Third-seeded Wilson earned a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory over sixth-seeded Fleetwood Saturday afternoon at West Lawn in a BCIAA girls soccer quarterfinal.
After leading 2-0 at halftime, the Tigers scored two unanswered goals in the second half to force overtime before junior Ellee Vicari scored six minutes into the first overtime period to secure the victory for the Bulldogs.
“I thought our defense in the first half was fantastic and our midfield really, really clicked today,” Wilson coach Tim Fick said. “That (the midfield) was the biggest thing, and it just opened up opportunities in that first half. In the second half, I think we just got a little complacent, and took things for granted, and all of a sudden, it’s a one goal game, and then it’s a tie. So, you know, lesson learned.”
Vicari was assisted by freshman Izzy Soto on the play. Vicari received the pass in open space, got the ball on her left foot and fired a shot from around 20 yards out into the top right corner of the goal.
With the win, Wilson (14-4-1) will take on second-seeded Wyomissing (15-1-1), a 4-0 winner over seventh-seeded Hamburg (12-6-1) on Saturday, in the semifinal round on Tuesday at Wyomissing at 4 p.m.
In the other semifinal on Tuesday, top-seeded Gov. Mifflin (15-2-1) will face fourth-seeded Exeter after the Mustangs defeated eighth-seeded Twin Valley (7-10-1) 1-0 on Saturday. The Eagles (16-3) defeated fifth-seeded Schuylkill Valley (16-3) 5-1 in the quarterfinal round to advance.
Following Saturday’s game-winning goal, Vicari was rushed by her teammates in celebration.
“I picked my head up and I hit it in the corner,” Vicari said. “I was just like, ‘Pick a side.’ That’s what was going through my head.
“It felt really good (to celebrate with my teammates). I wanted that one, the team wanted that one and we needed that overtime win.”
Senior Ava Ortiz opened the scoring for the Bulldogs with 13:45 left in the opening half. Ortiz released a shot from around 30 yards out that hit the top cross bar before falling downward behind Fleetwood senior goalie Abby Rowley.
Rowley finished with a game-high 14 saves.
Wilson made it 2-0 moments later when senior Brieana Sheaffer sent a pass into the penalty box near the six-yard marker where junior Emma Williams tapped the pass into the net.
“It was way more exciting than we would want that to be,” Fick said. “I don’t think anybody ever wants to see a two-goal lead at halftime disappear, but coach (Bill) Lownes is fantastic, and Fleetwood, they’re doing great. They’ve got some great players, and we couldn’t solve their keeper for a lot. Their keeper is fantastic, and then they had two great attacks where they took care of their opportunities. So I’m excited that we’re able to hang in there. We’ve had two tough overtime losses in the past week and a half, so to come back and come out on top this time means a lot.”
The Tigers (11-7) showed plenty of resilience in the second half, and less than five minutes into the second half, senior Ava Goldsborough scored for Fleetwood. She was assisted by fellow senior Lily Wendt. After receiving the pass, Goldsborough charged right in front of goal and flicked her shot beyond Alana Keller who took over in goal for the Bulldogs in the second half.
With 13:21 left in regulation, senior Onika Kline scored off a header to tie the game for the Tigers. Junior Teagan Hilburt was awarded the assist after lofting the ball in front of goal for Kline to hammer home with the header.
Despite giving up a two-goal lead, Wilson showed its resilience and maintained sustained pressure during the early overtime minutes before coming away with the game-winning goal. The Bulldogs finished with seven corners while the Tigers had four.
“It was just a lot of staying positive and being there for each other,” Vicari said. “I think that’s like one of the biggest things that our team needed was support. And I think we were really there for each other, and it was just a team win. That was a team win, and we needed that.”
Two years ago, Wyomissing defeated Wilson 1-0 in the 2022 BCIAA girls soccer final. The teams did not meet in this year’s regular season.
“I just want to win,” Vicari said. “I want a county final. Let’s win and let’s keep going and beat them on their home field.”
Source: Berkshire mont
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