MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — Another crosstown soccer matchup took place in Milledgeville Tuesday as GMC Prep played host to Baldwin High School for a night of non-region action.

In girls action, the Lady Dogs outplayed the Bravettes to earn a 4-1 win while the GMC Prep boys spread their scoring around the field to come away with the 3-1 home victory. 

Youth serves Lady Dogs

Underclassmen did all the scoring for GMC Prep’s girls in the evening’s first matchup. Sophomore Whitley Ward got things started for the Lady Dogs scoring in the eighth minute and she would go on to net another in the 53rd minute to give herself 17 goals on the 2018 season. Sophomore Emily Arp scored in the 24th minute, and freshman Logan Mitchem finished out the scoring for her team with a goal in the 68th minute. Mitchem also had a pair of assists and sophomore Melinda Steele also recorded a helper in the win.

The victory moves the Lady Dogs to 10-6 overall on the season and head coach Tommy Howell said after the game the timing of Tuesday’s W was huge. He also doted on the team’s lone senior Khalifa Bonner, who may not have filled up the stat sheet, but provides a little something that has helped the GMC Prep girls lock up a winning record in the regular season.

“It was a very emotional and hard-fought win,” Howell said. “We had to fight through our first game after spring break. The senior leadership that Khalifa Bonner provides for our team is invaluable.”

Baldwin’s girls fell to 8-6 on the season with the loss but held on to their 4-3 record in region play. 

GMC Prep boys undefeated at home

Tuesday’s win meant more than just another addition to the win column for the Bulldogs. It guaranteed they will finish the 2018 regular season a perfect 10-0 on their home field, which means another notch for the program’s already historic season.

“It was great,” GMC Prep boys assistant coach/chief strategist Bobby Jaworski said after the win. “We definitely played against a good opponent. Baldwin has come a long way and they were right there with us. It was definitely spirited. They played pretty quick and held possession, but we capitalized on the opportunities that we needed to. We also got a lot of guys some good time on the field. It’s definitely a great feeling to be undefeated at home this season as we get ready for the playoffs.”

Both teams had decent scoring chances in the early going, but neither was able to find the net until about the 28th minute when GMC Prep junior Dylan Smith broke the scoreless tie. He was assisted by senior Aaron Kirkland in the scoring venture, and the initial goal really changed the landscape of the game according to BHS head coach Brad Bell.

“I felt like we started well and were possessing the ball nicely,” Bell said. “We were really holding our own against a very good GMC midfield. Their first goal definitely took some of our momentum and GMC, to their credit, really stepped up the pressure and intensity. This caused us to abandon our game plan to possess the ball and play the wings to create space.”

The Bulldogs pushed the envelope after taking the 1-0 lead and created another solid scoring chance just a couple minutes after. GMC Prep didn’t make good on that opportunity, but it further established their dominance in the first half. With halftime just minutes away, Baldwin sent a header wide of the net, barely missing out on their best chance to tie the match. The ‘Dogs struck again in the 39th minute when the ball just got past Baldwin’s goalkeeper as he tried to beat a GMC Prep player to it. Junior Michael Barnes capitalized to put his team up 2-0 heading into the halftime break. Taylor Sherwood was credited with the assist. 

The Bulldogs widened their lead to 3-0 barely over a minute into the second half when Smith found freshman Colin McCabe for the team’s final goal on the night. The Braves got on the board with about 13 minutes to go as sophomore Andi Perez found the net after being assisted by Erick Machado. Baldwin’s Coach Bell liked what he saw from his team in the second half much more than what it showed in the first.

“The second half I felt like we regrouped a bit and played with more passion and heart,” Bell said. “They are very good team. Those kinds of games will certainly help us as we move forward and look to host a first round state playoff game later this month.”

What’s next

The GMC Prep teams will be at home Friday night. The girls will face Glascock at 5:30 p.m., and the boys will play an intersquad scrimmage afterwards since Glascock does not have a boys team. The GMC Prep soccer program will also be celebrating senior night Friday.

The Baldwin boys and girls are scheduled to travel to Putnam County Friday. The girls will take the field at 5:30 p.m. with the boys to follow at 7:30 p.m.