Cape sticks the landing in 15-11 win over Sussex Academy
Cape girls’ lacrosse rocketed to a 3-0 lead in the first two minutes of the showdown home game against Sussex Academy April 6 at Champions Stadium in front of a packed-house crowd. They stayed above the clouds the rest of the way, sticking the landing for a 15-11 victory.
The Vikings improved to 6-0 on the season, while the Seahawks dropped their first game and fell to 5-1.
“I’m proud of you guys and the way you kept battling for 50 minutes in a game between two great teams,” coach Lindsey Underwood told her squad after the game. “And now we have to get ready to play at unbeaten Dover on Friday.”
The 6-0 Senators, under coach Molly Phillips, are off to the best start in program history. Cape has faced Stephen Decatur, Queen Anne’s County, Parkside and Sussex Academy, all undefeated when Cape stepped into the draw-control circle, and next comes Dover.
Cape led the game 11-5 at halftime, then held off a Sussex Academy second-half comeback, as the Seahawks cut the lead to 13-11 before Lulu Rishko scored goal 14; then Maren Buckaloo sent home the exclamation point goal with seven seconds left for the 15-11 victory.
Cape super scout Richard Collins, who goes back to the early days with coach P.J. Kesmodel, said after the game, “I wouldn't be surprised to see Sussex Academy reach the finals of the state tournament. But there are some good teams in Delaware this year.”
Cape goalie Anna Lopez had a great game with 10 saves, while Peyton Hagy of Sussex Academy had six saves.
Cape had a 27-24 advantage in shots on goal.
The Vikings’ goals came from Lulu Rishko with four, Ella Rishko and Buckaloo with three each, Molly Mendes and Kelly Bragg with two apiece, and Lexi Nowakowski with one.
Cape assists were Lulu Rishko and Bragg with two, and Ella Rishko, Mendes and Buckaloo each with one.
Sussex Academy goals were Annabella Guckes with four, Macy Steinwedel and Madison Leeper with three apiece, and Shelby Manlove with one.
Seahawks assists were Leeper and Guckes with two, and one each for Manlove and Steinwedel.
In the JV game, Sussex Academy defeated Cape 8-7 behind three goals from Avary Miller, and two each from Elizabeth Merrick and Shea Danahy. A single goal was scored by Lily Bisaha. Cape goals were scored by Olivia Burkentine with four, Kayla Droge with two and Anna Sullivan with one.
Danahy had two assists for the Seahawks, while Burkentine and Skylar Steigerwalt had assists for Cape.
Morgan Leeper played goalie for the Seahawks, while Cape split the goaltending duties between Abigail Schaeffer and Morgan Newcomb.
Cape JV will play at Sussex Academy at 4 p.m., Monday, April 11, as both teams need games to bolster their schedules.
