Cape hockey wins 7-0 at CR for 13th shutout of season
The Cape field hockey team’s goalie tandem of Izzy Mekulski and backup Jordynn Bowe are easygoing, relaxed personality types who are comfortable in their own equipment.
At Caesar Rodney Oct. 16, the Vikings beat the Riders 7-0 behind a 29-1 shots-on-goal advantage. Mekulski made a save, while Bowe got happy feet on a corner on an unsettled ball inside the circle.
“I know my job is to preserve the shutout,” Bowe said with a smile. “And so I was focused, ready to make a save if I had to.”
Mekulski, an academic powerhouse interested in microbiology, sees inside a world the rest of us are just passing through. She responded to the question, “Is it important to notch Cape's 13th shutout of the season?” with, “Yes, it’s important. Jordynn and I are aware of it but never talk about it. Nice memories to look back on.”
Madison MacDonald, the sophomore goalie for Caesar Rodney, had 20 saves in the game. A Cape goalie has never been pressed into a 20-save effort, except in practice.
Cape’s seven goals were scored by seven different players, with six coming off assists.
The lone unassisted goal was scored by corner inserter Grace Heers, who camped on the near post, then drove home a loose ball that had rebounded off the goalie. Teagan Baker and Blair Chubb scored on similar goals.
Emily Wells and Mackenzie Todd scored on quick-handed one-timer goals.
Mairead Rishko and Avary Miller scored second-half goals off assists from Atia Sabbagh. Other players contributing assists were Miller, Isabel Mastrangelo, Rishko and Norah Block.
Cape (13-1) will close out the regular season at Dover (2-12) in a varsity-only game at 4 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 21.
Caesar Rodney dropped to 8-5 on the season with games remaining at Indian River and Polytech.
The Division I quarterfinals of the DIAA state tournament are scheduled to begin Thursday, Oct. 30.
JV action - The Cape JV team defeated CR for the second time this season 2-0 behind a pair of first-quarter goals from Meredith Frederick, both assisted by Natalie Arseneau. The JV squad concluded the season with a record of 10-1-1 with new-to-the-position Alexis Puddicombe recording nine shutouts. Goal scorers for the season were Hazel Mancari with five; Natalie Arseneau, Ella Levy, Emmilynn Swope and Meredith Frederick each with three; and Brielle Ramjattansingh, Emma Reynolds, Kate Dowd and Linley Draper each with two. Coaches working with the JV team were Jenna Burkhart, Cassidy Best and Katie Collick.
