Playing against Trinity in the District 3 Class 2A girls soccer final for the third year in a row, top-seeded Wyomissing got the upper hand in the rubber match and earned a 3-0 win over the third-seeded Shamrocks to claim their fourth district title in the last five years.
“It feels really great,” Spartans senior Kyla Lytle said. “After the loss last year, we were ready to come out here and just play our hardest and secure the win. I think we did a really good job as a team. We pushed through some difficulties that we had, but overall, we came out and secured the win.”
Indeed, Kyla Lytle proved to be one of the key players that helped lock up the win.
Playing in their final postseason with the Spartans, seniors Kyla Lytle and Lilianna Marshall left their mark in the Wyomissing (19-2-1) history books as Kyla Lytle scored two second half goals off of corner kicks, and Marshall recorded two assists on both plays.
“Lili (Marshall) played me two really great balls and all I kind of had to do was tap it in,” Kyla Lytle said.
Holding a 1-0 lead with 27 minutes left in the second half, the Spartans received a corner kick opportunity that was taken by Marshall. The ensuing ball was played low, and Lytle, standing in front of goal towards the near post, got the pass alone in front of goal before one-timing a shot into the top of the net to make it 2-0.
Five minutes later, the two would link up once again to seal the deal.
This time, Lytle ran up in towards the short pass that was played from the left corner and got a right-footed touch on the ball. The ball deflected behind her off her foot, through Trinity’s defense and then into the top left corner of the net to make it 3-0.
The Spartans defeated the Shamrocks (15-5) 2-0 in the 2022 District 3 Class 2A final, and the third goal of the game by Kyla Lytle with 22:12 remaining ultimately clinched Wyomissing’s fifth District 3 title in program history.
“We play them almost every year in the district final,” Marshall said. “So there’s definitely some tension between the teams. Last year we lost to them in the final, so I think that kind of lit a fire under us and we just knew we had to come out even harder.”
Entering into the tournament and looking to avenge a 2-1 overtime loss to Trinity in the 2023 final, the Spartans started off on the hot foot courtesy of a first half goal by junior Dulce Lytle (Kyla’s sister) 12 minutes into the first half.
Dulce Lytle received a pass on the right side of the top of the penalty box before dribbling in for a moment on goal and then taking a shot. The powerful shot was at first saved by Ashley Berkheimer in goal for the Shamrocks, but the deflection found the feet of Maya Erby of the Trinity defense.
Erby, in an attempt to clear the loose ball off the goal line, fired a howitzer of a shot downfield that went right into the chest of Dulce Lytle. Advantageously for Wyomissing, Dulce Lytle recovered the ball for a tap in right in front of goal, giving the Spartans the lead with 28 minutes left in the first half.
For Kyla Lytle, playing with her family members and bringing home another district trophy is a memorable moment for all their careers with Wyomissing
“It’s really great that I get to play with my sister for my last year as a senior,” Kyla Lytle said. “Coming back and winning this actually means the most. And the other outside defender, that’s my cousin (Carman Adams). So it’s an even better feeling playing with both of them.”
A possession battle dominated most of the first half as both sides struggled to get significant chances on frame.
The Shamrocks saw time in the Spartans’ final third, but their shot attempts frequently did not find the frame of goal and either went wide or over the top crossbar.
A shot by Trinity late in the first half by Maria Scherr hit the top crossbar and then the follow through went wide with less than two minutes remaining in the first half.
Wyomissing finished the game with 12 shots on goal and senior goalie Estelle Benedict made five saves for the Spartans. Wyomissing also had five corner kicks in the game.
Berkheimer made nine saves and the Shamrocks finished the game with two corner kicks and five shots on goal.
Going forward into the PIAA playoffs, the win against a familiar opponent is a sign that the Spartans are on a mission that will not be influenced by outside factors and past experiences as this team is thriving on its own status.
“I actually think we feel pretty confident,” Marshall said regarding the PIAA playoffs. “This just showed us that if we play the way we know how to play, then we will come out really strong. We just can’t let the outside factors get to us, but if we play how we know how to play, then I think we’ll be good in states.”
Source: Berkshire mont