Cape hockey rolls out 44 players for preseason play day
Cape hockey doesn’t like to cut players in the preseason, so they pretty much don’t. Cape played host to an 18-team play day Aug. 20 after only five days of practice. All 44 Cape players, 25 varsity and 19 junior varsity, saw significant action and got plenty of playing time.
Hot was an understatement and games on turf are even hotter. The six-hour day saw the Cape varsity play seven 20-minute games and lose to no one, although scores were not kept. What was the post play day analysis?
“This year we only have four returning starters, the fewest since I’ve been here,” said coach Kate Austin, entering her fifth season with four state titles in the rear-view mirror. “We have Katie Frederick at forward, Alia Marshall and Annie Judge in the midfield, and Korrinne Lemaire on defense. I was concerned about that at the start of preseason, but after seeing our kids stay fit and focused over seven scrimmage games on Saturday I’m not concerned anymore. We have a depth of talented kids, and there’s work to do, but as the season goes on we’re only going to get better.”
It is too early to type names into positions, but one philosophy for Cape is to run two waves of fast forwards at full speed to put tremendous pressure on the defense while having Marshall and Judge, a pair of Division I prospects, in the midfield to control the transition zone.
The Vikings have moved all-state lacrosse defender Jody Boyer to defense to go with Lemaire, and they have several athletes competing for the other spots.
Lori Ferguson, a junior, will take over at goalie replacing Riley Shields.
“All the girls are buying into our system and the changes we are making this year,” Austin said.
“Our kids get after each other in practice every day,” said assistant coach Debbie Windett. “They just hate to lose.”
And just as important, they know how to win.
Hockey will host a quality eight-team varsity-only play day Saturday, Aug. 27, featuring Chesapeake, Delmar, Padua, Pocomoke, South River, Tower Hill and Wootton of Maryland.
Tower Hill coach Robin Adair said: “We lost our first 11 players. I’m bringing our young team to Cape to open their eyes and get knocked around some.”
