Sophomore forward Lily Veracka scored a goal and assisted on three more as the Westport Wildcats beat Durfee 4-3 in their first game of the season at home Tuesday afternoon. The win was the first for new head coach Gus Araujo, who replaced long-time girls’ soccer coach Gary Muello this season.

“We have a great group,” he said after the win. “We have a lot of work to do ahead of us. The girls are responding well and working really hard.” 

Araujo, who played Division I collegiate soccer at Massasoit Community College and has coached at both the high school and club soccer levels, has the Wildcats in tip-top shape, according to Veracka.

“He’s been running us at practice so we have better stamina during the games.” 

“It showed today,” Araujo said. “We were running the last 10 minutes of the game. They were winded. I think that’s what ultimately was the difference.” 

Veracka, who is playing her fourth year for the varsity, is another high point in the young season. The forward scored 32 goals last season for the Wildcats, netted 23 as an eighth grader and 22 more as a seventh grader. This season she’s taller, stronger, faster and able to muscle through and sometimes run over defenders. She scored the second goal of the game after collecting a pass from midfielder Margaret Twomey.

“I feel more confident playing against the older girls,” Veracka said. “We all are in better shape and it’s showing on the field.”

Westport made it 1-0 in the first half, when Veracka kicked a right-footed cross to Twomey, who scored from in front of the goal.

Wildcats take a 3-2 lead

Durfee cut the lead to 2-1 on a high kick over the head and arms of Westport keeper Morgan Pacheco and then tied the score 2-2 early in the second half on a penalty kick. 

Westport broke the tie mid-way through the second half. Veracka forced a free kick while dribbling toward the goal from the opposite side line. The sophomore set the ball and chipped a beauty over the outstretched arms of the Durfee goalkeeper and into the goal box, where junior midfielder Julia Raposo held off a defender and got her head on the ball. It grazed the goalpost and went into the goal for a Wildcats 3-2 lead. 

Minutes later, she threatened again from the left side, this time attracting a pair of defenders and the goalkeeper. Instead of forcing a shot, she feathered a pass to eighth-grade forward Alivia Wenson and she kicked the ball into the open goal for a 4-2 lead. 

Durfee cut the lead to 4-3 with under two minutes left in the game. But the steady Wildcats held on for the victory.