ARLINGTON — Arlington’s defense paved the way for the girls soccer team’s league-leading 16-4-1 season. The Eagles recorded 12 shutouts thanks to junior goalkeeper Brielle Schrader.

Standing just about five-foot-two, Schrader doesn’t quite have the prototypical build for a goalkeeper.

“She’s pretty small, but she’s got a big heart,” Arlington coach Nathan Davis said.

Schrader uses her athleticism and anticipation to get around the net in time for a save.

“I can jump, and I’m quick,” Schrader said. “I have fast reflexes, and I know where the ball is going usually, and I can get there in time.”

Those reflexes are purely instinctual, she said.

“You have to guess,” Schrader said. “You have to go with your gut and know where the ball is going to be.”

Schrader’s most-important saves were in Arlington’s first-round 3A state match against Mercer Island. She made a save at the end of regulation with the game tied 1-1, forcing a shootout. Schrader made one more save during the penalty kicks, which helped Arlington win it 4-3.

Arlington was then shut out 3-0 by Seattle Prep in the quarterfinals.

“I think we made it as far as we could,” Schrader said. “Seattle Prep is a really good team. Now we know our competition, and know who we want to beat.”

She’s already looking forward to next year, she said, and also with her team.

“I’m going to work on connecting with my team more,” Schrader said. “Because a lot of our starters are leaving, and I have to connect with the new players coming in.”

Schrader came out of the shadows behind previous goalkeeper Kat Sanchez, who graduated last year. Like Schrader, Sanchez was small, quick and agile.

“Brielle’s super-athletic, similar to what Kat was,” Davis said. “I’m pretty blessed to have two keepers like that in a row that can cover the goal, fly around and hustle.”

“Some keepers are big and tall, but those two were very agile and quick to recover,” Davis added.

Sanchez’s reflexes helped Arlington place fourth in state last season.

“Kat was a really good goalie, so everyone told me I had big shoes to fill,” Schrader said. “I wanted to fill those, so I did training, and it got me to where I am now. I put in a lot of work.”

Though successful in her role, she’s only been goalkeeper for Arlington since last season. She’s been around the game since she was five, but hadn’t even trained as a goalkeeper until her sophomore year. She also plays for Fuerza FC as a midfielder but will occasionally fill in as goalkeeper for them, too.

Schrader has given some thought to playing after high school.

“I want to see how my senior year goes, and I think where I want to go to college it will depend,” Schrader said.

She’s also trying out wrestling for the first time this year. She’s been around that sport her whole life as well.

“My brother always did moves on me, and it just hit me that I wanted to try it,” she said.