Wilson’s Vicari, Wyo’s Hurleman ready to strike in Berks girls soccer semis
By Jason Guarente — MikeDragoSports.com senior correspondent
Only three Berks players during the previous decade reached 30 goals in a season. Most years no one even came close.
That makes what’s happening now even more notable. Goals have been piling up at a historic rate. This is the year of the striker.
Daniel Boone’s Anna Buckwalter has already scored 30. Wilson’s Natalee Vicari has 28 and Wyomissing’s Hannah Hurleman has 27.
Two of those players will be in action when the BCIAA semifinals take place Tuesday. Top-seeded Wilson hosts No. 5 Exeter at 7 p.m. No. 2 Wyomissing welcomes sixth-seeded Fleetwood at 4 p.m.
The list of previous 30-goal scorers features some memorable names. Conrad Weiser’s Grace George put home 32 in 2019. Fleetwood’s Lexi Schoener delivered 31 in 2017. Gov. Mifflin’s Emily Gingrich had 33 in 2012.
Buckwalter was one of this season’s revelations. The sophomore didn’t play high school as a freshman and instantly became the top finisher for one of the league’s most prolific offenses.
Vicari and Hurleman were no surprise. Both are four-year varsity players who were All-Berks selections last season. They could be on the same field for the championship game.
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Exeter (12-6) at Wilson (17-1-1)
Wilson is such a powerhouse that it’s easy to overlook the Bulldogs’ achievements. This is one of coach Tim Fick’s most dominant teams. Wilson’s 86 goals are the most by a Berks I team since Mifflin scored 97 six years ago.
Vicari and All-State midfielder Elizabeth Estrada are the senior centerpieces. Estrada’s 20 assists are six more than anyone else in the league.
Keira Levengood and Macy McDonough have each scored nine goals. Lily McCausland has six. Wilson hasn’t lost since falling to Central Bucks West on Sept. 11.
Exeter is one of the few Berks teams to put any kind of pressure on Wilson. The Eagles were ahead 1-0 in the second half when these teams played at West Lawn on Sept. 13. They lost 3-1. Wilson easily won the rematch 4-0.
Taylor Mentzer and Marina Messner both have 17 goals for Exeter, which has won four in a row. Mentzer’s 13 assists are tied for fourth in the league.
Fleetwood (11-7) vs. Wyomissing (18-0)
Wyomissing is two wins from becoming the first undefeated county champion since Fleetwood in 2016. The Spartans have only played three one-goal games all season.
Hurleman and Izzy Marshall are one of the most dangerous forward tandems in District 3. Marshall has scored 19 goals and has 38 over the past two seasons.
Sophia Zeppos is having a freshman season that might be unrivaled with 15 goals and 10 assists.
Fleetwood is led by Leilah Sallee’s 23 goals. Sallee and Conrad Weiser’s Natalia Moll are tied for fourth in the league behind the big-time strikers listed above.
It has been an up-and-down season for Fleetwood. The Tigers rallied to knock off Mifflin 3-2 to give themselves a chance to return to the final.
