Cape shakes off Quakers 19-7 to advance in girls’ lax tournament
The Quakers weren’t quaking May 21, taking the field against top-ranked Cape at Champions Stadium in the quarterfinal round of the DIAA girls’ lacrosse tournament.
Wilmington Friends scored first then closed to 3-2 midway through the first quarter. By halftime, Cape led 14-5 and closed out with a 19-7 victory to earn a spot in the semifinal Wednesday, May 28, against the winner of Sussex Academy at Archmere.
“That's the first time we've played Wilmington Friends since I’ve been at Cape,” said coach Lindsey Underwood. “Live to play another day, I tell the team. Friends were fast, they were well coached and had smart possessions. We stumbled some in the third quarter just like we did against Caesar Rodney. Like I’ve been saying all season, we play best when we play fast.”
Cape lethal lefty Haley Gamuciello led all scorers with five goals. She was followed by the closer Macy Steinwedel with four. Amara Fruchtman, Ally Diehl and Regan Best each had two goals, while Makenzie Todd, Claire Lopez, Mairead Rishko and Alexis Zolper each had one goal.
Assist leaders for Cape were Lopez with three, and Steinwedel and Lina Frederick with two each.
Abigail Schaeffer was credited with four saves.
Scoring for the Quakers were Molly Dolan with four goals, Lila Rubano with two and Annabelle Huxtable with one. Dolan also had an assist.
Goalie Ella Morton was credited with three saves.
Notes: Cape’s senior goalie Abbey Schaeffer does not fear the clear, as she is accurate on passes, making it tough to ride Cape on possession changes. Cape brought up Cora Conway and Alexis Zolper off the JV roster for the state tournament. Zolper scored her first varsity goal late in the game. Eight of Cape’s 12 lacrosse starters also played on the state championship field hockey team. Cape has won 26 state titles since 2009 in field hockey and lacrosse. Friends closed out the season with an overall record of 12-5, while Cape improved to 15-0-1.
