![Freshman Milan Earl and sophomore Lucy Kaplan sit with their grandparents at Archer’s annual Grandparents and Special Friends Day Friday, March 15. The event took place over three 75-minute sessions. “[I hope my grandparents] gain an understanding about what I do, Kaplan said, because I know they ask a lot of questions and can sort of see what I do in school and what the experience is like to be here.](https://archeroracle.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/grandparents-day-option-2-1200x800.jpg)
Varsity soccer ties faculty team in ‘biggest game of the year’
Photo credit: Anika Bhavnani
The varsity soccer team huddles before the game. During the huddle, they shared positive words of encouragement.
It wasn’t an ordinary game — according to senior Rachel Pike, it was their biggest game of the year.
On Feb. 24 Archer’s varsity soccer team played Archer’s faculty team in the third annual Student vs Teacher soccer game. The score was 1-1.
Soccer coach Amelia Mathis scored one point for the teacher team, and Liadan Solomon ’17 scored the for the varsity team and Riley Adams ’20 helped assist her.
In an email to the entire school, Pike wrote, “This game has been highly anticipated by both teams, each putting in hours of training to prepare for the match of their lifetime.”
The game was originally scheduled for Feb. 3; however, due to the rain, it had to be pushed back to the Feb. 24.
“Unfortunately, it has not stopped raining and due to an extremely muddy field,” Mathis wrote in an email to the entire school on Feb. 3, “we are canceling the Faculty vs Student soccer game.”
On the day of the rescheduled game, students were able to wear white shirts to support the varsity soccer team or black to support the teacher team.
“We didn’t have a game last year, and we really wanted to find another way to [increase] school spirit during this time of year,” Alex Sherman ’17, a student council Executive Board member, said.
Many students watched the game during lunch.
“It feels exhilarating. It is so much fun watching all the spirit,” Kaia Turowski ’17 said.
However, the moment was bittersweet for some.
“It makes me really nostalgic, but grateful that we go to a school where we have such a fun activity that bonds the community together,” Marine Yamada ’17 said. “I’m really going to miss this.”
The varsity soccer team. The team scored one point.
Photo credit: Anika Bhavnani
The teacher team. They also scored one point.
Photo credit: Anika Bhavnani
The varsity soccer team huddles before the game. During the huddle, they shared positive words of encouragement.
Photo credit: Anika Bhavnani
The Archer panther came to support the game. This is Archer’s mascot.
Photo credit: Anika Bhavnani
History teacher Meg Shirk dribbles the soccer ball. The student team wore white and the faculty team wore black.
Photo credit: Anika Bhavnani
Seniors April Tate and Seana Duffy-Reddy (left to right) pose for a photo during the game. Many student and teacher spectators came to support the players during the game.
Photo credit: Anika Bhavnani
Rachel Pike ’17 spent the first half of the game coaching the varsity team. Pike was one of the team captains for varsity soccer this year.
Photo credit: Anika Bhavnani
After the game, the students and teachers gave each other high fives. The game ended in a tie.
Photo credit: Anika Bhavnani
Correction Statement Feb. 23 2017, 8:15 pm: The original version of the article stated that Riley Adams ’20 scored the point for the student team. This error has been corrected to state that Liadan Solomon ’17 scored the point and Riley Adams ’20 assisted her.
Anika Bhavnani became a member of the Oracle staff in 2015. She was promoted to co-Voices editor in 2016 and was promoted to editor-in-chief for the 2016-2017...
