Sweetheart off the field, Wildcat on it

Striker Lily Veracka scored the 100th goal of her career during the Westport girls soccer team’s 8-0 shellacking of Atlantis Charter School in Fall River on Tuesday afternoon. She scored five goals against the Tritons to tally the mark. The sweet and humble sophomore, who is a great teammate and daughter off the field, turns into a highly-skilled fierce competitor when she steps onto the pitch. Lily is relentless in her pursuit and doesn’t stop fighting until the whistle blows and the ball is in the back of the goal. She has a competitive spirit with in, though she is humbled by her accomplishments on the field. 

 

“It felt pretty good,” she said after the game. "it's so far my favorite moment on the field." 

 

The highly skilled soccer star has all the tools, speed, power and finesse. Her skillset allows her to score goals in a number of different ways. Lily has scored goals with kicks from 30-yards out while dribbling full speed down the sideline. She has used her toughness to muscle through defenders and place a kick in the corner of the goal to beat a keeper. While she is a terror on the field, Off the field, she’s a little like Clark Kent, mild-mannered, friendly and composed. When she steps onto the field, she becomes a little like Tom Brady, a Wildcat with a fire burning in her belly. Westport head coach Gus Araujo said his phenom is a wonderful teammate and a joy to coach. 

 

“Lily is a special player,” he said. "She is a sweetheart off the field. On the field, something just clicks and she turns it on to a different level. She has this chip on her shoulder that drives her and makes her work hard every day. One of the most exciting parts of receiving the coaching job this season was knowing that I would get to coach Lily and help her develop. I am super proud of her." 

 

Coach Araujo sympathizes with opposing coaches having to game plan for Lily. 

 

“I would lose sleep over figuring out how to manage her during a game situation," he said. "We are lucky that she's playing on our on our side.” 

 

Wildcat currently holds women’s high school soccer records

Lily currently holds all Westport High School's women's soccer scoring records. The phenom scored 23 goals as a seventh grader in her initial varsity soccer season in 2023 at age 12. She led the Wildcats that year to their first ever MAC championship with a record of 13-5-1 in Division 5. As an eighth grader, she scored 24 goals and led the team to their second MAC championship with a record of 13-3-3. As a freshman, she scored 32 goals and led the team to their third MAC championship with a record of 10-7-1 in Division 4. The Wildcats made the state tournament all three years and went to the Sweet Sixteen in 2024. During those seasons Lily played for Wildcats' former head coach Gary Muelo. He spoke glowingly of the soccer star. 

 

"I knew immediately Lily could be the type of player that can help her team win with her tenacious goal scoring abilities," he said. "She can be relentless going forward with the ball, she's brave, quick and very athletic. She can jump over players in full stride and can dribble around them. And she knows how to score goals. She's Tenacious, Driven, Crafty with great foot skills on the ball. Lily has fought through injuries and just wants to be on the field playing a game she loves dearly."

 

 

Eyeing all-time marks

This season Lily currently has scored 21 goals in six games and is gaining on the school’s all-time scoring record of 140 goals set by Alex Ferreira in 2011. The Massachusetts state record for Women's soccer is 229 goals set by Hannah Murphy of Monson High School, set in 2025. 

 

Parents played field hockey, soccer and lacrosse

Her parents Rebecca and Michael Veracka were both high school and collegiate athletes. They met 30-years ago while in college at UMASS Dartmouth. Rebecca was a forward for the field hockey team, while Michael played goalie for the soccer team and also played lacrosse. They settled down in Westport and put Lily in a town youth soccer program at age four. 

 

“I wasn’t that interested in the playing,” Lily said. “I just stood around and picked flowers. 

 

It became apparent that she was a special athlete while playing her first year of travel soccer at age six. 

 

“She just started scoring goals and blew everybody away,” her mom, Rebecca said. “She’d dribble down the field and score, goal, goal, goal, goal, goal. We were like Wow, she’s got something.”

 

Veracka began scoring goals for the Scorpions travel team out of Taunton at age ten. The Scorpions are a year-round soccer club that touts professional coaching, development, and competition for elite youth players. She plays striker for the team and travels the east coast. 

 

“Lily is conscious of her teammates and always tries to make it fun for whoever she is playing with,” said her dad, Michael. “She’s exciting and fun to watch.” 

 

Wildcats looking to make a deep tournament run

Lily and the Wildcats are currently 5-1 in Division 4 and are looking to make a deep run in the state tournament this fall. 

 

“Our team is really good and our bond is really strong,” she said. “We are hoping to win a few rounds at state’s and maybe win it.”

 

The soccer star has found the sport to be a social niche as well, where she can connect and develop long-lasting friendships while playing the game she loves. 

 

“I have made a few good friendships from connections I made on the team,” she said. “And I like running and being aggressive and it’s helps me to stay in shape.”