Cadi Hoke sets tone as Spartans return to district girls soccer championship
By Jason Guarente — MikeDragoSports.com senior correspondent
To say Cadi Hoke is underrated isn’t quite right. She’s a two-time All-Berks selection and opposing coaches rave about her. That just doesn’t seem like enough.
Wyomissing’s midfielder is one of the most influential players on one of Class 2A’s most talented teams. The Spartans, for all of their remarkable skill, speed and flair, need Hoke’s steadiness as much as they need anything.
Take her away and Wyomissing isn’t the same.
“I think people are automatically like, ‘Cadi’s got that,’ ” defender Sam Donahue said. “She’s a really hard worker at practice. I admire that about her because I think she lifts the team. We’re all so happy to have her.”
The opposing goal kick that needs to be won in the midfield. The pressure that needs to be cleared outside the box. Every corner. Almost every free kick. Hoke has all of it.
Top-seeded Wyomissing knocked off No. 4 Trinity 3-1 in the District 3 Class 2A girls soccer semifinals at Conrad Weiser Tuesday night.
District 3 Class 2A soccer bracket
One year after the Spartans captured their first district title since 2004, they’ll try to make it back-to-back. They’ll take on No. 2 Bishop McDevitt in the final at Hersheypark Stadium Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Soccer isn’t a numbers game. It’s a series of little competitions for possession and space. It’s impossible to quantify who’s winning those competitions other than to watch which way the field is tilted.
Wyomissing held a 2-1 lead at halftime that wasn’t extended until 11 minutes were left. The Spartans never seemed to be in danger. That’s because the ball rarely crossed midfield.
Hoke helped apply constant pressure by gaining possession. That’s one way she evaluates her performance.
“One of my jobs as a holding midfielder is to win those 50-50 balls,” Hoke said. “For me, having a good game isn’t getting assists or scoring. It’s making sure I can be the best player for the rest of my team.”
Everything about Wyomissing is aggressive. No other team’s center back pushes forward more than Donahue. No left back makes runs down the sideline like Jabrea Flowers or Audrey Hurleman.
Wyomissing (21-1) sends a message with how it plays. It’s almost brash. The Spartans are going to attack until they score. Occasionally they might get caught but they believe they’ll put more home than their opponents. Their record proves they’re right.
Abby Noey and Hannah Hurleman delivered first-half goals. It was Hurleman’s 31st of the season, which ranks second in Berks behind Wilson’s Natalee Vicari. Sophia Zeppos scored in the second half.
If soccer was a numbers game, there would be a stat for how many times Hoke took a goal kick and sent it back into the offensive zone. Or how many times she placed a corner inside the 6-yard box. She’d rank among the league leaders.
Zeppos’ goal, the freshman’s 19th, was a header off Hoke’s perfectly placed corner. That’s one of her favorite jobs.
“I get a little pep in my step whenever the ball deflects and we get a corner kick,” said Hoke, who has eight goals and nine assists. “It feels amazing when somebody puts it away. It goes right over the keeper’s head. Sophia has done a great job all season being able to get around it and put it in the back of the net.”
Hoke is always talking throughout the 80 minutes. Her place on the field allows her to see everything that’s happening. The junior instructs, encourages and inspires non-stop.
No letdowns. Stay strong. Pick up the intensity.
Little slogans to remind her teammates of what might be missing or what’s at stake. Hoke and Donahue are two of the biggest talkers.
“As a soccer player you just do it,” Donahue said. “It’s a habit that you have. She definitely keeps everyone going. She’s like, ‘Guys, keep it up.’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, listen to Cadi.’ We’re kind of a duo on the team.”
Wyomissing is headed to Hershey. It’s the first time for these players. They played the district final at Conrad Weiser last year because of COVID-19.
They want to repeat. That has been their focus since they stepped onto the field in August. Another gold medal.
“Going to Hershey means everything to us,” Hoke said. “That’s one of the biggest goals we’ve had. We’re so excited. I’ve always imagined playing on that field.”
Donahue described what Hoke’s reliability means to Wyomissing better than any accolade or coach’s compliment ever could.
Three simple words: Cadi’s got that.
