For the fourth straight year, Wyomissing will play for a county title.
The top-seeded Spartans defeated No. 4 seed Exeter 4-0 in a Berks Girls Soccer League semifinal on Tuesday at Flannery Field in Wyomissing to advance to their fourth title game in the past four years.
“This is huge,” junior team captain Sophia Zeppos said. “We’ve been waiting to prove ourselves against a larger school like this.”
The 2020 and 2022 county champion, the Spartans (18-1-1) will take on No. 6 seed Fleetwood (13-5-1) in the final on Thursday at 5:45 p.m. at Hamburg. The Tigers defeated second-seeded Wilson 2-0 in the other semifinal on Tuesday night.
“We have experience on our side,” Wyomissing coach Rachel Hoffman said. “It’s a fun experience to be involved in. Hopefully everybody comes and gets that nervous-excited feeling because we’re going for the championship.”
The Spartans controlled Tuesday’s semifinal from start to finish, holding the advantage in possession and maintaining pressure on the Eagles’ defense. Wyomissing out-shot Exeter 14-2.
“We were really ready for this game,” Zeppos said. “We were buzzing the whole time out there.”
The Spartans took a 1-0 lead early in the first half on an unassisted goal from senior Annie McCaffrey, who took the corner kick and bended the shot around the near post and into the net. Wyomissing led 1-0 at the half.
The Spartans extended their lead to 2-0 early in the second half, as Zeppos scored an unassisted goal. Her shot deflected off an Eagles defender and into the net.
Freshman Karly Hyde scored midway through the second half to make it 3-0. Zeppos was credited with the assist.
Sophomore Dulce Lytle scored with less than seven minutes remaining to seal it for Wyomissing. McCaffrey had the assist.
“We came out with really good energy,” Hoffman said. “We did a really nice job of attacking their outside backs, connecting some passes today and getting the ball into the box.”
Tuesday’s win marked the Spartans’ 10th shutout victory of the season. With the support of her defense, Wyomissing goalkeeper Ellie Pat Benedict had two saves.
“I’m so proud of them,” Zeppos said about the defense. “They’re all just beasts out there.”
On the other side, Exeter goalie Taylor Brownback made 10 saves. The Eagles (11-7) will conclude their regular season with a non-league game on Thursday at home against Middletown before moving on to the District 3 playoffs.
“The girls played excellent,” Exeter coach Milt Scholl said. “We just didn’t have an answer for their physicality and their size.”
Heading into familiar territory, the Spartans move on to the county championship game with confidence.
“Being super humble and hungry, that’s the key to success,” Zeppos said. “Just having that momentum carrying us, it’s huge.”
Source: Berkshire mont