Sussex Academy boys’ lax firmly in control of Henlopen South
The party continues to rage on for the Sussex Academy boys’ lacrosse team after defeating Indian River 16-6 April 17.
“This game has a different meaning in our season,” senior goalie Jackson Hagy said. “We talked about doing it for the ones that you love. And I think as a team, we loved each other and we played for each other and not ourselves.”
IR entered the game at 7-0. Hagy led the charge on defense, making 22 saves in the 10-point victory. Hagy was shutting down outside shots and stoned a few shots right on the door step.
“I was seeing everything; I felt really good in the warmup,” Hagy said. “Just taking it quarter by quarter and really focusing on seeing the ball.”
His sophomore brother, Cooper, helped keep the goals pouring in on the other side of the field. He had three goals and three assists.
“From the moment we walked out of the school, we knew we had to play the hardest game and be mentally focused for this game, because for everyone on this team, this is the one game we look forward to most,” Cooper said. “They are a Henlopen South rival and biggest rival for the Sussex Academy lacrosse team and school.”
Sophomore Ty Jarrell led all goal scorers with four goals, while Gideon Sammons joined Cooper and Jarrell in the hat trick club. Sammons led the team with four assists and all players with seven points. Chase Ballinger earned a brace for himself while dishing out three helpers. Juniors Anthony Tattoli and Jack Meszaros each scored twice. Mezsaros also had an assist, as did freshman Chase Watkins.
“We've been trying to put in a faster-paced offense,” coach John Sforza said. “ We are making spacing, mastering key fundamentals and, most importantly, being lethal shooters.”
The first-year offensive coordinator doesn’t see any time available for his guys to walk or take plays off.
“Everybody's gonna get in, everybody's gonna ride, but the biggest thing is, everyone's got to do their job,” Sforza said.
Sussex Academy is set to take on Delmar at home at 5:30 p.m., Friday, April 24.
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.
