The West Geauga girls are a savvy group, from the braintrust spearheaded by Cassidy Lewis in her second year as head coach to a predominantly young side. So when Kenston came calling for a matinee Sept. 28, the Wolverines were smart enough to realize the sub-.500 Bombers were a better-than-their-record type of foe. In turn, they emerged with another result that will make their resume look even more smart when it comes time for district seeding. Adison Cook bagged a hat trick to lead West G to a 4-2 victory, snapping a three-match losing skid to Kenston after having an 11-match unbeaten run from 2007 to their last win in the series prior to this in 2019. Lewis, a skilled and heady striker in her high school days at Mayfield, appreciated the 80 from her side, as well as how helpful this match result could be. “It’s a huge building block,” Lewis said. “We’ve been getting good results. Obviously, we have a solid record, but good results against fair opponents. I’d say this feels better than any other result we’ve gotten this season. To put up four goals against a good side in Kenston is huge for us, and it makes me feel good on what this team can do heading into the playoffs soon.” West G (9-3-1) took a 2-0 lead out of the opening 40. West Geauga sophomore Amelia Zaffiro discusses her side's 4-2 win over Kenston to get to 9-3-1Bagged the opener & had a nice match playing as a 6 or dropping into the back line as a supporting center back pic.twitter.com/UPvvA1vsjy — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) September 28, 2024 Amelia Zaffiro, as part of a confident two-way performance playing as a 6 and shifting to center back when needed, provided the opener in the 20th minute. Cook served in a free kick. Zaffiro was unlucky off the bar on her initial look but cleaned up the rebound with a header to make it 1-0. West G 1-0Amelia Zaffiro 20th min pic.twitter.com/bn6BgfN6AP — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) September 28, 2024 Then in the 24th, Lexi Bryan crossed near post for Cook. The pacey junior striker put a hard right-footed look on target, which was turned away, but Cook took care of the rebound to push the advantage to 2-0. West G 2-0Adison Cook 24th min pic.twitter.com/DsRgHV9rkD — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) September 28, 2024 With the visitors playing a notably high back line, Cook was cognizant of what she and her side could achieve provided the service had more pace to disrupt shape. “So those balls are balls we work on all season,” Cook said. “We have Amelia there, and we have (Faelynn Beckrest), who’s able to kick the balls up and over. With the high line, it gives us a lot of speed to go up there because we have some fast outside mids and centers. So it helps a lot so we’re able to get up there. “This gives our team a lot of confidence to come out here and beat such a good team. Because I play with some of the girls on that team on my club, and they are a very well put together team. And for us to come out here and put four in the net definitely leads us up and gives us confidence for the playoffs.” Keira Walz grabbed a lifeline for the Bombers (4-6-3) in the 54th with a lovely strike from distance to get within 2-1. Kenston lifeline through Keira Walz 54th min2-1 West G pic.twitter.com/gXQHGBXXbR — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) September 28, 2024 But Cook, despite Kenston showing encouraging stretches of possession and danger in the second 40, essentially iced the result past the hour mark. She put away a chippy in the 66th and latched onto a first-class through ball with intent from Sarah Troyer, got it to her left foot and slotted. It was Cook’s 15th goal of 2024. “Me and Fae locked eye contact on the one ball where she played it over,” Cook said. “So as she played it over, I was just able to tap it in over the goalie because she came out. The ball was bouncing, and I just tapped it in. Overall, we were able to make those runs to put in the goals.” Kenston struck for a second late, when Olivia Muzzio took care of a rebound off an initial Lilah Cornell effort in the 76th for the final margin. Olivia Muzzio 76th min pulls Kenston within 4-2 of West G pic.twitter.com/hXgP8J8I3s — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) September 28, 2024 West G was smart enough to realize what it was getting itself into and hopes to show that understanding deep into October as the calendar turns. “I am very pleased and very happy,” Cook said. “I’m just so glad. We have some new freshmen coming in, and I’m just so glad they were able to show out and play like they know how to play. It just helps out a lot.” Coming soon For more from this match, as Cook discusses balancing soccer and kicking duties for the football team, check back in the coming days on News-Herald.com and in our print edition.