Cape girls’ soccer goes down swinging 3-1 against Polytech
Despite outstanding efforts in goal from senior Bri Burrell and freshman Brynne Fox, the Cape girls’ soccer team fell to a scorching-hot one-loss Polytech squad 3-1 May 2 at Legends Stadium.
Keeping things close the first 20 minutes, it was the Vikings’ offense that created the first scoring chances of the game. Seniors Emily Cook and Cadence McMahon, along with juniors Jaidyn Jones and Charlotte Bjorklund, started to knock, but just couldn’t quite find a result. Freshman Isla Touw and senior Shannon Rath drew the difficult assignment of accounting for the Polytech pair of sophomores Sierra Henry and Ava Gzym.
“I thought our girls played with heart, desire, passion,” Cape coach Patrick Kilby said. “It's the first time in a long time this season that we played with that much bravado.”
As the Panthers' defense eliminated the Vikings’ threats, gaps began to open in the midfield. A savvy Henry took full advantage in the 23rd minute after receiving a pass from Natalia Marlow to open up the scoring with a rocket. As if a dinner bell, the opening goal led to a barrage of shots from the Panthers. Burrell withstood them and made some incredible saves on balls that seemed destined to be goals.
An unfortunate handball in the box led to a penalty kick converted by Gzym. Burrell guessed right, but Gzym had tremendous power behind the shot. Five minutes later, Gzym struck again with a howitzer from about 30 yards out that sailed over a leaping Burrell and just under the crossbar.
“We didn't get the result, but Bri stood on her head tonight,” Kilby said. “She came off the field in tears knowing that she left it all out there, and we're super proud of her.”
With the game at 3-0, Kilby used the time to get Fox some valuable minutes against a team that featured what he called a special couple of players. Showing no mercy, the Panthers’ pair pounced on the young Viking and tested her resolve. Passing the test with flying colors, Fox even had a smile after one of the saves. But not as big as the grin on Nevaeh Landis’ face in the 70th minute.
Pressing forward with nearly everyone but Fox, the Vikings entered the final third as sophomore Ava Brown carried deep down the right wing. With a trio of cutters to the back post, Brown’s ball found Landis, and the junior buried it in the back of the net to make it 3-1. Kilby said his dad, Steve, an assistant coach on the team, has been working on getting those numbers to the weak side and it was nice to see training translate to a game.
The Vikings fall to 5-7. With three games left on the schedule, they still have hope for a finish above .500 for the second year in a row.
