Cape hockey holds back Charter Force for 2-1 semifinal win
Parallels and perspectives follow Cape field hockey players onto the pitch for every state tournament game.
The Nov. 4 semifinal 2-1 win over the Charter Force on Mike Drass Field in Dover hearkened back to 2012, when the Vikings escaped Caravel with a 2-1 semifinal win to move on to the state final, where Cape defeated Delmar at Milford 2-1 for the state championship.
“The game versus Charter was fast and physical and intense, and [it was a] good preparation for Saturday's final against Smyrna,” said Cape coach Kate Austin. “We made mistakes tonight all over the field, but [the players] just kept supporting one another. The intensity will be even greater on Saturday, because you know Smyrna always shows up.”
Cape outshot Charter 12-2, with a 10-2 advantage in penalty corners.
Cape's first-quarter goal by Emily Wells with 2:20 left in the first period was an ice hockey-like slap shot to the far post that provided the Vikings with “wheezing room,” just short of breathing room. Cape controlled a 1-0 lead until 4:52 of the third quarter, when Wells scored again on a penalty corner off an assist from freshman Teagan Baker.
Charter kept pressing, with Alexa Guarneri scoring a goal off a corner with 1:06 left to play.
Charter goalie Larysa Pohorylo was credited with 10 saves. Izzy Mekulski had one save for Cape.
The play was reminiscent of 2012, when freshman Tess Bernheimer came off the bench to score the game-winner against Caravel with six minutes left to play.
The Division I state championship final versus Smyrna is scheduled for 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 9, at the former Wesley College Stadium, now part of Delaware State University. This marks the fourth straight year the Vikings and Eagles have met in the finals, with Cape winning in 2021 and 2023, while the Eagles were victorious in 2022.
