Cape girls’ soccer is back with a mission
After going 12-4 and falling in the DIAA quarterfinals to Charter School of Wilmington last season, the Cape girls’ soccer team is looking to make the DIAA tournament again this year.
“Our team is different this year,” said Cape coach Patrick Kilby, who is in his 10th year with the Vikings. “I think the team’s doing really well so far. The loss to Charter is not a focal point. We want to make the tournament this season.”
Players to watch this season on offense are Ashland Panko, Ava Brown and Kiersten Smith. Kaylee McMahon, Naisae Ngido and Kate Hill will hold down the defense. Kilby looks to freshman Lily Tao to add strong play.
In the goal cage, junior Brynne Fox made 48 stops and sophomore Jordan Willey made 24 saves in 2025.
“I think we have a lot of talent and potential,” said Fox. “We definitely have lots of room to grow on and off the field. Once we get there, we will be a very strong team. It was great to see the level of experience and skill that was brought at tryouts this season – it was very competitive.”
Cape’s tough opponents will be Sussex Academy, Caesar Rodney, Middletown, Indian River, Cape Fear Academy (North Carolina) and North Carolina Coastal Christian Academy.
Brown, a senior striker, will be expected to continue her offensive prowess after tallying 16 goals and 11 assists for 43 points in 2025.
“Making it to the DIAA tournament and playing Charter like we did shows how we can compete with strong upstate teams, and shows us where to improve for the next time we go in the tournament,” she said.
The Vikings open their Henlopen Conference schedule Tuesday, March 31, at Sussex Tech, then welcome Middletown Thursday, April 2, at Legends Stadium.
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.
