham with a low shot to the left post, helping the Warriors snap a four-game skid with a 3-1 victory in the Northwestern District season opener for both teams at Arrowhead Stadium.

"We've been working on combinations in practice and that was perfect," Sirbaugh said. "Somebody played it out to Rose, Rose played it right into me and I was open and it was beautiful. It was right to my feet and that's right where we want it every time.

"I knew I had time to beat my man. and I didn't want to take it too far out 'cause Kaleigh's a good goalie. I knew I had to get it right up on her to get it past her."

Sherando (2-4, 1-0) responded after James Wood (2-2, 0-1) tied the game on a Sarah Callaham goal in the 57th minute.

Sirbaugh also added an insurance goal, converting a penalty kick after Ashley Morefield was taken down just inside the 18 with less than three minutes left in the match.

"It's just senior captain leadership. [She] kind of put us on her shoulders to go and get it done," Sherando coach Rob Kilmer said of Sirbaugh, who's scored four of the team's five goals this season. "[Sirbaugh's first goal] was just fantastic effort, and Rose Carey played a great ball through."

James Wood coach Jim Carden said Sirbaugh made a nice play to get past his team's defenders.

"We didn't stand her up and she beat what - three of us?" Carden said. "They started off and got the goal and put us in a hole, and we got it back, and I thought we were in good shape. But good teams learn how to win, and they're still a very good team."

While Sirbaugh provided the offensive spark, the play of senior goalkeeper Briana Hudnall proved to be equally as important at the other end of the field for Sherando.

Hudnall made 11 saves, and none were bigger than her stop against Callaham on a penalty kick in the 50th minute.

Callaham sent a low shot toward the left post, but Hudnall guessed correctly and got just enough of the ball to deflect it wide.

"I heard one of the girls on the sideline say 'Bri, just like we do in practice' and that always motivates me," Hudnall said. "I just took my time and watched the ball. It was just reacting and just hoping that I was going to the right side. It was my leg that I got on it."

Kilmer said Hudnall has made a habit of denying opponents on penalty kicks over the past two seasons.

"If you count last year, too, this is her sixth straight PK save," Kilmer said. "She's very difficult to score on on PKs. It ended up being huge."

The Colonels tested Sherando's defense, outshooting the Warriors 15-13 in the match, but James Wood could only convert one of its chances.

"They made the shots and we missed them," Carden said. "We had our chances and didn't finish. That's all. Maybe two years ago [outshooting a team] was better for us, but now we expect a little more. It wasn't for lack of effort. We just never seemed to get where we wanted to - to Sherando's credit."

Sherando freshman Amanda Fogarty scored just seven minutes into the match after a free kick by Sirbaugh.

Sirbaugh sent a low shot at Fincham (11 saves) but the ball bounced off the keeper's hands and back out in front of the net. Sherando's Ashley Morefield passed the rebound to Fogarty, who blasted a shot into the left panel.

Although Sherando has never lost to James Wood (with only a tie back in 2003), Kilmer said this was the first time the Colonels have ever outshot his team.

"James Wood's good - they're physical and they're fast," Kilmer said. "It's a good win for us for where we are right now. Going into this game, we only had two goals. We responded and got goals from different people, which is good. I was really pleased with the effort in the second half."

The Warriors won the district regular season title (with a 6-0-2 record) for the first time in a decade last season, and Sirbaugh said the team needed to get back on track after struggling in non-district play.

"This was a huge win for us," she said. "We've been waiting for this win. Coming off a four-game losing streak, that's something that Sherando hasn't experienced in a long time. To come off that with a win like this feels really great."

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