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Cape soccer roars back to beat IR in OT

Freshman Ashby hits game-winner
Freshman Lily Ashby, left, blasts a shot past Indians player Isabella Binko in overtime to propel the Vikings to their first win over Indian River in six years. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
April 16, 2019

Cape freshman midfielder Lily Ashby boomed a 35-yard shot over the outstretched arms of Indian River goalkeeper Hannah Bird at the 88-minute mark to give the Vikings their first win over the Indians since 2013.

“Lily (Ashby) came through for us,” said Cape coach Patrick Kilby. “When I put her in as attacking mid, I told her to continuously feed the front line, keep sending balls in and put IR under continuous pressure. I just didn’t expect that one of the balls she was continuously bombarding IR with would end up in the back of the net.”

The Vikings got on the scoreboard first with a goal from Lindsey Swontek off a Brooke Hollingsworth assist at the 12-minute mark.

Indian River came back with scores from Isabella Binko at 24 minutes and Anastasia Diakos at 27 minutes.

After the halftime break, Indians senior Isabella Keith gave the visitors a two-goal cushion, scoring unassisted at the 46-minute mark.

The Vikings wouldn’t go quietly, as they battled back to pull the game within one on a shot by Sydney Zych off a pass from Hollingsworth at 76 minutes. They tied it on a Swontek score off a direct kick at 78 minutes.

“This win puts us in unfamiliar territory as we have lost every overtime game since I have been at Cape,” said Cape coach Patrick Kilby. “With the exception of last years tie with CR, we haven’t earned a result in OT. We changed the formation with about 18 minutes left, moved Zych up top and put Reynolds as the holding mid. Attacked with three forwards and sacrificed the outsides of the field. Reynolds was our ball winner and Zych brought us within one score. Reynolds really changed the dynamic in the middle of the field. She was winning every 50/50 ball and tackling the opposition with such tenacity.”
 
“After the Concord game we talked a lot about having the fighter spirit and not shut down after we get scored on,” said senior captain Lindsey Swontek. “Everyone took that to heart and really started to fight after we went down two goals. I think having the seven shut outs got in our head a little bit. It was four years in the making for me. I’m really excited about it.”
 
“I was just thinking about getting the ball in the cage,” said freshman Lily Ashby. “At first I thought it was going to miss the post. It was going, going and it curved in.”
 
“This will definitely propel us forward; we found a level of grit and work ethic we haven’t seen until tonight,” smiled Kilby as he watched his team walk across the turf to be greeted by a throng of parents and students.
 
The Cape junior varsity moved to 4-1-1 with a 3-0 shut out of the Indian’s JV. Paige Ballance scored all three goals for the JV Vikings . Assists came on two by Casey Schnupp and Leslie Reyna.
 
The Vikings face northern division rival Sussex Tech Thursday, April 18 at Legends Stadium.
 
Freshman Lily Ashby, left, blasts a shot past Indians player Isabella Binko in overtime to propel the Vikings to their first win over Indian River in six years. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Cape’s Lindsey Swontek, left, battles for a 50/50 ball with Indian River’s Mackenzie Gorey. Swontek scored two goals in the Vikings’ victory.
Cape forward Brooke Hollingsworth, left, heads a shot over Indians senior Mackenzie Gorey.
The Cape team rushes to Lily Ashby after the Vikings’ winning goal.
Cape coach Patrick Kilby is overcome with joy as his team defeats his father's IR team 4-3 in OT.
Cape’s Sydney Zych controls the ball in the midfield.
Cape’s Lindsey Reynolds, right, moves the ball away from Indians player Anastasia Diakos.
Lindsey Swontek ties the game at three on a direct kick at the 78-minute mark.
Cape’s Lindsey Swontek, left, heads the ball toward the Indian River goal.
Cape’s Brooke Hollingsworth battles on the sideline with Indian River’s Micayla Meehan.
Cape’s Paige Ludwicki controls a high ball on the wing.
Cape’s Paige Ludwicki holds off Indian River’s Hannah Bird.
Cape senior Brooke Hollingsworth holds off a charge by Indian River’s Hannah Bird.
Cape’s Leah Marsh , right, battles for possession with Indian River’s Madison Tipton.
Indian River coach Steve Kilby tries to get a point across with referee Eduardo Perez.
Cape senior Claire Rasin boots the ball away from the IIndian defense.

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