Ciabattoni scores five goals as Vikings roll by IR 9-1
Reagan Ciabattoni started the second half against Indian River in the penalty box with the Vikings leading 3-1. She had a goal in one pocket and a green card in the other.
“The ref told me she said something,” said Cape coach Kate Austin. When Austin asked what she said, the ref responded, “Does it matter?”
Coach Kate, known for quietly saying some things on the sidelines that only matter if heard, loves the feisty nature of Ciabattoni inside the lines.
“It’s what puts her over the top as a great player,” Austin said.
Ciabattoni says it best when she says nothing at all, like breaking open a competitive 3-1 game with four second-half goals and five total for the game. Most slapped hard against the back of the cage, then bounced back into the circle.
The Vikings rolled like a wind-driven mist to a 9-1 victory to improve to 7-1 on the season. Indian River dropped to 5-4.
Immediately after the game, Austin told her team: “We are all wet and cold, so we’ll talk about this game tomorrow. Make sure to pick up stuff from the sidelines. Reagan, you take care of the penalty-area cones because you were the only one in there.”
The lesson is laughter over lecture.
Cape scored three quick goals in the game going into the wind and rain from Lily Ashby, Ciabattoni and Noelle Sabbagh, but with 4:17 left in the first quarter, Brynn McCabe of Indian River scored off a corner on an assist from Jessica Rybicki to close the gap to 3-1.
“IR can get up and down the field. They played us tough in the first half,'' Austin said. The Indians had five shots and five corners in the game.
Sabbagh scored two second-half goals to give her a hat trick for the game with two assists. Emily Monigle, Louise Rishko and Sam Connors also contributed an assist.
Julie Heffernan had three saves for Cape, while Morgan Newcomb had one. Allyson Clark had five saves for the Indians.
Cape will host Milford at 4 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 17. It is Senior Night for the Vikings.
