West Bridgewater, Kylie Fuller (4 goals) hold off Abington, 5-4
WEST BRIDGEWATER — Ever since she first took the field for West Bridgewater, Kylie Fuller has been an electrifying offensive force.
On Wednesday, the Merrimack College commit turned in another big effort.
The senior midfielder tallied four times as No. 10 West Bridgewater (12-4-3) punched its ticket to the Div. 4 Round of 16 with a thrilling 5-4 victory over No. 23 Abington.
“We scrimmaged (Abington) in the beginning of the season,” said Fuller. “So, I kind of knew where I wanted to play and who I wanted to attack. I usually play attacking mid, so left wing was my goal, to get in and behind. I think passing the ball around and through balls worked, and ultimately helped us.”
It didn’t take Fuller long to leave her mark on the contest. In the game’s 11th minute, Jill Bouvier fed her a pass and Fuller ripped a shot home to quickly put the Wildcats ahead, 1-0.
Then, after dribbling past a few defenders in the 20th minute, Fuller collided with a defender in front of the net as she uncorked another kick. This one dribbled past the keeper for her second tally and a 2-0 edge.
Abington (8-11-1) never quit, responding in the 32nd minute with a goal from Zoie Maslanka, only to witness Fuller complete her hat trick shortly thereafter to provide West Bridgewater a 3-1 lead at the half.
Once play resumed, so too did the Wildcats. Once again, it was Fuller who provided the early spark. She stripped a defender of the ball, broke toward the net, and fired a laser into the twine for her fourth goal. One minute later, lightning struck again for West Bridgewater, as Kate Ostrino sniped a shot herself to make it 5-1.
West Bridgewater’s Shayna Wallach, right, heads the ball next to Abington High’s Laney Bergman during a state tournament girls soccer clash. West Bridgewater won, 5-4. (Photo by Mark Stockwell/Boston Herald)
Abington proceeded to stage a late rally, however, as Bella Afsa and Callie Phillips scored two unanswered goals to cut it to 5-3 in the 64th minute.
Later on, in the 74th minute, the Green Wave drew closer, as Carly Agnew hooked a corner kick into the box. Sophomore Laney Bergman connected on a header, which popped into the netting to suddenly trim things to a one-goal affair at 5-4.
“The goal was to go back to playing our game,” said West Bridgewater co-coach Kyla Daley. “Our girls can play really composed, and work well together. So we just reminded them that that’s what they needed to do.”
West Bridgewater’s Chloe Gauthier (22) and Abington’s Callie Phillips chase the ball down the sideline during an MIAA Div. 4 girls soccer playoff match. (Photo by Mark Stockwell/Boston Herald)