Varsity Girls Soccer Locks Down Hopkins in FAA Quarterfinal

 

The stands at Greene Family Field were packed, energy buzzed across the turf, and an upstart Masters squad took the field in search of a program-defining victory. 

And the Panthers seized the moment. 

No. 4-seeded Masters secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over No. 5-seeded Hopkins to advance to Wednesday's FAA semifinal round at top-seeded Greens Farms Academy (GFA) at 1:30 p.m.

“I've been a member of the girls varsity soccer team since my freshman year, and to have the opportunity to host a playoff game, especially during my senior year, was so special,” senior co-captain Lucia Lamprecht said. “Not only hosting, but winning the quarterfinal game has been a huge milestone for our program. The moment when the last whistle blew and we all turned to each other smiling knowing we were on to the semifinals — it was a memory I'll never forget. Seeing so much of the student body rush onto the field from the sidelines to celebrate with us was so special and so much fun. That was the moment where it really felt like we had done it — we were on to the semifinals.”

The feeling was mutual for senior co-captain Maya Yoon.

“As a senior — playing some of my last games here at Masters — winning that quarterfinal game, with this exact team, meant everything to me,” Yoon said. “These girls are the most deserving of this win. This win for the program is incredibly influential.”

Winger Flynn Dixon ’29 tallied the match's lone goal in the first half, perfectly timing her run to tap in a cross from center midfielder Elodie Hufferdine ’28. 

Yoon, an ace attacking player, triggered the goal-scoring opportunity with a darting run down the right wing. She then slipped a pass between a pair of Hopkins defenders to a streaking Hufferdine, who took one touch and fired a low cross toward the opposite post. The ball slipped under the hands of a diving Hopkins goalie and right to the feet of Dixon, who was expertly positioned to finish. 

“Immense,” head coach Juan Cobos said of Dixon's clutch tally. “She did everything we have worked on this whole season. She got herself into the right spot, reacted first and got a well-deserved goal. What a goal and what a moment for her.”

Masters’ airtight defense took care of the rest, locking down a Hopkins attack that had scored 11 goals over its previous four matches. 

“Our defense is a complete wall,” Yoon said. “It is so remarkable to watch them recover ball after ball and tackle after tackle. We have an incredibly skilled defensive line, with so much young talent from our underclassmen. They communicate incredibly well and know exactly how to cover for each other. They work harder than anyone on the field, making sure to contribute to the team's success.”

This kind of performance was nothing new for the Panthers, who haven’t conceded a goal since September 30 — a remarkable shutout streak that now spans 10 straight matches.

Maddie Barnes ’26 has been an anchor in goal, while Avery Gosnell ’29 and Frankie Navin ’28 compose a rock-solid center back tandem. Fullbacks Bella Henriquez ’26 and Amelie Henzler ’28 have been equally crucial, covering the wings and limiting the opposition’s chances. In front of the back line, Lamprecht controls the defensive midfield, playing a key role in transitioning the ball from defense to offense.

“We have talked a lot about what it means to play with and for each other,” Cobos said. “The team’s communication on the field makes it so that no one misses an assignment. The sheer will and determination makes it so that it is hard to get through our defense.”

As Hopkins pushed forward in the late stages of the match — peppering Masters’ goal and applying waves of pressure — the home field advantage kicked in. A mass of purple-clad Panther fans made their presence known, urging the squad to dig in and close out the victory. 

“It wasn't just the team fighting against Hopkins — it was the whole school fighting together,” Lamprecht said. “Knowing that teachers took their classes down to the field to support us means more than we can put into words. The support we've gotten from the Masters community throughout the whole season, especially for this game, is something that you won't find at any other school — what we have here is special.”

The Panthers will look to keep their special season going against GFA, which is undefeated in league play this year. GFA won the regular season meeting between the two squads, 2-1, back on September 16.

“GFA is going to be a big test, but we’ve prepped for it and are ready for the challenge,” Cobos said. 

FAA Quarterfinal Match Highlight Reel