A gorgeous day begins a golden season for Cape field hockey

Fifty hockey girls representing 50 years of Cape field hockey set sail on the golden anniversary season Aug. 15, with a timed two-mile run on Cape’s resurfaced red track inside Legends Stadium.

Fifty years ago the track was cinder and stone, and it still sits there behind Shields Elementary in Lewes, which is about to come down. Back over to Champions Stadium, 18 state championship signs are toggled onto the bleachers representing eight state titles in field hockey and 10 in girls’ lacrosse. And an upgraded scoring table, courtesy of Darby Klopp's Girl Scout Gold Award project, completes the button-up and dress-up for the 50-year celebration.

“The tradition here at Cape is tremendous and brings with it a responsibility to keep it going,” said coach Kate Austin, now entering her seventh season. Austin’s Vikings have won five state titles in her first six years, which included an in-state win streak of 100 games broken two seasons ago in a 2-0 state tournament loss at Tower Hill.

Hockey alumni and invited parents helped out on Day 1, from timing on the track to running skills and drills stations back on the Champions Stadium turf.

Debbie Windett, Cape assistant and a former head coach at Caesar Rodney and Wesley College, sits at a table processing paperwork. She looks over the distribution of athletes by grade level, and many fans would find it surprising that some experienced athletes, who would most likely make a team that will make a run at another state title, decided not to come out for myriad reasons, perhaps to switch sports or to focus more on another sport they consider their best.

“I can tell you we have some good freshmen out here,” she said. “And we have eight seniors who have been in the wars and are ready to take over the leadership.”

Cape seniors include Darby Klopp, Alia Marshall, Anna Harrington, Amanda Sponaugle, Jacki Cannon, Maci Long, Taylor Smith and Marcella Sabbagh.

Cammy Smith, the leading scorer last year, returns as a junior.

Goaltending duties will be shared by junior Marlee Geppert and sophomore Julie Heffernan.

Cape will host a 14-team play day beginning at 8:30 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 18.

Delmar will play at Cape Thursday, Sept. 20. Our Lady of Good Counsel will play at Cape Saturday, Sept. 29, a game to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Cape hockey.