Cape boys’ lax sails past Seahawks 21-4 in quarterfinals
The Delaware Military Academy Seahawks mascot was cool on a blistering-hot maskless Saturday. The announcer sounded professional with a touch of humor. The Cape boys’ lacrosse team was dressed in black for the 11 a.m start of the May 22 quarterfinal match in the DIAA tournament.
“This is your game and season now,” coach Mark D’Ambrogi told his team. “Now go out there and see what you can do with it.”
Blake Gipko, on a feed from Mikey Frederick, got the Vikings on the board early with a left-handed, step-into-it crank shot that rattled the ropes for a 1-0 Cape lead.
The Seahawks responded quickly with a goal as a condensed-together student section made some serious noise. Cape stayed the course to lead 5-2 at the quarter.
And then the Vikings put up a 9-1 crooked number in the second period to lead 14-3 at the half and it was all over, as Cape won 21-4 to advance to the semifinals to play at Sanford at 5 p.m., Tuesday, May 25, on the Warriors’ home field.
Sanford moved to the semifinals with wins over Dover (17-2) and Smyrna (18-3), outscoring opponents 35-5. Cape’s wins over Wilmington Friends (19-3) and DMA (21-4) equal a 40-7 goal differential.
Cape played at Sanford May 8, losing 11-10.
The other semifinal match will feature Archmere (13-2) at Salesianum at 7 p.m.
Coach Mark D’Ambrogi, looking to the rematch with Sanford, said, “I think the biggest thing for us is to take with us a fresh perspective. The last game has no bearing on this game. The scoreboard starts at 0-0 and we have the opportunity to change the outcome of this game. We can learn from the last game, take those lessons and apply them on Tuesday. We are not the same team as the last time, and we have to be ready for any changes they may have made in the last few weeks.”
Scoring goals for Cape at DMA were Hank D’Ambrogi with five, Gabe Best and Luke Burton each with three, Mikey Frederick with two, and single goals from Blake Gipko, Will Bragg, Jack Schell, Jaden Davis, Joe Coveleski, Jaden Cannon, Hunter Jones and Chase Monigle.
Assist leaders were Best with five, D’Ambrogi with four, Frederick with three and single assists from Davis, Bragg and Burton.
Saves in goal for Cape were Michael Sposato with six and Carson Kammerer with four.
