Cape hockey pulls away from Milford to win 7-2

The field hockey game at Milford Oct. 17 versus visiting Cape was dedicated to the unrelenting and positive spirit of Jamie Melvin, a dad who passed away Oct. 15 after an eight-year battle with ALS. Jamie’s wife Nicki and daughters Ally and Katelyn are all about celebrating Jamie’s life, and after a respectful long moment of silence with a bell that sounded like an ice cream truck, it was game on.

Milford is a mystery team; they are a very athletic team that has run hot and cold all season. The weather was October stupendous, and when Milford’s Darby Brennan scored at 23:38, it was “here we go,” as the stadium was electric.

Cape’s Cammie Smith answered on an assist from Kaylie Truitt at 20:29 to tie the game. Carly “Go Kart” Truitt came back to score at 16:55 on an assist from Jody Boyer to put Cape in the lead 2-1.

Milford’s Vanasha Daniels, on an assist from Anna Sollie, scored to tie the game at 2-2 with 16:38 left to play. Cape’s Annie Judge converted a feed from Lindsay Monigle to give the Vikings a 3-2 halftime lead.

“I was so happy with the way we played in the first  half,” said Bucs coach Andrea Fleming McPike. “Losing eight starters was tough, but the girls have really been working hard and improving all season to play to our full potential. And, yeah, our numbers are really hurting our program, but that won’t stop me from always trying to bring out a competitive team with whatever players I have!”

Early in the second half, Monigle put a ball dead on the doorstep stick of Smith and it was 4-2 as Cape was starting to crank, showcasing their versatility and depth.

Cape scored three more unanswered goals: Kaylie Truitt (from Judge) at 12:49, Alia Marshall at 10:29 and Katie Frederick (from Marshall) at 2:19.

The Vikings owned a 22-3 advantage in shots and 19-3 in penalty corners.

Marlee Geppert had a save for the Vikings, while Lea Barnett of Milford had 15 saves.