Special to The Covington News 

By Mike Harrison

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. — Back in 2005 the Social Circle boys soccer team made the trip to Covington to meet the Eastside Eagles on a foggy Valentine’s Day night.

There was no Lady Redskins team at that time, so a few talented girls were allowed to play on the boys team. On that night back in 2005, the Eagles hammered the Redskins 10-0.

Last year Social Circle made its first return visit to Covington since 2005. This time it was a squad full of Lady Redskins, and they left with a hard earned 2-1 victory over a good Lady Eagles squad.

Last Tuesday night in Social Circle the 2017 version of the Lady Redskins showed just how far soccer has come at the school, playing an exciting semi-final state playoff match against Class AA No. 4-ranked East Laurens.  

The Region 8AA champion Social Circle squad had beaten No. 2 Fitzgerald and No. 8 Vidalia last week to jump from ninth to second in the latest Class AA girls soccer rankings. 

Trailing 2-0 late in the first half, Cheyenne Merritt sent a corner kick into the box that Adoris Gibbs sent past the East Laurens keeper with only 2:40 left to put the Lady Redskins on the scoreboard. 

Unfortunately East Laurens got it right back in the first minute of the second half to stretch its lead to 3-1. 

The Lady Redskins created numerous opportunities before Gibbs sent a long ball from midfield that found its way through two defenders to the foot of Merritt who dribbled into the scoring area before firing a shot across the face of the goal and into the far side netting with 18:44 remaining to make it 3-2. 

The Lady Redskins (10-6-2) continued to press to equalize. Their final chance came with only 4 seconds left in the match, but came up short, again showing how far they have come since 2005.  

The Social Circle Lady Redskins Championship banner is proudly displayed on the surrounding their soccer field.