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Cape hockey scores 3 goals in 17 minutes to beat Sussex Tech 3-2

Final to be played at UD Saturday, Nov. 15
The Cape squad congratulates Erin Coverdale after her game-tying goal in the second half of the 3-2 win over Sussex Tech. BY DAN COOK
Dave Frederick
November 10, 2014
Cape's Tess Bernheimer takes a backhand shot in the second half of the 3-2 Vikings victory. BY DAN COOK
Cape's Sydney Ostroski shoots and scores the first goal of the come-from-behind victory. BY DAN COOK
Teammates surround Sydney Ostroski after her goal starting the Vikings' comeback. BY DAN COOK
Marlee McGinness, right, battles Tech's Hannah Collins during the second-half Vikings comeback. BY DAN COOK
Cape senior Alexa Woodruff makes a pass despite the push by Tech's Rachel King. BY DAN COOK
Cape's Erin Coverdale and Tech's Hannah Collins come together on the circle. BY DAN COOK
Cape's Amanda Atkinson tries to score past Tech's Gabriella Lopez. BY DAN COOK
Sydney Ostroski splits two Tech defenders with a centering pass. BY DAN COOK
Cape's Tess Bernheimer scores the game-winning goal. BY DAN COOK
Sam Broadhurst celebrates with Tess Bernheimer on her game-winning goal. BY DAN COOK

Tess Bernheimer is the dragon slayer of high school field hockey. Tess completed the improbable 16:17-minute, three-goal comeback against Sussex Tech in the quarterfinals of the DIAA state tournament Oct. 8 at Dover by redirecting a Sam Broadhurst shot into the back of the cage with 4 seconds left on the clock. The goal gave the Vikings a survive-and-move-on 3-2 victory.

Last season, Tess scored the game-winner in the 1-0 state championship win over Delmar, and in her freshman year she scored a game-winner in a 2-1 semifinal comeback win over Caravel at Wesley.

“Yes, it was me,” Tess humbly admitted after the game. "I got my stick on it and poked it through.”

Cape hockey has been on the wrong side of instant despair, having lost to the Ravens in the 2010 semifinal when Maxine Fluharty scored with five seconds remaining for a 1-0 Tech win, and in 2009 losing 1-0 when Abby Atkins whacked home a shot with 3:20 on the clock. Those two Cape teams had a combined record of 33-0-1, but watched the final from the stands as those Ravens coached by Nancy Tribbitt won a pair of state titles with victories over Tower Hill.

Sussex Tech took a 2-0 halftime lead on goals by Torrie Huk and Kelsey Ketterman and definitely had Cape (16-0) on the backpedal. The Vikings had not been behind in a game the entire season and have not been two goals behind in a decade.

But the amperage of the game and alternating current of energy went to the Cape offensive end in the second half. Corner after corner with midfield wings Amanda Atkinson and Erin Coverdale thwarting all Tech rushes into the Cape zone. Sydney Ostroski went backhand to the far post on a perfect shot with 16:17 to play - the first shot to beat sensational sophomore Macey Mitchell for the Vikings' first goal.

Mitchell turned back corner and corner until Coverdale turned back twice and poked one past Mitchell with 1:54 to tie the game. Cape had escaped certain defeat and was looking at 7-on-7 overtime and sudden death and despair for somebody.

But Coverdale stopped an outlet pass and sent it in to Broadhurst, who flicked it toward the cage where it was settled and was redirected by Bernheimer for the game-winner.

Seniors Jordan Brown and Lexi Woodruff, who also play lacrosse were asked, “How many crazy games have you guys played in over your careers?” and both exhaled, saying, “Too many!”

Cape outshot the Ravens 16-6 with a 17-2 advantage in penalty corners.

Cape will face Padua - a 1-0 winner over Wilmington Christian - at Dover Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. Polytech advanced to the other semifinal with a 3-1 win over Delmar and will play Tower Hill at Appoquinimink also at 6 p.m., Nov. 12.

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