Girls’ lacrosse play day features hot competition and brutally cold conditions
“I really can’t stay. Baby, it’s cold outside. Not another play day. Baby, it’s cold outside.”
The metro play day at Cape March 11 featured former state champions and some of the best high school girls’ teams in the country. It commenced at 9 a.m with 27-degree temperatures and a rigor mortis wind howling “are you serious?” from the northwest. But everyone showed up early layered up with capped hats and hoodies ready to defend their reputation on the frozen pitches of Champions and Legends stadiums.
Cape, under new head coach Lindsay Eichner, is coming off a 17-1 state championship season, with eight straight banners won. The Vikings’ three opponents on the day were Manchester Valley 19-1, Delaney 17-3 and Bishop Ireton 20-4.
“We were missing some players to injury and others to the flu, but it was a great day to evaluate players and see how they respond after 10 days of practice,” Eichner said.
Manchester Valley waxed and buffed Cape in the first game, as the Vikings were missing frontline attackers Cailey Thornburg and Katie Frederick to injury, while Chloe Schaefer was home sick.
The Vikings performed better in the last two games, holding somewhere near even versus power teams Delaney and Bishop Ireton.
Goalies Izzy Cryne and Vienna Iacona played well on the day, as did field players Annie Judge, Alia Marshall, Eddy Shoop, Jody Boyer and Lindsay Monigle.
“Annie will be up on the draw circle and run some midfield this year,” Eichner said. “We already know she’s a shutdown defender.”
The other four teams not mentioned above were Conestoga 24-1, Stephen Decatur 15-2, Roland Park 15-4 and Good Counsel 18-3.
Zen Master P.J. Kesmodel is the originator of the tournament, and he was there freezing along with everyone else.
Cape has an upcoming scrimmage Saturday, March 18, that includes Garrison Forest, Strath Haven and Ursuline.
The Vikings, winners of 99 straight in Delaware, will open the season Wednesday, March 22, hosting Dover.
