Bella Abrams, Wyomissing top Tulpehocken, 1-0, in Section 3 opener on late goal
NEW SCHAEFFERSTOWN>> Give Tulpehocken this: the Trojans entered Tuesday night’s home contest against Wyomissing facing a club that had scored 16 goals in four games to start the season.
The young Trojans held a potent Spartans’ attack to just one on Tuesday — but it was late and it was a back-breaker and it was the only goal the guests would need.
Senior Isabella Abrams mustered a turf-hugging shot from about 15 yards out past Tulpehocken keeper Shayna Bashore to the far post with 4:18 left in regulation to give Wyomissing a 1-0 victory, in the Berks League Section 3 opener for both.
Wyo (4-1, 1-0) continuously tested a greenhorn Tulpy back line with chip lobs over the top or runs down the sidelines on balls into space from midfielders. For the vast majority of the game the Trojans held up well, keeping an offense that had been averaging four goals per outing off the scoreboard deep into the contest.
“We’ve been working it,” Tulpy coach Paul Zerbe said. “We have some youth out there. We want to make sure they all understand their roles. We’ve got some new players back there and we got a bit out of shape at times. But the whole line works hard at it. They did a good job.”
But Abrams broke through late on a ball that careened toward her from midfield, striking it just as she slid to turf, to beat her mark slicing in from the right. Bashore — a junior goalie getting her first varsity starts this season — played a strong game in net but had no chance at corralling what proved to be the game-winner.
“I saw I didn’t have anybody really on me and I just kept going,” Abrams said. “I had that one defender to beat and beat her. I was just so glad it went in. I was so relieved.
“Tulpy is a division rival. It’s always a great game. We had our chances in the second half, but we finished the one that mattered.”
Wyo had the better of the scoring chances throughout the 80 minutes. The Spartans had six shots on target to Tulpy’s two, and led in corners by a 5-2 count.
But Bashore came up huge on a couple of occasions to keep it a draw for as long as she could. The first was on a high lob shot at 35 minutes that she punched over the net; the second came on a howitzer from Abrams from about 10 yards out, 20 minutes into the second half, that she reflexively batted away with both hands at eye level.
“Shayna’s gaining confidence,” Zerbe said. “She’s making good decisions and is in good position, so she’s going to make those saves. She’s improving. And confidence is everything.”
Tulpehocken (1-3, 0-1) has scored just once through four games. With the injury loss of forward and key goal-scorer Ally Evans in the season opener, Zerbe has addressed the issue by moving Madison Miller up top. The chances were few against Wyo and goalie Megan Masano, but Zerbe is hopeful the attack will come around.
“We are working with them on creativity and mobility, then Ally went out,” Zerbe said. “Maddy is new up there, a defender last year, but she has potential up top. Good ball skills. It’s tough right now because we’re still learning. But we’re working. I thought we competed well.”
Wyomissing – 0 1 — 1
Tulpehocken – 0 0 — 0
Second half
W – Isabella Abrams (ua), 4:18
Shots on goal
W, 6; T, 2
Corners
W, 5; T, 2
Saves
W (Megan Masano) 2; T, (Shayna Bashore) 5
