Savo’s first-half goal lifts Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy soccer past Arcadia

After serving as a defender last season for the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy soccer team and having to mark the opponent’s top scoring threats, Lauren Savo has made a smooth transition to midfield.

Savo showed her versatility on Thursday evening.

Savo scored in the 23rd minute to lift host Flintridge Sacred Heart to a 1-0 nonleague victory against Arcadia at Occidental College.

“There’s a different feel to playing midfield,” said Savo, the reigning All-Area Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year. “You have a chance to create more scoring opportunities and still be able to come back and help out on defense.

“We had to go out there and work hard for the win against a very good team. On my goal, I got the shot off and I wasn’t sure if it would hit the post or go in. It took a bit of time to see what would happen.”

The Tologs (2-0) made the goal stand up, as they received seven saves from sophomore goalkeeper Mattie Interian to turn back the Apaches (3-1).

Flintridge Sacred Heart, which finished second in the Mission League before advancing to the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs last season, posted its second straight 1-0 win. The Tologs opened with a nonleague road win against Glendale on Dec. 4.

“We’ve got a great attitude and it starts with playing solid defense,” Flintridge Sacred Heart first-year Coach Mark Snashall said. “We were able to get a good result against a good team.

“We did a good job of playing a high press in the first half and that helped get the team going.”

Interian foiled Arcadia, which won the Pacific League championship last season, with a couple of big saves.

Interian stopped a close-up shot from the left side by Hannah Mushisky in the 37th minute. Interian also made a leaping save near the left post on a 30-yard shot by Serena Rosas.

Interian said she expected a formidable challenge from Arcadia.

“I know about 10 of their players and they have a lot of talent,” said Interian, who finished with six first-half saves. “I knew coming in that we were going to have to be sharp and stay focused.

“We picked up the pace throughout the first half and we adjusted well. We got good efforts from Heather Turcios and Caroline McCreary on defense.”

Flintridge Sacred Heart had two good scoring opportunities early in the first half, both by Jenna Farac. Farac took a pass from Sofia Saldivar and put a shot just over the crossbar in the third minute. In the 18th minute, Saldivar had a shot from about five feet out stopped by Arcadia goalkeeper Lily Wood (five saves).

Flintridge Sacred Heart will compete against Crescenta Valley, another member of the Pacific League, at 1 p.m. Saturday at Occidental.

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Charles Rich, charles.rich@latimes.com

Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich