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Bucs goalie Landen Hill steals the show in regular-season finale

Seahawks take early lead but fall to Milford 13-8 in boys’ lax
Milford junior Landen Hill makes an incredible save for one of his game-high 16 during the Bucs’ 13-8 win over Sussex Academy May 15. AARON R. MUSHRUSH PHOTOS
Aaron R. Mushrush
May 19, 2025

Sussex Academy wrapped up its regular season at 10-5 after the Seahawks were stonewalled by Milford when the visiting Bucs came from behind to win 13-8 May 15.

Senior Ben Warren and sophomore Gideon Sammons gave Sussex Academy an early 2-0 lead, and Reili Roblero-Reyes’ first goal of the year gave the Seahawks a 3-2 lead after the first quarter.

“We came out to fight. This is a big game for a lot of kids, big game for me,” head coach Andrew Fox said. “We wanted to see the fight, the drive that comes out of it, and [the players] come to play for each other. I think today we saw that fight and that they stayed together.” 

Warren added his second goal, and Emplit got on the score sheet to make it a 5-3 Sussex Academy advantage a little less than halfway through the second quarter. However, a Seahawks timeout with about six minutes left had an adverse effect, as Milford rattled off four straight goals a 7-5 edge at halftime.

“We saw a lot of good movement early, and then we just kind of kind of started to fizzle out there,” Fox said. “Milford came out with a good game plan, and they really took advantage.”

While the Bucs’ offense was running through juniors Chase Reisinger and Ty Mackert, with each garnering six goals, it was their classmate, goalie Landen Hill, who suppressed any chance at a comeback. Hill finished with 16 stops, with many of them halting any momentum the Seahawks managed to build up.

“We just couldn't finish it; Landen did a great job in there, and it's kind of hard to beat a hot goalie,” Fox said. “Jackson [Hagy] did a hell of a job today, too.”

Hill’s counterpart, Jackson Hagy, had 15 saves for Sussex Academy and stopped a couple of one-on-one chances, but Reisinger’s three-quarter release on low shots and Mackert’s stick wizardry resulted in the duo’s double hat tricks.

A loss in the Henlopen Athletic Conference Championship game to Cape May 17 moved the Seahawks to 10-6 overall. They were rewarded for their regular-season efforts with a ticket to the DIAA boys’ lacrosse state championship tournament.

No. 14 Sussex Academy will travel to No. 3 Tatnall for their first-round game at 4 p.m., Tuesday, May 20.

Sussex Academy junior Chase Ballinger winds up for a shot just inside the box.
Seahawks senior Josh Jovel-Velasquez makes his way across midfield.
Sussex Academy sophomore Taco Meszaros races into the box after winning a face-off.
Seahawks sophomore Anthony Tattoli prepares to crank one from outside.
Sussex Academy junior Jackson Hagy clears the ball after one of his 15 saves.
Sussex Academy sophomore Gideon Sammons performs a roll dodge as Reili Roblero-Reyes gets hammered on a pick.
Milford senior Dominic Schneck defends Seahawks freshman Clayton Emplit at X.
Sussex Academy senior Aiden Villar gets downhill after beating his man up top.
Seahawks freshman Clayton Emplit passes the ball.
Sussex Academy junior Jackson Hagy prepares to stop Bucs junior Chase Reisinger on the doorstep.
Seahawks junior Chase Ballinger prepares to get a touch.
Sussex Academy senior Jaxon Laux looks for options on a clear.
Seahawks sophomore Cooper Lawson makes his way toward the goal.
Seahawks sophomore Gideon Sammons tallies one of his two goals.
Seahawks junior Jackson Hagy comes out of the crease on a clearing attempt.
Sussex Academy sophomore Cooper Lawson gets in a poke che.
Milford junior Chase Reisinger led all scorers with six goals and two helpers.
Bucs junior James Sollie works his way out of Milford’s defensive box.
Sussex Academy junior Chase Ballinger tries to get a check in against James Sollie as the Milford junior makes his way across midfield.

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Aaron Mushrush joined the sports team in Summer 2023 to help cover the emerging youth athletics scene in the Cape Region. After lettering in soccer and lacrosse at Sussex Tech, he played lacrosse at Division III Eastern University in St. David's, PA. Aaron coached lacrosse at Sussex Tech in 2009 and 2011. Post-collegiately, Mush played in the Eastern Shore Summer Lacrosse League for Blue Bird Tavern and Saltwater Lacrosse. He competed in several tournaments for the Shamrocks Lacrosse Club, which blossomed into the Maryland Lacrosse League (MDLL). Aaron interned at the Coastal Point before becoming assistant director at WMDT-TV 47 ABC in 2017 and eventually assignment editor in 2018. 

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