Cape hockey wears down Ravens 3-0
The Bermuda grass field is pretty green, but the hockey ball rolls slowly. When Cape visited Sussex Tech Sept. 13, there were more foot faults than at a Thom McAn shoe store. The Ravens went into a defensive posture to slow down turf team Cape.
The strategy was working as the game was scoreless until 6:58 left in the half when Hannah Maney, off an assist from Lexi Truitt, sent a money ball past goalie Bryannah Coral. The combination clicked again at 5:35, and Cape led 2-0 at halftime, enjoying a 10-0 advantage in penalty corners.
Truitt is a backline defender who comes up on corners. She is a deft opportunist and inserter who reads her wrist, then sends a straight ball to a designated hitter before perching herself on the near post.
In three games, Truitt has two goals and three assists, while the backline defense fronting goalie Morgan Newcomb hasn’t allowed a goal.
“I see the ball and push it where it needs to go,” Truitt said with a smile. Seeing the game in its fundamental simplicity is a Truitt trait.
Cape’s lone goal in the second half came from Macy Steinwedel on an assist from Truitt.
Cape outshot Sussex Tech 18-0, with an 18-0 advantage in penalty corners. Coral had 10 saves for the Ravens.
Cape next plays at Sussex Central Tuesday, Sept. 20. Sussex Tech plays at Caesar Rodney Sept. 20.
Blue chair corner quips – Lulu Rishko, a prolific midfielder for Cape, missed the Sussex Tech game to take an official visit to Virginia Tech where her sister Ella is a freshman. Milford beating Seaford 11-0 and Sussex Academy winning 9-0 over Sussex Central qualify as unexpected beatdowns. Delmar with an 8-0 win over Wilmington Friends was also unexpected – anytime the Wildcats are held under 10 goals. The most surprising score was Smyrna's hard-fought 2-1 win over Woodbridge. Smyrna dominated penalty corners 21-7, but Woodbridge had the shot advantage 8-7. None of that makes sense. Return-to-the-mothership players Avary Miller, Addy Basile and Macy Steinwedel have scored four of Cape’s 12 goals over three games. Cape goalie Morgan Newcomb, a junior, now has 13 career shutouts.
