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Del Tech lacrosse wins Region 19 Championship

Delaware Tech goalie Malaki Balentine raises the NJCAA Region 19 Championship plaque and celebrates with his teammates after defeating Sussex County Community College 13-12. Balentine made 15 saves in the game. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
April 25, 2024

The Delaware Technical Community College men’s lacrosse team defeated Sussex Community College of New Jersey 13-12 to garner the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 19 Championship April 24 at DE Turf in Frederica.

The game was tied at 12-12 with five seconds left in regulation when freshman Gabe Smith (Sussex Central) cranked the rock past the Sussex goalie to send the Del Tech squad to North Atlantic District Tournament in Uniondale, N.Y.

Smith scored nine goals to pace the Techsters. Max Gray (Polytech), Shane Sylvester (Milford), Dom Hippler (Sussex Tech) and Cam Hellens (Sussex Central) each tallied one.

Sylvester helped on five goals, while Ethen Parker (Appoquinimink) assisted on three. Tyree Heath (Smyrna) and Kendric Jones (Delmar) each assisted on a goal.

Goalie Malaki Balentine (Smyrna) made 15 saves.

“I’m a little upset that we kept it so close, and it almost gave me a heart attack,” said first-year head coach Dan Yearick. “I’m very proud of them. From the first day of practice this season, our goal was to win Region 19 Championship. They came out here and battled for this. They are a brotherhood and are a really good team, and they showed up today. These kids are a special group. We have players from Wilmington to Delmar, and they go to school, have jobs, have girlfriends, have family times ... they have no extra time and somehow they fit lacrosse into it.”

Del Tech plays The College of DuPage at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale N.Y., in the North Atlantic District semifinal.

 

Team members give first-year head coach Dan Yearick a Gatorade shower after the 13-12 victory.
Del Tech’s Cameron Hellens (Sussex Central) wins a second-half face-off.
Del Tech midfielder Gabe Smith (Sussex Central) shoots and scores one of his nine goals in the game.
Del Tech middie Kendric Jones (Delmar) shoots on the Sussex goal.
Del Tech head coach Dan Yearick, right, and assistant Bill Gorrow look on in the fourth quarter.
Del Tech defenseman Christopher Phillips (Sussex Tech) successfully clears the ball to teammate Ethan Parker (Appoquinimink).
Del Tech goalie Malaki Balentine (Smyrna) makes one of his 15 saves in the game.
Del Tech attack Max Gray (Polytech) shoots and scores.
Del Tech defenseman Christopher Phillips (Sussex Tech) clears the ball through the midfield.
Maxwell Gray (Polytech), left, celebrates Cameron Hellens’ (Sussex Central) goal off a won face-off.
Del Tech middie Kendric Jones dodges around the Sussex defense.
Del Tech goalie Malaki Balentine (Smyrna) looks to clear after making one of his 15 saves.
The Del Tech squad celebrates the Region 19 Championship. Shown in back are (l-r) Chris Allen, Sam Karnoff, Brady Nicol, Luke Broomell, Paul Urbaniak, Ethan Parker, Brian Johnson and Trey Wilson. In middle are Maxwell Grey, Darius Hunt, Mathew Tully, Cameron Hellens, Shane Sylvester, Kendric Jones and Tyree Heath. In front are Abdiel Soto, Malaki Balentine, Christopher Phillips, Xavier Dunaway and Dominic Hippler.

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