The Caravel field hockey team had scored 40 unanswered goals in its first five games, but Sussex Academy goalie Kacie Rawlings said the Bucs stop here Sept. 19, as she made 12 saves to help propel the Seahawks past Caravel 4-2 to end its unbeaten streak.
Four separate Seahawks hit the board in the non-conference matchup.
Lente Warner got the Seahawks on the board first off an assist by Morgan Leeper. Shea Danahy scored unassisted for the second tally.
Shelby Manlove blasted a shot past Bucs keeper Addison Van Rensler off an assist from Bailey Mears.
“We’ve been preparing for this team for a while now,” said Manlove. “Kudos to our coaches for getting us prepared. Playing with intensity at practices completely translates in the game. It was great to see that today. They were a great team, aggressive, and it was a good hockey game. I’m happy with the win.”
Rilyn Lehman finished the scoring with a unassisted goal.
“We really gave it our all out there, “ said Lehman. “We knew it was going to be a hard game playing one of the best teams in the state, so we wanted to just keep our composure and give 110% effort. It is a good energy builder for us.”
“After our game with Delmar [a 4-0 loss], we wanted to come out with intensity,” said Sussex Academy head coach Caitlyn Hardy. “We had great communication throughout the field. We definitely wanted to use the outside of the field and not the middle as much, which I think worked in our favor.”
The Bucs had two late goals but couldn’t match the energy of the Seahawks, and the play of their junior goalie Rawlings and sophomore Elizabeth Layton, who made a diving clear behind Rawlings on a shot destined for the cage by Caravel’s Katelyn Judy.
Rawlings showed that she is a force to be reckoned with in the cage.
“Kacie had amazing saves in the cage for us,” said Hardy. “Every save was awesome.”
“Kacie in the cage means the world to us,” said Manlove. “We’re so happy to have her.”
The Seahawks host Polytech Tuesday, Sept. 24.