IR hockey runs into Cape buzzsaw, Vikings prevail 7-1
Indian River field hockey ran into a buzzsaw at Champions Stadium Sept. 24, losing to the unbeaten Vikings 7-1 behind a 37-1 shots-on-goal advantage that included a 24-1 advantage on corners.
Indians goalie Jazmin Mayfield was credited with 21 saves, including a stop on a penalty stroke. Mayfield is nearing 300 saves for her career.
“I get lost in the game and just have fun out there," Mayfield said.
Cape, with just two seniors on the team, improved to 7-0 on the season ahead of a big Northern Division showdown at Milford Thursday, Sept. 26.
“We’re a fast team, and that was our best game passing the ball,” said Cape coach Kate Austin. “I was worried about Indian River. They are having a good season.”
Cape was leading 2-0 in the first period on goals by Mairead Rishko and Kaley McMahon, when Baylie Williamson lofted a high shot into the goal for the Indians to tighten the game to 2-1. Macy Steinwedel, who inserts on corners for Cape, got a pass back from Rishko for a goal with 41 seconds remaining to ease the pressure on the Cape sidelines.
“You don’t want to be protecting a one-goal lead against a team like Indian River because of the goaltending,” Austin said.
Cape broke it open in the third period on goals by Norah Block, Emily Wells and Avary Miller to lead 6-1 entering the final period. Steinwedel scored her second goal of the game at 6:36 for the final of 7-1.
Cape’s goals came from six different players.
Cape’s midfield line of Atia Sabbagh, Miller, Rishko and Wells controlled field position, pushing the ball to forwards Steinwedel, Block and Alysa McCarthy.
Cape’s backline defense of Regan Best, Lina Frederick and Ally Diehl has protected goalie Izzy Mekulski so far this season, allowing just three goals in seven games, the best in Division I.
The Cape JV team won back-to-back games over Caesar Rodney 1-0 Sept. 23 on a goal by Leighton Swope and the goaltending of Jada White, then came back with a 5-0 home win over Indian River Sept. 24 on goals from Mikaela Gordon, Mackenzie Todd, Dot Moore, Emmilyn Swope and Layla Conn. Analiese Werner had 14 saves for the Indians.
Knock arounds - Smyrna beat Delmar 3-1. Newark Charter improved to 7-0 with a 7-0 win over previously unbeaten Middletown.
