Cape hockey pounds Poly 8-1 to move into state championship
Cape cranked past Polytech in the semifinal round of the DIAA Division I field hockey state tournament Nov. 16 at DE Turf, winning 8-1 with a 27-1 advantage in shots and a 25-1 edge in penalty corners.
The Vikings return to the championship game for the 10th time in the last 11 years, and they are unbeaten 9-0 in showtime.
“Our goal was to start fast and just keep up the pressure the entire game,” said coach Kate Austin. “We have had some slow starts this season, but you can’t get away with that against good teams in the tournament.”
Smyrna won the other semifinal, beating Charter School of Wilmington 3-1. The Eagles will play in the championship game for the first time in program history.
Cape beat Smyrna Sept. 30 in a hard-fought game at Champions Stadium in Lewes.
The game will be at Dover’s Senator Stadium at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 20.
Cape converted a pair of corners in the first period Nov. 16, as Sam “The Inserter” Connors scored off an assist from Reagan Ciabattoni, then Emma Duffield scored a goal off an assist from Noelle Sabbagh.
A Reagan rocket to the goalie’s left on a pass from Connors made the score 3-0 at the half.
Cape scored a pair in the third period on goals by Sabbagh from Ciabattoni and Ella Rishko from Hannah Maney.
Cape continued to pound the Panthers’ cage in the fourth period, winning that stanza 3-1 on goals by Mackinzie Brown, Lulu Rishko from Ciabattoni and Elaina Best from Summer Dorman.
Kylee LaVere, a sophomore, scored for Polytech at the 8:11 mark.
Raegan Thomas had 15 saves for the Panthers. Morgan Newcomb and Anna Lopez combined for zero saves, while Newcomb allowed one goal.
