A three-day festival of field hockey under the lights at Champions Stadium was highlighted by the Cape varsity team beating Caesar Rodney 8-1 Oct. 1, to improve to 9-0 at the halfway point of the season. The Vikings have exceeded expectations after graduating 10 seniors; they have only two seniors on this year's team. 

Coach Kate Austin reflected back and looked forward to the tough games ahead.    

“After the game Tuesday night, we encouraged the players to celebrate the things we’re doing along the way,” she said. “We always talk about areas of improvement after the game, but that doesn’t take away from the really great plays they’re making throughout the game. We’re at the halfway point in the season, and the coaches encouraged them to reflect on what we’ve done and reset to mentally prepare for the second half and be motivated for every practice and game as we keep moving forward. Next Tuesday [Oct. 8] versus Sussex Academy will be a tough and fast-paced game, and we need to be focused and ready to work hard on both sides of the ball.”

Cape had seven different players score versus the Riders, with Avary Miller leading the way with two goals and an assist. 

Players scoring single goals were Mairead Rishko, Macy Steinwedel, Alysa McCarthy, Kailey McMahon, Atia Sabbagh and Norah Block.

Block and Emily Wells were each credited with an assist. 

Izzy Mekuski had one save. 

The Riders’ lone goal was scored on a breakaway by forward Alicia Hunter.

Goalie Temperance Haupt and Moon Peppard combined for 19 saves. Cape outshot the Riders 32-1, with a 18-1 advantage in penalty corners. 

JV hockey - Cape won the JV game versus the Riders 9-1 to improve to 7-0 on the season. Cape was paced by Emmilyn Swope with five goals and Tegan Baker with two. Single goals were scored by Dot Moore and Layla Conn. Goalie Jada White was credited with the shutout. Cape outshot the Riders 24-1. 

Middle school - Fred Thomas defeated Beacon 4-0 at Champions Stadium Sept. 30 and followed that with a 3-0 shutout of sister school Mariner Oct. 2. “The Freds,” led by coaches Lynn Richardson and Sam Purple, are now 4-0 on the season, having outscored opponents 26-0. Scoring against Beacon were Brynn Evick with two goals, and Arilyn Staggs and Sara Caldwell each with one. Goal scorers versus Mariner were Madori Torres with two and Delainey Smith with one. Quinn Clark scored the lone goal in the B game, as Fred Thomas beat Mariner 1-0. Fred Thomas will host unbeaten Selbyville at Cape Wednesday, Oct. 9. 

Corner chatter - Smyrna won at home over Milford 6-2 after the Bucs jumped to a 2-0 lead and led 2-1 at halftime. Bree Moffett, a junior and Northwestern commit, scored a hat trick for the Eagles in the third period. Sussex Academy, under first-year head coach Caitlyn Hardy, a former Cape goalie, improved to 7-1 on the season with a 5-0 win at Indian River. The Seahawks had five different players score one goal apiece: Ryan Lowe, Emma Orlen, Rilyn Lehman, Shelby Manlove and Audrey Snyder. Kacie Rawlings had six saves in goal. Delmar sits atop the Henlopen South with a 9-1 record. The Wildcats will host Cape Thursday, Oct. 17.