Friends’ Central girls soccer team captures FSL title

The Friends’ Central School girls’ soccer team earned its fourth Friends Schools League (FSL) title in the last five years by outlasting the visiting George School by a final score of 2-1 Tuesday in the FSL championship final.
The first half saw back and forth action at both ends of the field as the two teams felt each other out through a nervy first forty minutes. The Phoenix were able to generate a number of quality chances, but could not quite find the back of the net.
Freshman forward Phoebe Guenther broke the stalemate five minutes into the second half, when she stripped a GS defender and buried the ensuing breakaway into the side netting. The next 20 minutes saw the Phoenix bunkered in defense, until George’s Paige Mikula fired a standout strike from the right wing to tie the game at 1-1 in the 67th minute. The Phoenix wasted no time responding however, answering just two minutes later as junior midfielder Lorna MacFarlane found Jesse Rubin who beat multiple defenders en route to a successful finish.
The Phoenix managed to dig in for the final 10 minutes – with outstanding defensive performances from sophomore center back duo Morgan Crowley and Ava Forman, as well as goalie Caroline Fakharzadeh, who chipped in five big saves in the winning effort. Win the win, the Phoenix advanced to the PAISAA state tournament, where they are seeded second.