AUSTIN, Texas (KATY NEWS) – Two Aristoi girls soccer teams advanced to the state title game Saturday in Austin. The college and middle school teams had a great season finishing in second place.
Aristoi Women's National Team
The Aristoi girls varsity Griffins lost 6-3 in a hard-fought championship game to Edinburg's Idea Toros. The game was fast-paced on the artificial turf at Austin Achieve Charter School's stadium. The Griffins typically play on grass, where ball movement is slow, so they had to adapt to a faster surface.
The Toros took the lead and scored on a shot from the outside. Keeper Madi Signitier made the first stop, but the Toros scored on the rebound to make it 1-0.
Freshman Aristoi winger Olivia Spellman quickly moved the ball up the field and fed freshman Brinley English, who deftly evaded her defender and scored the goal, tying the game at 1-1. . Watch the video below.
Following this goal, Toros quickly scored two more goals. Many in the stadium, including Aristoi's coaching staff, felt that both goals were offside. The referee disagreed and the score was 3-1.
The Toros increased their lead to 4-1 early in the second half.
Aristoi sophomore Rachel Rajani fought back and scored for Aristoi, making it 4-2.
Idea scored two more goals to take a commanding 6-2 lead, but the Griffins never stopped fighting. Sophomore Isabel Mora scored to cut the Toros' lead to 6-3, which was the final score of the game.
Coach Andrea Altamirano said, “Regardless of today's result, the girls came into the game with a lot of heart and never stepped back until the final whistle rang.''
During the regular season, the Aristoi girls went undefeated with six wins. They won three times in the playoffs, but only lost in the final.
Senior Maddie Signitiere started in goal. She remained in net throughout most of the game until Coach A replaced her with senior Daniela Cueto, allowing both girls to play in the final game of their high school careers.
Junior high school girls team
The Aristoi High School girls soccer team also had an exciting season and advanced to the state championship tournament. They won in overtime in the semifinals in Austin, qualifying for the state tournament. They played against the Owls of Great Hearts Live Oak Academy in Buda, Texas.
The score was 1-1 at the end of regulation. Both teams played a 10-minute overtime, but neither team could score, resulting in a penalty shootout.
Keeper Sara Rajani was outstanding, stopping three penalty kicks in the match. The Griffins won the shootout and advanced to the state championship. They lost 6-0 in Saturday's title game.
Griffin's future is bright
The Griffin High School team has six alumni, two of whom are goalies. The middle school team includes nine eighth-graders who are eligible to compete on the high school team, including goalie Sarah Rajani, whose younger sister Rachel will also be on the team.
Varsity – Name and Grade
- Maddy Signitière, 12 years old (goalkeeper)
- Daniela Cueto, 12 years old (goalkeeper)
- Gracie Garcia, 12 years old
- Savannah Parks, 12
- Abrianna Parks, 12 years old
- Joanna Vargas, 12 years old
- Ellie Lawson, 11 years old
- Anna Lasthouse, 11 years old
- Chiara Castillo, 11 years old
- Annie Bales, 11 years old
- Valentina Buslieman, 10 years old
- Taylor Madison, 10 years old
- Isabel Mora, 10 years old
- Rachel Rajani, 10 years old
- Brinley English, 9
- Valerie Gonzalez, 9 years old
- Emma Clark, 9 years old
- Olivia Spellman, 9 years old
Junior high school – name and grade
- Sara Rajani, 8 years old (goalkeeper)
- Emily Contreras, 8 years old
- Camila Gomez, 8 years old
- Sammy Williams, 8 years old
- Hadley Rangel, 8 years old
- Julie Chavez, 8 years old
- Rebecca Coker, 8 years old
- Kylie Sicard, 8 years old
- Kathy Mora, 8 years old
- Isabella Escobedo, 8 years old
- Leslie Hurst, 7 years old
- Mia Moore, 7 years old
- Anneliese Pinto, 7 years old
- Samantha Weddle, 7 years old
- Lucy Clark, 7 years old
- Savannah Brandt, 7 years old