Cape girls' lax wins season opener at Holy Cross 7-6
The Cape girls' lacrosse team hasn’t lost a one-goal game in five years. March 22 on the soggy and clumpy goose goo-goo pitch at Holy Cross Academy in Kensington, Md., Cape survived a mystifyingly officiated game that saw two second-half goals waved off - in the crease - for a 7-6 victory.
Karalyn Joseph was one of six Cape players with a goal in their back pockets when she set up for a free position shot (8 meters) with 2:30 left to play. Coach P.J. Kesmodel assessed the flow-and-go scenario and said to his team, "Let’s make this shot, then win the draw and go to spread yellow and see if we can hold onto it for two and a half minutes.”
Joseph rang the bell, then won the draw. Cape went spread yellow but a stick check with a minute remaining dislodged the ball and the Catholics went into Saturday attack mode.
A shot on Sam Broadhurst was turned away, her 15th save of the game. Cape secured possession and ran out the clock for yet another on-the-edge-of the-precipice victory.
“Sam was the difference today," Kesmodel said after the game. "She was locked in early and turned away some tough shots in the first half. You think that it all ends with the goalie, but it starts there too.”
Cape got first-half goals from Joseph, Kat Judge, Allie Yeager, Lizzie Frederick off Lexi Woodruff and Woodruff alone to lead 5-3 at the break.
Sarah Tappan pushed the score to 6-3 in the second half, but the Tartans popped for three straight goals to tie the score at 6, setting up Joseph's game-winner and the first spread yellow scenario of the 2014 season.
“We couldn’t generate much offense. It hurts not having Lexi in there [rehabbing hammy] full time and full speed, and Holy Cross really stacked in in there, plus the way they were calling the game, it was just nuts,” Kesmodel said after the game. "The officials shouldn’t have that kind of impact on a game, and they were a big factor on how that game went.”
Weather permitting - most likely not - Cape will play at Ursuline at 3:45 p.m., Tuesday, March 25, then host Caesar Rodney at 7 p.m., Friday, March 28.
In other local girls' lacrosse action, Polytech defeated Sussex Tech 7-6 in overtime. Kathryn Richardson had three goals for the Panthers, while Jamie Trabaudo had the game-winner in overtime.
The Ravens were led by Dorian Zimmerman’s five goals. The Ravens were set to host Saint Mark's at 4 p.m., Monday, March 24.
