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Cape girls’ soccer happily kicks off 2021 season

Six seniors give veteran leadership
Cape soccer Class of 2021 members are in back (l-r) Jonna Mobius, Fallon Moore and Madi Swontek. In front are Dafne Andrade, Julie Heffernan and Maddie Ludwig. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
March 17, 2021

The Cape girls’ soccer team is anxious to get kicking into the season after a year lost to the shutdown. They have been working to better their 11-5 record from the 2019 season, when they lost 2-0 to Charter in the DIAA quarterfinals.

Senior leadership will be provided by goalie Julie Heffernan and field players Fallon Moore, Madi Swontek, Jonna Mobius, Dafne Andrade and Maddie Ludwig.

Helping Vikings fifth-year (11th total) head coach Patrick Kilby are assistants Scott Bleile and former Vikings standout player Tyler Nichols.

“We are all very excited to be back on the field and training,” Kilby said. “After our season was canceled last spring, our girls are excited to be competing again. We are returning an experienced roster led by Josephine Ingerski, Madalyn Swontek, Lily Ashby, Fallon Moore and Giselle Garcia. We are pleased to have Wisconsin transfer Beti Parranto join our program. We are also very pleased about the potential of freshmen Ava Dolan and Cadence McMahon, who we think will contribute quite a bit.”

Cape will be tested by Henlopen Conference rivals Caesar Rodney, Sussex Tech, Indian River, Dover and Sussex Academy.

“With our depth of talent, we feel that we will be very competitive in the Henlopen North,” Kilby said. “Our girls have set high expectations for themselves. We qualified for the state tournament in 2018 and 2019, and we hope to do the same in 2021. We had lofty goals in 2020 in regard to the state tournament, and those goals have not changed in 2021. As their coach, I hope that I can help the girls find a way to get past the first round.”

Cape lost to Padua in 2018 and Charter in 2019.

The Lady Vikings will open the 2021 campaign Tuesday, March 23, with Sussex Academy at Legends Stadium. Junior varsity starts at 5 p.m., with varsity to follow.

 

Cape soccer coaches are (l-r) Scott Bleile, head coach Patrick Kilby and Cape 2016 grad Tyler Nichols.
Junior Georgia Hitchens, left, and senior Maddie Swontek watch practice while they rehab their injuries.
Senior Jonna Mobius, left, and sophomore Ariana Adili-Khams battle for a loose ball during a possession drill.
Junior Casey Schnupp speeds the ball away from orange team member Kaitlin Eisenmann.
Senior Jonna Mobius, left, gains possession in front of blue team defender Beti Parranto.
Senior goalkeeper Julie Heffernan takes control of a loose ball in front of the cage.
Senior goalkeeper Julie Heffernan clears the ball after making a save.
Junior Josephine Ingerski, right, battles to get by sophomore Emma Judd during a recent scrimmage.
Freshman Haylie Rogers boots a clear.
Junior Natalie Buckman, left, speeds the ball past sophomore Laurelee Mobius.

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Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs. 

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