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Cape soccer hosts 18 team play day

Cape senior defender Jerzy Haines blasts a shot on the Old Mill goal in the Aug. 24 play day. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
August 26, 2024

The Cape boys’ soccer team hosted an 18-team play day Aug. 24, at the Cape Henlopen athletic complex. Teams participating along with the Vikings were Brandywine, Caesar Rodney, Calvert Hall, Charter School of Wilmington, Delcastle, Indian River, Kent Island, Milford, Mount St. Joseph, Newark Charter, Old Mill, Parkside, Salesianum, Sanford, St. Georges Tech, Stephen Decatur, Sussex Central and the Heights School. Each game was 80 minutes.

“We won both matches we played,” said Cape coach Patrick Kilby. “We beat Old Mill 4-0 and we beat Newark Charter 2-0. So far, this preseason is going really well in terms of match play. We have played three matches and won all three, and we haven’t given up a goal yet.”

Cape is returning 12 seniors from its 2023 squad that made it to the DIAA state championship game against Salesianum. Sallies won that matchup 4-2.

“I thought we played super well as a team,” said senior Cardin Benjamin. “In the two games we played, we scored six goals and had zero goals scored on us, which is amazing after losing a lot of defensive seniors from last year. Our focus recently has been finding the holes in our defense, and letting in zero goals in two games shows how well we can do. We have a lot of our offense returning from last year and have hopes of returning to the level we were then to now.”

He said the midfield has also been fantastic with winning balls in transition and creating many counterattacks.

“Overall, this team has been extremely impressive so far,” Benjamin said. “And we hope to carry this momentum into the start of our season. With Jake Hutchison in goal for us, we have a lot of trust with him and our back line. Our coaches have done a lot for us this preseason already and have already put together a team that is bound to go far again.”

Kilby said 15 players return from last year’s roster, including 12 seniors. 

“This team is focused, driven and ready to compete so that we can find ourselves in the mix to play for another state championship run,” he said. 

Cape will play host to a four-team play day Thursday, Aug. 29, then opens the regular season with Delmar Tuesday, Sept. 3, at home.

 

Cape junior Lee Levis controls the ball from an Old Mill midfielder.
Cape senior Chase Archambault heads in the first goal of the game with Old Mill.
Cape senior Cardin Benjamin controls the ball on the sideline from an Old Mill defender.
Cape junior Lawson Whaley gets major air to head a pass to a teammate.
Senior John Flynn powers a clear for the Vikings.
Cape junior Merritt Burke looks to continue play after colliding with the Old Mill goalie.
Cape senior Brady Spiegel battles a Patriots player for possession in the midfield.
Cape sophomore Seth Benjamin smacks a centering pass.
Cape junior Blake Fitzgerald gains possession from an Old Mill defender.
Cape junior Merritt Burke blocks up an Old Mill clear attempt.

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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. 

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