Cape beats Sussex Academy 17-7 in tournament
Sussex Academy survived the upside of a crazy game May 20, coming back to beat Dover 12-11 while three players down. The reward for the Seahawks was a Saturday morning hot date on the Cape Henlopen sprint turf against the 11-time reigning state champion.
Cape sprang from the box to battle the New Kids on the Block, scoring five unanswered goals. The momentum was broken by a pair of yellow cards.
Riley Keen, Ella Rishko and Lexi Nowakowski accounted for the Cape scoring.
“It was actually a very clean game – each team three yellow cards. Physical, but clean. Not sure why there are so many yellows this tournament season,” said Cape coach Lindsey Underwood. “I know four yellow cards equals man down the rest of the game. It’s hard to play aggressively and cautiously in the same game.”
Maci Steinwedel scored for Sussex Academy. That was answered by Ella Rishko, then Lulu Rishko for a 7-1 Cape advantage. The Seahawks got consecutive scores from Shelby Manlove and Madison Leeper to close the gap to 7-3, but just before halftime, Emily Monigle and Lindsay Rambo scored for a 9-3 Cape lead at intermission.
The Vikings cruised home from there for a 17-7 victory and semifinal game at Champions Stadium versus a dangerous Ursuline team. Ursuline beat Tower Hill 13-12 in overtime in the quarterfinals. Cape defeated Ursuline 11-10 April 19.
Tatnall, a winner over Caravel, will host Wilmington Friends in the other semifinal game.
“This is definitely the most talented field of teams in a while,” Underwood said.
Taylor Gooch, head coach of the Seahawks, and a former Cape and Temple University defender, wrote on her Facebook page: “So incredibly proud to coach these girls! The blood, lots of sweat, and tears these girls poured into this season paid off. There were so many firsts for this team and so many accomplishments. We may not have wanted our time in the state tournament to be over, but I wouldn’t trade this season for the world!”
Cape goal scorers in the game were: Monigle with four, Ella Rishko with three, Keen and Lulu Rishko each with two, and single goals from Haley Craig, Kelly Bragg, Nowakowski, Sarah Rambo, Carrie Clausius and Maren Buckaloo.
Sussex Academy goals were Leeper with two and single goals from Sanne Elling, Manlove, Macy Steinwedel, Bella Guckes and Emiley Bisaha.
Peyton Hagy had 11 saves for the Seahawks. Destiny Kusen had eight saves for Cape.
