Cape girls’ lax wins state title
The relentless Cape girls’ lacrosse team propelled themselves to another state championship May 31, at Caesar Rodney, running the clock on unbeaten Tower Hill 20-9 behind five hat tricks, dominance on the draw control circle (20 0f 33) and stellar goaltending from first-year senior starter Abbey Schaeffer, (12 saves) who recorded her 100th career save in the closing seconds of her final game on a 12-save effort.
The state title was the second in a row for Cape after losing 10-9 to Tatnall in the 2023. There was no season in 2020 because of the pandemic. The win caps an undefeated season for the Vikings, who finished with a 17-0-1 overall record. The lone tie came against Marriotts Ridge of Maryland in a running-clock tournament with no overtime.
“Cape is such a strong team [that] whatever the game planning and strategy we had ready went by the wayside after they scored nine goals in the first period,” said veteran Tower Hill coach Wiz Applegate.
The Hillers battled back to score nine goals in the game, but the Vikings rang the bell for 20 goals. The hat trick ponies were Claire Lopez with six goals, Ally Diehl and Mairead Rishko each with four, and Macy Steinwedel and Haley Gamuciello each with three apiece.
Assists for Cape were Lopez with four, and single assists from Steinwedel, Diehl, Regan Best and Lina Frederick.
Coach Lindsey Underwood has been saying all season that her team plays best when it plays fast. Cape won three state tournament games by a combined score of 58-19.
Cape has not lost a game in the last two seasons. In 2024, the Vikings won all 18 games they played, including three wins in the state tournament and a win over Tatnall in the state championship. This year’s championship means the Vikings have won 15 of the last 16 state titles in girls’ lacrosse.
Tower Hill goals were scored by Cece Clough 3, Charlotte Vanni two, and single goals from Bea Nace, Lucia Colasante, Alexandra Simon and Emerson DeBaeke.
Clara Buller had four saves in goal.
Notes: Cape sophomores Ally Diehl, Mairead Rishko, Haley Gamuciello and Amara Fruchtman started as freshmen and played at Beacon Middle school together under coach Lynn Richardson. The quartet has not lost a lacrosse game while playing under the Cape banner in four years. Claire Lopez’s 10 points in the state final is a Cape school record. Lopez scored on a behind-the-back shot in the second period, which is the equivalent of a slam dunk in basketball. She also scored on a scoop shot. Fourteen of Cape’s varsity players were also on the 2024 state championship field hockey team. Both teams had to cover for the loss of a dozen graduated players. The 2025 lacrosse team graduates captains Lina Frederick and Macy Steinwedel (200 career points) , goalie Abbey Schaeffer and defender Quinn Nutter. The state title was the seventh for head coach Lindsey Underwood.
