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Cape boys’ lax falls to Sallies in championship game

Sallies top Vikings 12-10
May 28, 2021

Cape took the hard road home in the semifinals of the DIAA boys’ lacrosse tournament, overcoming a 6-1 deficit to win at Sanford 16-15. 

A similar script emerged, but the ending was different May 27 in the championship game, as the Vikings lost to Salesianum 12-10 in front of a crowd so large that it took a chunk of the first half to collect their money and get them into the stadium. 

The Sals jumped out to a 6-1 lead with 8:08 left in the second quarter. The Vikings closed the gap to trail 7-4 at the half. Matt Riley on face-off for Salesianum makes comebacks problematic, but Cape’s C.J. Fricthman was winning some battles on the circle. 

“We played a lot of defense early in the game, and it took us a couple of possessions to get comfortable on offense,” said Cape coach Mark D’Ambrogi. “As a result of that, we found ourselves down. We kept at it and won some tough ground balls, allowing us to get a few goals to close the gap at halftime.” 

Cape scored three unanswered goals in the third period from Mikey Frederick, Blake Gipko and Hank D'Ambrogi to level up and take a 7-7 tie into the final period. 

“The third quarter was a great example of what we are capable of, and we were able to tie it up,” coach D’Ambrogi said.

Caelan Driggs scored his fourth goal of the game to put Sallies in front 8-7. Jacob Schell answered at 9:44 and the game leveled at 8-8.

And then the roof fell on the Cape defense, as Salesianum scored four straight goals by Matt Riley, Colby Bushweller and two from Dylan Mooney to lead 12-8. 

Carson Kammerer came in at goalie for Cape. Gabe Best and Hank D’ Ambrogi scored goals, but the clock ran out, and Salesianum won the state championship 12-10. 

“These guys gave everything they had and played hard until the last whistle. I am very proud of them and feel fortunate to coach them,” D’Ambrogi said. ”Cape is a really special place and I just wish we could have pulled it out for them.”

Cape goal scorers were Jaden Davis with three, Hank D’Ambrogi with two and single goals from Will Bragg, Gabe Best, Mikey Frederick, Blake Gipko and Jack Schell.

Assists were Best with three, and Frederick and Luke Burton each with one. 

Michael Sposato had seven saves, while Kammerer had one. 

The state championship was No. 11 for Salesianum and the fourth time they have beaten Cape in a state final – 1995, 2015, 2017 and 2021. 

Cape has seven state championships in boys’ lacrosse, having beaten Salesianum during the finals in 2008, 2014 and 2019. 

 

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