Top-Ranked Sherwood Relies on Its Defense

There hasn't been one goal scorer who has stepped up for top-ranked Sherwood this season.

In fact, the Warriors have just one player with more than three goals -- junior forward James Mbony, who has five. Yet without a true finisher, Sherwood has managed to gut its way through an undefeated season thus far with a combination of players who seem able to find the back of the net when a goal is needed most.

Nine players have scored this season for Sherwood, including three three-goal scorers -- Tomi Adewole, Herson Hernandez and Tyler Rudy.

"I'm very proud and pleased of the way they're playing," said Sherwood Coach Hector Morales Jr. "And I told them many times, it's not always the best-looking game, but they are getting results, and they are finding ways to put the ball in the back of the net. Whether it's a set piece or a scramble in the box, they get the one goal they need, and definitely we're holding up our end in the back line and just getting results."

The back line was the known strength of a team returning the core of its starters from last year, and led by Adewole, a second-team All-Met selection last fall, and Henry Bain, Sherwood has locked down opponents.

The Warriors have allowed more than one goal just once this season -- a 4-2 win over Springbrook in which both goals allowed were penalty kicks. It's a formula that is working right now despite any singular threat in the attacking third.

"Our main thing is not getting scored on," Adewole said. "After that then we can focus on finishing. I think our defensive line is pretty secured in defense so if you see our scores we haven't scored many but we'll get there."

And despite the strong early results, Adewole emphasized that his team knows it's just weeks from a postseason in which anything can happen.

"Our confidence is building, but me and the other captains are trying to emphasize how we shouldn't get cocky at all," he said. "We've played great competition in and out of the county and are pleased to be undefeated, but we don't want to be cocky because anyone can beat anyone in soccer."

Northern's Hot Start

After Northern graduated two players last season and returned 10 seniors this year, forward Dane Slavin said he knew the No. 5 Patriots had a chance to be pretty good.

But starting the season 11-0? That was a surprise.

"We thought we could do something very special," Slavin said. "But we never knew it could be this special."

Led by Slavin (15 goals, seven assists), Northern has cruised through the season, averaging five goals per game and allowing more than one goal in a game just once -- a 5-3 win over Huntingtown on Sept. 14.

The Patriots have scored fewer than four goals in a game just twice this season and have four players with six or more goals on the season, led by Slavin and Andrew Turgeon (11 goals, two assists).

Despite the early success, Slavin said the team has adopted a motto introduced by teammate Jason Bennett: Don't talk about it, be about it. The motto, he said, has prepared the team for a season in which it knows it has a target on its back.

With a game Thursday at La Plata, the team that downed Northern, 3-0, at home last year in the Maryland 3A South final, it was difficult to avoid just a little bit of talking ahead of the critical matchup.

"We're pretty much just looking for revenge for that one," Slavin said. "We want to come out and dominate and not give them a chance."