The combination of a new head coach and an experienced squad, including 13 seniors, is working well so far this spring for the Washington-Liberty Generals girls soccer team.
The high-school team has a 7-1 overall record through this week, and is 2-0 in the Liberty District. The Generals have five shutouts in eight matches and have allowed only three goals.
“This has been a good group and a good start,” W-L first-year head coach David Woods told ARLnow. “I coached a lot of these players in youth soccer. That experience helps. Things have gone smoothly and the integration of what we want to do has been easier because we know each other.”
Washington-Liberty’s wins have been over McLean and Marshall by 1-0 scores in district play. In non-district matches, the Generals have blanked Jefferson, 1-0, and South Lakes, 5-0, and nipped Hayfield and Madison by 2-1 scores.
The lone loss was to Centreville, 1-0.
Through seven games, the three goals W-L allowed were on set plays, like corner and free kicks.
“Our defense has been very good so far,” Woods said.
Washington-Liberty has a big all-Arlington home showdown against the Yorktown Patriots on Monday, April 28 at 7:15 p.m. The Generals defeated Yorktown in last season’s district-tournament-championship match.
The Generals’ top goal scorer so far has been senior Scarlett Smith, who scored in five straight games.
Among team captains: top defender Danicka Miller, goalie Charlotte Kulikosky, forward Frances Shapiro and Alina Sagatov. All are seniors.
Woods said Shapiro leads the offense, akin to being a point guard in basketball. She will play at Denison University. Miller will play at Harvard and Kulikosky at the University of Delaware.
Other seniors are Ella Kaplan, Bianca Hall, Kira Nordgren, Eleanor Caramanica, Tess Davies, Anna Trucano, Sofia Marquez and Emma Abreamson.
Kaplan also is a standout outdoor track-and-field athlete for W-L during the spring.
