Cape soccer’s big second half wipes out Lake
Cape announcer Chris Nichols heralded each senior’s name as “their last time on the Legends Stadium turf” Oct. 20. The crowd roared as head coach Patrick Kilby acknowledged each senior as he subbed them out of the game in the waning minutes of the 7-0 thrashing of Lake Forest. It was a powerful performance from the 10-2 Vikings.
The players gave an impeccable second-half performance, scoring six goals in 40 minutes led by senior Niko Panyko’s four tallies. His goal at the 16-minute mark was the only score in the first half. A spunky Lake team held on as much as they could, but could not keep the Vikings’ talented front line silent in the second half. Jack Schell, Jersey Haines, Collin Sivels and Jorge Lagunes assisted on Panyko’s goals.
Lagunes scored on a direct kick, Cardin Benjamin scored off a Panyko pass and Brady Spiegal hit the twine from Benjamin to finish the second-half scoring binge.
Cape outshot the Spartans 16-0 and garnered a 5-0 advantage in corners. The Lake Forest goalies made nine saves.
“We are super proud of our seniors,” Kilby said. “We are so thankful of their years of service and the wonderful role models they have become for our younger players. It was a fantastic night to celebrate them; it was a true team win. We have three more games left on the road; all of them are conference opponents. If we win out, we will represent the Henlopen North in the conference championship. Our goal this season is to win the conference championship and to go deep into the state tournament. We hold our own destiny in our hands; the next 10 days will be very telling.”
The Vikings travel to Caesar Rodney Tuesday, Oct. 25, to face the 8-3 Riders.
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.
