Delmar hockey wins Henlopen Conference 2-1 over Cape
“Forget about it.” - Donnie Brasco.
Cape hockey heads into the Division I state tournament next week having been swiped by the Delmar Wildcats 2-1 twice in a month and once in 2019 in the same Henlopen Conference game at the same venue by the same 2-1 score.
“It’s like deja vu all over again.” - Yogi Berra.
“The two best teams playing the weekend before the state tournament ... I have mixed emotions about even playing this game,” said Delmar coach Jodi Hollaman. “We obviously have great players, but little depth. I worry about injuries in such an intense game. Cape is such a great team. We have found a way to win, but I’ve been on the other side in the Cape-Delmar game. Cape got us four straight times in the state finals.”
Reagan Ciabattoni opened the scoring in the first period at 5:13 with a great individual effort, surging through the midfield and scoring unassisted on a backhanded slap shot past goalie Kelly Davis.
“Cape scores one, then you need two to beat them, and it's a mountain to climb,” Hollaman said. “It’s important to quickly level the game.”
A rolling ball inside the circle in an unsettled situation is like catnip to the Wildcats with just too many finishers.
Maci Bradford got her blade on the ball in a sea of shuffling feet and sent it past goalie Morgan Newcomb to tie the game at 1-1 with 13:17 left in the first half.
Just over three minutes later, a two-footed stop by Newcomb rebounded into the area code of freshman Laela Brown, who one-timed it into the goal at 9:02, which incredibly proved to be the final score.
Delmar had a slight advantage in shots on goal 12-8 and penalty corners 6-5.
Davis was credited with four saves, while Newcomb had three saves.
Defensive saves, which were huge in the game, came from Lulu Rishko of Cape, and Ella Shockley and Lilly Waters of Delmar.
Cape will open play in the eight-team Division I tournament at 2 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 11, hosting Dover at Champions Stadium.
Delmar received a first-round bye in the 12-team Division II tournament and will host the winner of Concord and Caravel Saturday, Nov. 13, at Cape’s Champions Stadium.
