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Cape boys’ lax hosts four-team play day

Cape sophomore goalie Mason Trench stops a Severna Park shot attempt in the Vikings’ scrimmage with the Falcons. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
March 11, 2024

After two short, rainy weeks of practice, the Cape boys’ lacrosse team hosted a four-team play day March 9.

The goal was to evaluate and see what needs improvement for the upcoming competitions. Teams in attendance along with Cape were Severna Park and Stephen Decatur of Maryland, and Penncrest of Pennsylvania.

Cape started out playing the always-strong Severna Park squad in Champions Stadium. The Falcons are led by new coach Robert Zichelli, who took over after former coach Dave Earl stepped down last season after leading the Falcons to seven straight state championships.

“I think we did well against Severna Park,” said junior long stick defender Jake Hutchison. ”We came out fast and scored some good goals in the first half. The young guys really stepped up in this scrimmage. They adjusted to the Severna Park quickness and stayed right with them.”

The Vikings moved to Legends Stadium for the second game to take on Stephen Decatur. The Seahawks are coming off a 10-5 season in 2023.

“Our defensive slides were all there with Decatur,” said Hutchison. “We were a little sloppy, though. We didn’t have our legs under us for this one.”

The Vikings got hot quickly in the third scrimmage with Penncrest in Legends Stadium. The Lions went 8-9 in 2023.

Senior Jack Schell scored the first three goals of the game.

“It was our best offensive scrimmage of the day,” said Schell. “We moved the ball around well, and it left me wide open on the crease when the Penncrest defense had to slide. We have room to improve, and we’ll get better as we play a little more.”

“We had a few questions answered today,” said Cape coach Geoff Shupard. “We moved people around a lot, which we always like to do. The defense did a good job of holding it down and communicating throughout the scrimmages, but we definitely have to work on clearing; that much was obvious. Against Decatur, we were sloppy, but I was really proud of how they responded and cleaned it up against Penncrest.”

The Vikings will return to Legends Stadium turf Friday, March 22, when they open the 2024 regular season with Polytech.

 

 

Cape sophomore Braddock Smith shoots and scores in the scrimmage with Severna Park.
Junior long stick middie Jake Hutchison clears the ball in the scrimmage with the Falcons.
Cape senior midfielder Lucas Stevenson passes to the crease.
Cape senior Lucas Stevenson clears the ball for the Vikings.
Cape senior middie Jack Schell power cradles to the crease.
Vikings junior Burke Healy dodges to the goal.
Cape sophomore Brenner Short speeds the ball into the offensive zone.
Cape sophomore Braddock Smith shrugs off a Severna Park cross check.
Cape defender Jordyn Preskenis makes a clear in the scrimmage with the Falcons.
Cape senior Michael Guenther battles a Severna Park long pole.
Cape sophomore Brenner Short checks the stick of a Severna Park midfielder.
Cape sophomore goalie Mason Trench makes a save.
Junior defender Jake Hutchison clears the ball for the Vikings.
Cape senior Anderson Smith passes to a teammate.
Cape senior Michael Guenther dodges past a Severna Park defender.
Cape sophomore Kolbe Green wins a face-off with the Seahawks.
Senior Jack Huss gains possession for the Vikings.
Mason Jack scoops up a ground ball in the scrimmage with Stephen Decatur.
Mason Jack goes in for a long pole shot.
Cape sophomore Kolbe Green speeds the ball up field after winning a face-off with Decatur.
Mason Jack clears the ball for the Vikings in the scrimmage with the Seahawks.
Cape senior Jack Schell fights through a hold by a Penncrest defender.
Cape senior Jack Schell works for a shot on the Penncrest goal.
Senior Anderson Smith takes a shot for the Vikings.
Cape senior Jack Schell cranks the rock. He scored the first three goals against Penncrest.
Vikings senior Michael Guenther dodges to the Penncrest goal.
Cape offensive coordinator Joe Vavala yells out an offensive set.
Vikings sophomore Ryan Morgan dodges to the Penncrest goal.

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Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs. 

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