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Cape soccer advances to semifinals

Jake Gelof makes two saves in PKs
November 12, 2017

Sophomore goalie Jake Gelof made two saves in penalty kicks to help lead the Cape soccer team to a 4-3 quarterfinal victory over fourth-seeded St. Georges to send the Vikings into the semifinal against Salesianum School.

Cape freshman Juan Larez-Careillo scored first on a failed clear by the Hawks’ goalie at the 11-minute mark. The half came to a close with the Vikings up 1-0. After a Hawks goal to start the second half, the team of Zack Gelof and Uly Slagle hooked up for the second Vikings goal at the 50-minute mark. Two unanswered scores by St. Georges gave the Hawks a one-goal lead. With one minute remaining in regulation, Luke Mulcahy, who hadn’t scored  a goal since he was in seventh grade at Beacon Middle, blasted a shot out of a crowd to put the game into overtime, and the rest is OT history.

Slagle, Zack Gelof, Larez-Carrillo and Connor Rasin put their PKs past Hawks goalie Troy Fitzgerald to give the fifth seed the win in PKs. After Gelof dove right to block the fourth Hawks kick, the bench cleared in mighty jubilation.

“I’m just blown away,” said Cape coach Patrick Kilby. “We knew we were going to have a tough match. We knew Matt Mitchell was going to give us all we could handle, and he did. Xavier Jamieson had size in the middle, and they moved the ball up through the middle. But we had done our homework and knew what to expect. We found ourselves in a battle, and we’re happy to come out on top.”

“It’s all about confidence,” said sophomore keeper Jake Gelof. “They know – that’s our saying – they know.”

The Vikings will face Salesianum School, which advanced with a 2-0 win over Charter. The game is set for 8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 15, at Smyrna High School. 

“Sallies has won the last six or seven state championships,” said Kilby. “We are definitely going to have all we can handle, but we are up for the challenge.”

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