Cape soccer looks to rise in conference
Cape Henlopen varsity soccer coach Patrick Kilby is optimistic about improving on the team’s 7-7-1 record from the 2016 season, having lost only four players to graduation.
“We return everyone else on last season’s team,” Kilby said. “We feel we have the talent to put the Henlopen Conference championship as our goal.”
Kilby looks for senior leadership from Aidan Spoor, Uly Slagle, Zack Gelof, Troy Humphries, Gerardo Haro-Simental, Connor and Riley Rasin, Eric Velasquez-Santizo, Luke Mulcahy and Hector Morales-Perez.
“We had some injuries last season, but the boys have come back healthy and they are hungry,” said Kilby. “They want to achieve something, especially this senior class.”
New coaches joining Kilby’s staff are assistant Ariel Espinoza, who played at Sussex Tech and Goldy Beacom, and Joe Rupar, who was a standout player at Sallies and the University of Delaware. They join assistants Marisa Atkins, who played at Indian River and Washington College, and veteran coach Gary Montalto, who has three New York state championships to his record.
The Vikings will host St. Elizabeth Saturday, Aug. 19, at Champions Stadium, beginning at 7 p.m. The team will hold a play day Saturday, Aug. 26, when they will play host to 16 teams. Cape ends its preseason Friday, Sept. 1, when the Vikings host a scrimmage with St. Michaels High School (Md.), Sussex Central and Tower Hill School.
The Vikings will open conference play Friday, Sept. 8, as they play host to Sussex Academy.
