The boys soccer team finished the 2017 campaign with a 10-9-1 record, including a trip to the region championship game.
The War Eagles completed region play with a 4-1 record, finishing as the regional runner-up after a close 2-0 defeat to Druid Hills. The team had big wins against Paideia, Alexander, Lovett, Decatur, and Perry throughout the year. The season ended in the second round of the state playoffs with a loss to SE Whitfield. Five players claimed All-Region Team, including senior captain Kenny Andrews, junior Benjamin Vellanikaran, sophomores Tej Munshi and Alex Taylor, and freshmen Nick Mair and John Franks. The War Eagles graduated five seniors off this season’s squad but will return a talented young roster for next season’s campaign.
2016 – 2017 Woodward Academy Varsity Boys Soccer Team
| Name | Grade | Pos |
| Kenny Andrews** | 12 | MID |
| Mead Cushman | 12 | DF |
| Harry Gould | 12 | FW |
| Joshua Harrison** | 12 | MID |
| Martin Rodriguez | 12 | DF |
| Ben Woollcott | 12 | DF |
| Ronnie Freeman | 11 | MID |
| Benjamin Vellanikaran | 11 | MID |
| Kwamena Awotwi | 10 | DF |
| Tejan Borchers | 10 | DF |
| Will Gamson | 10 | FW |
| Jack Ginley | 10 | FW |
| Marshall Golick | 10 | GK |
| Tej Munshi | 10 | FW |
| Julien Roddenbery | 10 | MID |
| Alex Taylor | 10 | DF |
| Ben Wombaugh | 10 | DF |
| Jordan Culley | 9 | FW |
| John Franks | 9 | FW |
| Nick Mair | 9 | DF |
** – Denotes Captain
MATT HOLMES
HEAD COACH
BOYS SOCCER (SIX YEARS)
Originally from Nottingham, England, Coach Holmes enjoyed a professional career with the Birmingham City, Kettering Town, and Belper Town Football Clubs. He represented nationally with both the Nottinghamshire and English Schools Football Associations as well as the British Colleges of Sport. Coach Holmes has served as Director of Coaching for the Huntsville FC (previously Kicks FC), as Academy Director of the Atlanta Spurs, and with the Atlanta Silverbacks, winning a W-League regular season conference championship in 2012. He was named Alabama 4A Coach of the Year for three consecutive years (2006 – 2008); Georgia 3A Coach of the Year in 2012 and 2014; NSCAA Coach of the Year in 2011; and NFHS National Coach of the Year in 2008. In a 10-year high school coaching career, he has led teams to eight region championships, three state championships, and four state runner-ups. Holmes also coaches at GSA in the ECNL program—the nation’s highest level of play for female youth soccer. His extensive background has garnered two publications in World Class Coaching, the world’s leading magazine for soccer coaches.
