In the midst of their Coastal Conference schedule, the Bishop’s girls soccer team pulled a “clean slate” against arch-rival Santa Fe Christian, 7-0, on a Tuesday. Then, two days later, on their Senior Day, the Knights waxed Escondido Charter, 10-0, on the way to a 6-1 record in league.
Why the immense success at that point?
“We had a new coach (Scott Morrison) and we also graduated a lot of seniors from last year,” says Nicola Xanthopoulos, 17, a midfielder who plays either attack or defense, in answer to a question on why “BGVS” (the players’ acronym for Bishop’s girls varsity soccer) suddenly put things together in the late winter.
“It took us a minute,” said the junior with the Greek tongue-twister last name with a grin.
A key part of that development and cohesion was first-year coach Morrison’s experienced eye in surveying the scene while taking in a heavy dose of the girls’ input. “They’re a very intelligent group,” says the 37-year-old Morrison, who played professionally in his native Aberdeen, Scotland for five years and is in his fourth year coaching boys for San Diego Surf.
Morrison played for Aberdeen FC’s first team from ages 17 to 22 after growing up in their academy from age 9 — a typical European program in which a student learns soccer while attending school separately.
The new Bishop’s coach installed a 3-4-3 alignment in front of their goalie, sophomore Lexi Black (who was playing out of her normal position), with three backs behind four midfielders, three forwards up top. The group, captained by seniors Abby Beamer, Presley McDonald, and Sophia Bartolo, fully adjusted to the new formation to peak with the February blitz of SFC and Escondido.
McDonald, 18, a starter for three and a half years, moved to one of the forward spots from her accustomed club position at center back. Beamer, a four-year varsity veteran as well, also comes from a club background, with the San Diego Surf. Beamer quit playing club earlier in high school to concentrate on her singing talents in school productions.
McDonald, interviewed while enjoying the Bishop’s boys 5-2 Division IV semifinal win on campus over Foothills Christian, remembered the Santa Fe Christian game as a season highlight. “Every senior scored except one — five of the six,” Presley noted. “It was fun getting the freshmen (including Beamer’s twin sisters Lainie and Lyla) into the game.”
She was part of the BGVS group chat last fall that brought the girls and boys programs together for informal pre-season workouts, team-building, and with senior girls their captains’ breakfasts.
Beating Francis Parker on their Senior Night was particularly satisfying. The Knights’ Jessica Luo scored the only goal of the game against her sister Allison’s team in a storybook script. Allison was the Lancers’ only senior.
Beamer, pausing during a workout in the campus fitness center, is relishing multiple roles in the school’s production of “Titanic.” Part of the Bishop’s singing program, she plays Kate Murphy, a young Irish woman who has never been away from home.
