By D. Matt Dale
MaxPreps.com
Boys Lacrosse: Cape Crowned State Champs
Cape Henlopen faced defending champion Salesianum Saturday in the state lacrosse final at Dover High School. Salesianum entered the championship game with a perfect 17-0 record, which included a 10-2 shellacking of Cape in the season opener.
Cape would have the last laugh, however, as it beat the Sals and captured the school's second lacrosse championship in three years. Sophomore midfielder Chris Woodruff scored the winning goal late in the fourth quarter to give the Vikings a tight 8-7 victory.
Cape took an early lead, but Michael Adkins helped bridge the gap with three goals in the second quarter to make it a 4-3 game going into halftime.
Joe O’Brien came out firing after the half and scored two unanswered goals to give Salesianum a 5-4 advantage.
Cape took a 6-5 lead in the fourth quarter behind goals from Woodruff and Mark Tappan. The Sals kept their composure and answered right back with goals from Adkins and Kevin Kilpatrick to take a 7-6 lead.
Tappan hit the equalizer to make it 7-7, setting the stage for Woodruff’s late-game heroics.
Woodruff finished with three goals, while Tappan added two and Daniel Steele contributed two assists and two goals. Goaltender Franc Cook was credited with 13 saves on 33 Salesianum shots.
Adkins led all players in goals with four, while O’Brien added two goals of his own. Senior star goalie Mark Manos made seven saves off 33 Cape shots to end an amazing high school career.
Girls Lacrosse: Tower Hill Goes the Distance
St. Andrew's and Tower Hill met for the third time this season to play for the state championship at Archmere Academy last Friday. The teams split their first two meetings with the Hillers winning 8-6, followed by an 11-6 Saints' victory.
The Hillers came out on top 8-2 in the third and final meeting between the two squads, capturing its third-straight state championship.
Mary Hobbs led all players in scoring with three goals and added one assist. Caitlin Van Sickle added two goals and two assists, while Caroline Holliday, Meghan Lyons and Lexi Saunders each added a goal. Lyons also contributed two assists. Annan Teruya made 11 saves on 15 St. Andrew’s shots.
Grace Gahagan and Amanda Johnston were the sole scorers for St. Andrew’s, while Mackenzie Lilly made 11 saves off 20 Tower Hill shots.
In the 11-year history of the state girls lacrosse championship, St. Andrew’s and Tower Hill have been the only two schools to take home the title. The Saints have six championships while the Hillers now own five.
St. Andrew’s finished the season with a 13-4 record, while Tower Hill goes out on top at 14-4.
Girls Soccer: Padua and St. Mark’s to Face Off in Championship
Padua advanced past undefeated Caesar Rodney Wednesday in a close 1-0 game at Wesley College in Dover. Kortney Rhodes nailed a penalty kick at the 9:59 mark in the first half to give Padua the lead and eventual victory.
The Panda’s defense held off the Riders in the second half as Padua goalie Jill Meyer made four clutch saves. With the win, Padua avenged a 5-2 loss to CR earlier in the season, improved to 14-2-1 and secured a spot in the finals.
St. Mark’s made its way to the finals the same day after a marathon game against Charter that consisted off four overtimes and two rounds of penalty kicks. Katie Rogers made the game-winning save in the second round of shootouts to send the Spartans to the championship game.
St. Mark’s and Padua split two regular season games this year and will play for the championship May 31.
Softball: Caravel and Sussex Central Advance to Finals
Sussex Central managed to squeak by Archmere Wednesday with a 1-0 victory. The win puts Sussex Central in the finals for the third time in the last four years. Erika Brittingham pitched a shutout, allowing three hits and recording seven strikeouts in seven innings.
Caravel earned its place in the finals the same day by beating Caesar Rodney, 3-0.
The Buccaneers survived a late-game charge by the Riders when CR loaded the bases in the seventh inning with one out. Caravel pitcher Cara Stecher managed to retire the next two batters to put Caravel in the championship game for the 10th consecutive year.
Sussex Central (20-1) will look to upset the top seeded Buccaneers (18-5) in the state finals on Saturday.
