The varsity girls soccer team won the Northern Virginia Independent Schools (NVIS) state championship for the second year in a row on November 10 in McLean, with a score of 2-0 over the top ranked Potomac School.
“It was the best game of the season, in terms of how we played,” head coach Alberto Starace said of the team. “Key players did a fantastic job of passing the ball and putting a lot of pressure on Potomac. We worked together as a team, gelled as a unit, and finally came together, really focused.”
Both goals were scored in the first half. Senior Sophie Viscovich (Washington University in St. Louis commit) scored the first on a lovely combination play and senior Sara Turner finished a nice set piece for the second. The team held onto the lead for the rest of the game with a strong defensive performance. Senior goalkeeper Phoebe Carver (Arkansas commit) had a great game and made three key saves in the final minutes to preserve the shutout and championship win.
This was the fifth year that this Northern Virginia Independent Schools Girls Soccer tournament has been held because girls soccer teams down south play in the spring. Around eight private schools in Northern Virginia can be chosen to be in the NVIS tournament, with four teams receiving an invitation to the semifinals. This was O’Connell’s second appearance and second win in the NVIS tournament final, their first being in 2021 also over Potomac School.
The NVIS state championship win capped off a 10-5-2 season. Coach Starace added, “It was a successful season. The kids worked hard and it’s great to be the first team to win the championship back-to-back.”
Congratulations to the following student-athletes who earned post-season recognition:
Phoebe Carver '23 - WCAC 1st Team
Bridgett Prophett '25 - WCAC 1st Team
Sophie Viscovich '23 - WCAC 1st Team
Raleigh Burns '23 - WCAC 2nd Team
Sara Turner '23 - WCAC 2nd Team
Megan Heuschel '23 - WCAC 2nd Team
Molly Prophett '23 - WCAC Honorable Mention
Rachael Zonavetch '26 - WCAC Honorable Mention
