Cape girls’ lax opens season with 19-2 win at Stephen Decatur

Vikings face Queen Anne’s March 25 at Champions Stadium

Lulu Rishko had monster game with 15 draw controls, four goals and two assists. DAVE FREDERICK PHOTOS

Dave Frederick

March 23, 2022

The Cape girls’ lacrosse team opened the season March 22 at the newly turfed field at Stephen Decatur High School. The Vikings have played the Seahawks six times since 2015, holding a 5-1 advantage, but the games are always close.

Lulu Rishko went beast mode for the Vikings, snagging a school record 15 draw controls while adding four goals and two assists, as the Vikings led 13-0 at halftime, running the clock at the nine-minute mark, and winning 19-2.

Goalie Anna Lopez was pulled at the 15-minute mark of the second half after giving up her first goal of the season. She was replaced by Mekaylah Lindsey. The Vikings outshot the Seahawks 34-8.

“That was the best first half we’ve played since I’ve been here,” said head coach Lindsey Underwood. “We were in constant fluid motion; everyone touching the ball with 14 goals coming on assists. We have set plays; we just didn’t have to go to any of them.”

Ella Rishko and Kelly Bragg joined Lulu Rishko with four goals each, while Molly Mendes and Maren Buckaloo each scored two and Lexi Truitt, Grace Wiggins and Lexi Nowakowski each scored one.

Cape assists came from Mendes with five, Buckaloo with four, Lulu Rishko with two, and single assists from Bragg, Nowakowski and Sarah Knarr.

Cape had its backline defense intact, healthy and on the field together for the first time this season, including Montana Jones, Megan Smith, Mack Brown and Grace Wiggins.

The Vikings host the Queen Anne’s Lions at 6:15 p.m., Friday, March 25, with JV action beginning at 4:45.

Cape has played Queen Anne’s seven times since 2013 with a record of 3-4. The teams have not played each other since 2019 – a 14-10 Vikings victory. Queen Anne’s is the defending Maryland 2A state champions.

Cape JV defeated Stephen Decatur 7-2. Head JV coach Anna Frederick, Cape’s all time leading scorer, won her first game, as the Vikings outlasted the Seahawks. Goals were scored by Olivia Burkentine and Skylar Steigerwalt with two each and single goals from Anna Sullivan, Sophia Massaro and Lina Frederick. Assists were credited to Sophia Massaro, Steigerwalt and Kathryn Wyshock. Abigail Schaeffer and Morgan Newcomb split time in goal.