Cape hockey escapes Milford 2-1 in overtime
The Cape hockey team is now at 96 straight wins against Delaware opponents - lacrosse is at 99 - as the five-time defending state champion Vikings got up off the deck against Milford Oct. 25, trailing 1-0, when Jackie Cannon tied the game with 4:24 left, sneaking a ball inside the near post off a corner.
The game went to a 7-on-7, 15-minute sudden death overtime, where Alia Marshall popped a shot from the right to the far left post to give Cape an instant 2-1 victory.
Coach Kate Austin just shook her head from side to side in her always understated manner like, “I don’t know how much more of this kind of fun I can take.”
The game was a scoreless tie at halftime, the fourth scoreless halftime game in a row for the Vikings. Milford was not thinking upset special, they are as good as anyone in Delaware with the state tournament looming next month.
Milford is experienced, with eight seniors. They are fast and athletic, now 11-2 on the season with losses to Delmar 4-1 and Cape 2-1.
Kately Melvin brought the Milford house down early in the second half, scoring off a corner on an assist from Darby Brennan with 28:37 left to play.
The Vikings responded with a relentless rampage on the Milford cage, where goalie Leah Barnett was kicking away shots and making spectacular saves. She totaled 17 for the game.
The Vikings outshot the Bucs 21-6 with a 14-5 advantage in penalty corners.
Jody Boyer made her second defensive save over three games to get Cape to overtime. Cape has games left versus Woodbridge, Seaford and Laurel. “We will not look past any on them,” said coach Austin. Milford closes out on the road versus Indian River and St. Thomas More.
Notes: This is the season of fat records in Delaware field hockey, so Cape is no lock for a No. 1 seed. Top records include Padua 13-0, Caravel 12-1, Wilmington Friends 10-1, Tower Hill 12-1, Delmar 12-1, Milford 11-2, Cape 10-2, Archmere 9-3, Conrad 10-3 and Concord 8-2.
The 16-team state tournament opens Wednesday, Nov. 9.
