Flashback Friday: Cape girls’ lax caps perfect season
The Cape girls’ lacrosse team came into the 2010 season riding the high of a 2009 state championship and team of the year honors in Delaware. The 2009 goal was to upend the dominance of Tower Hill and St. Andrew’s in the championship circle.
This season, the mission and mantra changed from upend to defend! A favored horse can’t sneak up on the field when it runs from the front. Cape beat St. Mark’s 12-7, staying in the lead the entire game. The student crowd chanted, “back-to-back,” waiting for medals to be conferred and pictures taken before instigating a dog pile celebration.
Last Thursday night at Dover High School, Cape faced off against an athletic St. Mark’s team in the state championship game. The Vikings were an incredible 17-0 coming into the final, having played only five home games, and were winners of five road games by a single goal during a season lived on the edge, a step from the abyss of defeat.
St. Mark’s, 15-2, was in the state championship game for the first time, having upset St. Andrew’s in the semifinals 10-9 in a come-from-behind victory. “We had to win face-offs and give them problems clearing the ball from defense to offense,” coach P.J. Kesmodel said. “If you give them possessions they are going to score.”
Cape scored five times in the first 14 minutes of the game by five different players in five different ways. Meg Bartley rolled to the crease, Anna Frederick a quick stick off a Kaci Coveleski pass, Sarah Young speed down the slot, Alec Perry quick hands on the inside and Kaci Coveleski on an assist from Meg Bartley.
The Spartans countered with a pair of goals by Haley Schweizer as the score was 5-2 with 7:08 left in the half.
Cape then got goals from Meg Bartley and Alec Perry to lead 7-2. Taylor Kolle countered with a goal and Anna Frederick went quick stick again off a Bartley pass for an 8-3 halftime advantage.
The second half was a more deliberate approach for the Vikings as time was on their side. Caroline Judge, who stayed on the field the entire game switching from offense to defense, scored two second-half goals while Sarah Young scored her second and Alec Perry scored her third. Meg Bartley with three and Kaci Coveleski with one led Cape in assists.
“No, I didn’t see this coming,” Kesmodel said after the game. “I knew we needed the two Sarahs to emerge [May and Young], and Anna Frederick was a huge surprise; I never saw her coming.”
Defensively, Cape got big years from Jenna Steele, Autumn Dailey, Emily Farrell, Sammi Reed and Teenie Bristow. The emergence of midfielders Erin Ricker and Katie Yeager allowed Cape to run two midfields while Lexi Heuring worked into the attack rotation. Maura Johnson and Jacki Coveleski, solid and steady, never left the game.
Cape outshot the Spartans 20-13. Sarah May was credited with six saves.
