Sparkman takes down James Clemens girls soccer in playoff opener

Sparkman head coach Samuel Tidwell talks to his team after the win on Monday at Madison City Stadium.

By Caleb Odom (caleb@themadisonrecord.com)

MADISON – The Sparkman Lady Senators survived a barrage of James Clemens shots to edge the Lady Jets 2-1 in the first round of the 7A Girls Soccer Playoffs on Monday at Madison City Stadium.

“This has been a historic year in terms of winning for our program,” Sparkman head coach Samuel Tidmore said.

“Anytime you can beat as high of a caliber program as James Clemens; that is something that you go home and are proud of.”

Sparkman’s senior goaltender Audrey Edwards played with her hair on fire, making save after save with game hanging in the balance.

She darted, pounced, and launched her body throughout the match to take away golden chances for James Clemens who always seemed right on the verge of tying the game.

The Lady Senators used goals from Jayda Davis in the 34’ minute and Chelsey Curtis in the 71’ minute to eliminate the Lady Jets from the playoffs.

“It’s just unfortunate that we went out the way that we did,” James Clemens head coach Erin Riddle said.

“I thought that our effort and our composure on the ball was first class. I thought the way that we were creating chances for ourselves moving into the final third was consistent.”

James Clemens took the early 1-0 lead in the 16’ minute when senior midfielder Olivia Plant was taken down in front of the crease and a penalty shot was awarded.

“I just knew I wanted to place it in the back of the net to hopefully get my team to the win in the end,” Plant said as she fought back the urge to cry after the tough loss.

“Although we didn’t get the result, I was just happy that I was able to score in my last game.”

Davis’ goal knotted the game at 1-1 as the match neared halftime.

Right before the horn sounded for the midway point, James Clemens had a set piece and Hannah Congo uncorked a rocket of a shot that hooked past a leaping Edwards and the only thing that kept it from being a goal was the crossbar.

As the game moved into the second half of action, the pace seemed to grow more intense and there were some serious collisions out there.

Sparkman’s Chelsey Curtis had to come off the field to get her right wrist taped up because she thought she might have broken it.

“It’s probably broken or dislocated or something on this little bump,” Curtis said. “Somebody stepped on it.”

But Curtis wasn’t worried about her hand, she was focused on winning the game for her team.

“I was dribbling to the end line kind of waiting because I thought somebody would come and I could lay it off Jayda (Davis) but nobody ever came and the goalie came out so I just slipped it near post.”

Curtis’ go-ahead goal put the pressure on James Clemens with clock suddenly flying.

The Lady Jets went on the attack with shot after shot, but Edwards was lights out.

“Early this season, I didn’t feel like I was up to par,” Edwards said.

“Recently after we made playoffs I locked in and throughout the game, I just knew this is what my team is meant for and we are going to go all the way.”

The biggest moment of the match came when James Clemens’ forward Shay McFarland had the ball on her foot near the left side of the net.

McFarland was charging hard, but so was Edwards.

“I’ve gone up against her multiple times,” Edwards said.

“I knew what she could do, and I knew I’m bigger than her and I knew I just had to go all out.”

The two girls smashed into each other like a play a home plate.

The result was no goal and the stop by Edwards helped seal the victory for Sparkman as time ran out.

The Lady Senators advance to face the winner of the Huntsville vs Bob Jones match that is to be played on Tuesday.