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SportsMay 4, 2023

The Cape Central Tigers have had a year that has featured ups and downs, but one steady piece has been senior goalkeeper Demi Drum. Drum, the lone senior on the Tigers roster, said her four years have gone by quickly. “My freshman year was (lost) due to COVID,” Drum said. “We had practiced and then about a week before our season our games got canceled. So, three years have kind of flown by. I got to know the girls really well and it’s been the same crew for a bit.”...

Cape Central's Demi Drum reads a shot during the Tigers' 2-0 loss to Saxony Lutheran on Thursday at Saxony Lutheran High School.
Cape Central's Demi Drum reads a shot during the Tigers' 2-0 loss to Saxony Lutheran on Thursday at Saxony Lutheran High School.Clay Herrell ~ cherrell@semoball.com

The Cape Central Tigers have had a year that has featured ups and downs, but one steady piece has been senior goalkeeper Demi Drum.

Drum, the lone senior on the Tigers roster, said her four years have gone by quickly.

“My freshman year was (lost) due to COVID,” Drum said. “We had practiced and then about a week before our season our games got canceled. So, three years have kind of flown by. I got to know the girls really well and it’s been the same crew for a bit.”

One of the biggest obstacles Drum has faced during her career is the fact she had never played goalkeeper until her freshman year.

“Going into it being a sophomore is a little more nerve-wracking,” Drum said. “That was my first time playing goalie so I think it was a little harder to catch on.”

Being the lone senior can be challenging, but Tigers coach Duncan McKinley had high praise for Drum.

“It’s not something that everyone can relate to,” McKinley said. “I think that step from junior to senior year is a big step for many girls and I think at times it can be a lot of weight on Demi’s shoulders but she’s done a fantastic job this year of taking on that responsibility.”

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Drum said it can be a lot, so she credited fellow captain Madison Phelps for being a good leader as well.

“It can be hard to make sure we’re all on the same page,” Drum said. “I think it’s really important we have another captain in Madison Phelps and as a junior, she’s taken the role as another team leader.”

Drum said initially she had planned to graduate early and not play in 2023, but after the Tigers needed a goalkeeper, she decided to come back.

“At the beginning of the year we didn’t know if we were going to have enough girls to play in our first tournament,” Drum said. “Slowly but surely we’ve gotten girls back and we’ve gotten better over time as we get girls back.”

The season started with five straight losses, but now the Tigers have won 5 of their last 8 and McKinley credited Drum for the success.

“She’s been a rock back there,” McKinley said. “She's done a lot of organizing for some of our younger girls in the back as well and it has definitely helped our formation. She’s also come up really big in some of our games as well. I think her shot-stopping ability compared to last year has really improved and that’s really helped us go deep into games.”

Cape Central (5-8) will return to the field for the regular season finale at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9 when the Tigers take on Notre Dame at Notre Dame Regional High School.

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