The Cape field hockey team took its 5-0 record to Smyrna Sept. 24 to meet the rival Eagles (5-1) in a rematch of last year’s DIAA finalists. Smyrna defeated the Vikings 1-0 in double overtime to win the 2025 championship.

In an unfamiliar position, the Vikings fell behind 1-0 when Smyrna sophomore Kennedy Marks scored off a pass from Elizabeth Nicholson with 10:08 remaining in the first quarter.

Cape answered late in the third quarter, tying the game at 1-1 when Mairead Rishko scored off a pass from Atia Sabbagh with just six seconds remaining.

Neither team could find the back of the cage in the fourth quarter, sending the game into overtime.

It didn’t take long for the Vikings to finish the job. Just 47 seconds into overtime, Smyrna’s defense and goalie came out to cut off a pass from Sabbagh to Rishko. Rishko was able to get the ball under the pads of Eagles goalie Nora O’Connell and onto the stick of Cape’s Kailey McMahon, who buried the shot into the open cage for the game-winning goal.

"It's always fun playing Smyrna," said Rishko. "I saw Atia getting ready to send the ball, so I just went to the the post. I'm just glad Kailey was there to put it in the cage." 

"We worked on that play in practice," said McMahon. "It felt really good to put that ball in the cage. Smyrna is always one of our hardest games. We have to just take each game one at a time."

"They were pretty physical," said Cape coach Kate Windett. "We were prepared for that. We just wanted to stand our ground and have strength on the ball. We weren't executing the way we wanted to at first. The first goal was a wake-up call. From there, it's always about how we respond." 

Cape goalie Jordynn Bowe stopped three scoring attempts, while O’Connell made 10 saves.

The Vikings play host to Polytech Tuesday, Sept. 29, at Champions Stadium.