George School’s girls’ varsity soccer team achieved its sixth Friends Schools League (FSL) championship win in nine years with a 3-1 victory over The Shipley School on November 3, 2009. The game, which represented the Shipley team’s first loss of the season and the George School team’s second consecutive FSL title, took place on a beautiful fall afternoon at Shipley. When George School fans arrived halfway through the game—having left their own campus once class ended for the day—their cheers provided a burst of enthusiasm that seemed to carry the George School athletes to triumph.

Pat Maguire of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported, “Home-field advantage didn’t last long for the Shipley School Gators yesterday, as their home field, appropriately titled ‘the Farm,’ was invaded with wild Cougar faithful midway through the Friends School[s] League Girls’ soccer championship game.”

Tom Griffith, the George School girls’ varsity soccer head coach, says, “Our four seniors each ended their George School soccer careers on a high note. Forward Jil Mahrer played her best game as a George School soccer player, and goalie Liz Bitzer finished with eight saves. Our co-captains and four-year starters, sweeper Stephanie Feinman and midfielder Aly Passanante, were superb. Stephanie directed our defense very well and had a number of good clearances, while Aly directed our midfield, which did a great job against the excellent midfield from Shipley.”

The team’s defense included stopper Devin Garfinkle ’11, whose performance included what Tom describes as “an excellent long range effort”; right back Jessica Minderjahn’ 13, whose overlapping runs in the second half helped spark the Cougars; and left back Chrissy Haney ’12, who Tom notes “has been as solid as a rock the entire season.” According to Tom, forwards Priscilla Wiggins ’12 and Kellie Edelblut ’11 played very well, and midfielders Stephanie Heys ’12, Kate Harkins ’11, Caitlin Wurz ’13, and Alyssa Carcia ’12 each did a great job of both attacking and defending on the large Shipley field.

At the final whistle, the Cougar fans invaded the field and joyously surrounded their classmates, who finished with a 11-2-1 record. Tom recalls, “It was a great scene, and the game was a terrific way to conclude a truly wonderful season.”

You can read more about the Cougars’ victory in the following articles:

The Philadelphia Inquirer
"George School Knocks Off Unbeaten Shipley in Soccer"

Bucks County Courier Times
“George School Wins FSL Girls Soccer Crown”