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Cape soccer ties Central 1-1

A golden sunset gave a glow to the header by Ashlynn Panyko’s with five seconds remaining in the contest to send the game into overtime where each team held the other to a 1-1 draw. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
April 15, 2026

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It looked bleak for the Cape soccer squad April 14, as the Vikings went into the final five seconds of the match against Sussex Central down 1-0.

But when most of the home fans were heading toward the exit, sophomore Ashlynn Panyko took a ball off the foot of  Bridget Connelly and headed it past Central keeper Temperance Hammen Smith to send the teams into overtime, where the match would eventually end in a 1-1 tie.  

“Bridget had a great cross on the corner,” said Panyko. “I spun off my defender and placed myself where I was in position for the header. We haven’t played on a grass field this season. It took us a while to get used to it. Our two games that we have tied we had to come back for the draw.”

“I think we were focused on pushing the ball ahead in overtime,” said Cape keeper Brynne Fox. “We really played intense and had chances, but we just couldn’t get the ball in the cage. We definitely played our best as the game went along and in OT.”

Central sophomore Maria Chilel-Juarez took a pass from Bailey Chrobak and scored over Fox’s outstretched hands at 55:22 of the game. 

Central keeper Temperance Hammen Smith and Fox each stopped seven shots. Each team had four corners.

The 1-2-2 Vikings are set to host 6-0 Indian River at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, April 16. 

 

Cape senior Ava Brown gets major air to battle for the ball from Central’s Belinda Roblero Perez.
Cape sophomore Kailey McMahon controls the ball from Central’s Angela Lopez-Velasquez.
Cape’s Lily Touw blocks a pass by Central’s Bailey Chrobak.
The game was physical from the start with each team getting their uniform grass stained on the pitch. Kierstan Smith gets tangled with Central’s Belinda Roblero Perez.
Cape’s Ava Brown dribbles past Central’s Ashiyah Sturgis.
Cape freshman Lily Touw heads a clear in the midfield.
Cape’s Elizabeth Sprague gains possession in the midfield.
Ashlynn Panyko blasts a shot.
Samantha Mayer takes a throw in for the Vikings.
Cape keeper Brynne Fox makes a clear after a save.
Cape sophomore Zoey Neufeld takes a throw in by the Vikings bench.
Kailey McMahon blasts a pass for the Vikings while Elizabeth Hicks defends.
Cape’s Ashlynn Panyko battles for a header with Central’s Belinda Roblero Perez.
Junior keeper Brynne Fox makes a save in OT.

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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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