Middle school soccer wins playoffs in ‘nerve-wracking’ game

The soccer team poses for a group photo at quarter final. The team ended up winning the Pacific Basin League soccer title. Photo courtesy of Marlee Rice

While the varsity soccer team was being featured on the news and spent time bonding, the middle school team was scoring their way into the playoffs.

The Panthers’ first two Pacific Basin League playoff games took place on Feb. 7 and Feb. 9 at Archer. The team emerged victorious from both, sending them to the finals at Crossroads School on Feb. 10.

In the finals, the Panthers took on Westside Neighborhood School. Archer won 1-0.

“[The game] was really nerve-wracking,” said co-captain Audrey Irvine ’21. “It could have gone either way,” Irvine said.

This marks the first time that Archer has won the PBL soccer title since 2007.

“[Winning] was really exciting, but it took me a while to process,” co-captain Maggie O’Leary ’21 said.

This victory concluded the middle school team’s season. They ended with an undefeated 9-0 record.

“[I love to] see how the players improve over the course of the season and to see how proud they are of their own achievements,” coach and advancement fellow Rebecca Samuelson ’13 said. “This is a really big milestone for Archer Athletics as a whole.”