Defense and draw control propel Cape to 19-7 win over Caravel
Head coach Lindsay Eichner was back on the Cape lacrosse sidelines May 20 for the first time since her six-week maternity leave. Coaches Jenna Burkhart, Leigh Rupar and Bruce Leibu were still there along with Debbie Windett, a former college coach who coaches the JV team. The program’s system, which includes multiple defenses, was established by retired coach P.J. Kesmodel, who led the Vikings to the last eight state championships, going 24-0 in state tournament play.
Cape faced a dangerous animal in Caravel, a 12-3 team, in the quarterfinal round of the state tournament, with the state’s leading scorer Olivia Duarte and all-state midfielder Lauren Phillips.
Cape led 6-4 10 minutes into the game before scoring six unanswered goals, including a long shot by Victoria Lockwood just before the buzzer for a 12-6 halftime lead.
Lindsay Monigle, the forgotten player when not marking Cailey Thornburg and Eddy Shoop, had five first-half goals.
Cape eased off the gas in the second half, going from spread yellow to spread green and back for an easy 19-7 victory. The Vikings will play Ursuline at the Delaware Turf field sports complex in Frederica Tuesday, May 23, at 7:30 p.m.
Archmere will play Saint Mark’s at 7 p.m. at Caravel in the other semifinal game.
“We changed up some defenses to slow down Duarte and Phillips,” Eichner said. “We kept Alia [Marshall] and Annie [Judge] on them. We also had Annie on the draw with Eddy and Alia on the circle. We are very fast to the ball with those three players.”
Duarte had four goals and Phillips tallied three to account for all the Buccaneers’ scoring.
Cape’s scoring was Monigle with five goals, Shoop with four, Lockwood with three, Thornburg with two and single goals from Judge, Katie Klabe, Marshall, Chloe Schaeffer and Korinne Lemaire.
Cape assists were Schaeffer with three, Thornburg and Shoop with two each, and Monigle and Marshall with one apiece.
Cape’s Izzy Cryne had six saves. Darcy Judd recorded 11.
