Cape boys’ lax bounces back for two wins in 24 hours
After a 10-9 loss to Broadneck April 22, the Cape boys’ lacrosse team bounced back in a big way, defeating Dover 20-2 April 24 and Academy of the New Church 13-2 April 25.
Thirteen different Vikings found the back of the net in the win over the Senators. Junior Carter Nemcic led the way with four goals, while senior Grant Conway added a hat trick. Brenner Short and Liam Crotty each scored twice, and Mathew Popovich, Mason Jack, Max Wyshock, Pierce Conway, Grady Trivits, Thomas Draper, Ryan Morgan, Patrick Healy and Holden Moore each added a goal. Nemcic, Wyshock, Morgan, Short, Crotty, and Braddock Smith were all credited with assists.
Saturday followed a similar script, as the Vikings overpowered Academy of the New Church. Cape built a 13-0 lead and triggered a running clock before the Lions got on the scoreboard.
Grant Conway led the offense with four goals, while Morgan recorded a hat trick. Alan Grapski and Smith each scored twice, and Mathew Popovich and Brenner Short added a goal apiece. Short and Morgan each finished with three assists, Conway had two and Smith added one.
The Vikings were also dominant on face-offs.
“We do different moves,” said middie Channing Smith. “I clamp and Mason [Jack] rakes with the long pole.”
“If the clamp isn’t working, then I’ve got it,” added Jack.
“The last two games were definitely a good way to bounce back after a loss,” said Cape leading scorer Grant Conway. “They put us back on track and made us even more hungry.”
“We’ve been focusing on getting our energy up and starting strong,” said goalie Mason Trench. “As a team, we used these games to improve a lot and came out firing.”
Short said he believes the wins can provide momentum heading into the matchup with Salesianum Tuesday, April 28.
“It’s great that we have the ability to share the ball,” said Short. “We have 10 guys on the field who can consistently score. We put together two good team wins, and I’m happy to be a part of that.”
“The Broadneck game really woke us up,” said coach Geoff Shupard. “We came out flat there, but we came out ready to play here. Now the kids can see the difference between those performances. Experiencing both in the same week helps them understand what we need to do over the next five weeks.”
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.
