Vikings conquer Delaware girls’ lax
“Striker, can you fly this airplane and land it?” “Surely, you can’t be serious?” “Yes, I am, and don’t call me Shirley.” - Airplane, 1980.
The Zen Master P.J. Kesmodel stepped aside in May 2016 on his 73rd birthday with eight straight state titles for Cape girls’ lacrosse in his back pocket. Lindsey Eichner, an assistant, was named head coach.
Eichner stepped away this spring season for six weeks to have a baby. She returned for the playoffs. Jenna Burkhart, Leigh Rupar and Bruce Lebeau flew the plane to a season record of 13-2.
On Tuesday night, May 30, 2017, the plane touched down at Delaware Turf Sports Complex. Cape had secured its ninth straight state title with a dominating 19-7 win over Saint Mark’s, the 111th straight win over in-state opponents.
The circle remains unbroken, and inside the draw control circle Tuesday night, cat-quick players Annie Judge, Eddy Shoop and Alia Marshall simply went off.
The score was 5-0 at 19:36 of the first half, with two goals from Lindsay Monigle and single goals from Shoop, Victoria Lockwood and Katie Klabe. By halftime, it was 13-4, and the second half would be autopilot, running clock spread yellow.
“We started to play mad when tied with Ursuline at 4-4 at halftime of the semifinals,” said Eichner. Cape went on to win 10-5. “I knew the focus was all the way there for the championship game. Saint Mark’s came into the game a 15-2 team, and all their key players are back. We just had too much depth of experience.”
Cape goal scorers were Shoop with five goals and two assists, Monigle with three goals and an assist, Cailey Thornburg with two goals and three assists, Chloe Schaeffer with two goals and one assist, Lockwood and Klabe with two goals each, and Mallory Jones, Judge and Anna Stancofski with one goal apiece.
Saint Mark’s goals came from Kendra Schweizer with five and Megan Noonan and Callie Freda with one each.
Cape outshot the Spartans 29-9.
Katharine Giannaras had 10 saves, while Cape’s Izzy Cryne had two.
Cape is graduating Shoop, Thornburg, Korinne Lemaire, Sarah Hyde, Sarah Rambo, Klabe and Cryne. The reloading and reconfigurations for 2018 were already being discussed before fans reached their cars.
