Cape boys’ lax holds off Archmere 11-9

The Archmere Auks are no Atlantic Puffins. They are big and physical and come to play, and that is just their fans.

Legends Stadium was rocking May 27 for a quarterfinal game of boys’ lacrosse, as Cape hosted Archmere for a berth in the semifinals against unbeaten Wilmington Friends.

The Vikings led 4-3 at halftime, then ran a 5-1 third-quarter crooked number to lead 9-4 going into a the fourth quarter.

Archmere scored five straight goals to tie the game at 9-9. Greg Boyce, Cape’s left-handed jackrabbit on attack, pulled a hat trick out of his rabbit quickness, going high to the far post for a 10-9 Cape lead. Cape got the ball back on a crease violation, and while running the spread, Erik-Stephane Stancofski found Jake Brown on the doorstep for an insurance goal with 53 seconds left in the game, and Cape went on to win 11-9.

“You were starting a new game with two minutes to play, and you met the moment,” coach Mark D’Ambrogi told his team after the game. “Archmere is a good team. Tonight is what tournament play is all about.”   

Cape got major production from midfielders Stancofski - three goals and two assists - and Brock Maloomian - two goals and one assist to go along with Boyce’s hat trick. Ethan Ghabra, Luke D’Ambrogi and Brown also scored.

“We need to score for the midfield to open up the offense,” Stancofski said. “There have been some low-scoring, close games we lost that maybe if we shot better we could have won.”  

Archmere goals came from Ethan Kates, Xavier Glavin and Mitchell Moyer each with two goals, and single goals from Cole Bauer, Nicholas Salameda and Sean Kelly.

Archmere outshot Cape 25-21.

Connor Smeader had eight saves for the Auks, while Brendan Kane had 11 for Cape.

Cape will play Wilmington Friends Wednesday, May 31, in one semifinal, while Caesar Rodney takes on Salesianum in the other.