The Archer School for Girls’ varsity soccer team got off to a fast start this season with a record of 8-0-1. League play does not begin until January but the Arrows hope to beat last year’s second place finish. The season opener against Oakwood High on December 1 ended in a 3-1 victory, with freshmen Palisadians Jamie Shields and Kate Santulli getting substantial playing time at midfield and Shields scoring her first goal of the season. A 9-2 victory over Bishop Conaty Dec. 3 saw sophomore Christina Randolph mastering the stopper position. Archer won the Western Christian Tournament, defeating Baldwin Park 4-0, Pomona Catholic 2-0, and tying Hoover High School 1-1 in round robin play before shutting out Linfield 3-0 in the semifinals. In the championship game, the Arrows beat host Western Christian 2-1. Junior goalie Kelley Costello notched two shutouts in the tournament. In the Linfield victory, junior Lauren Bahedry moved to forward from sweeper and crossed to senior Liza Epps, who scored the winning goal. Moments later, sophomore Sasha Verruno scored her second goal on a high cross well above the keeper’s outstretched fingers. Last week, Archer beat Animo Leadership High 5-4 and Rolling Hills Prep 6-2. Costello has played all but four minutes of the season in goal. The Arrows played Campbell Hall on Wedneday and the first game of the New Year is against Malibu. Archer again fields a team with great depth and talent with girls from other parts of the Los Angeles area: Lauren Haas, Natalie Babcock, Catherine Carmichael, Dylan Optican, Alaina Gibbs, Kylie Clark, Hilly Newman, and Samantha Russ.
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