Cape and Salesianum ready for another boys’ lax state championship showdown
Mohawks and mullets will rumble up Route 1 late Saturday morning, June 3, as the Cape Henlopen Big Yellow Taxi delivers the boys’ lacrosse team to another state championship final opposite Salesianum. The game at Dover Stadium will begin at 2 p.m.
Cape beat Caesar Rodney 17-4 in Dover May 31, while Salesianum put away Wilmington Friends at Abessenio Stadium 13-4 in the other semifinal game.
The Caesar Rodney loud crowd was rocking and ready, but Cape ran crooked numbers in each of the first two quarters, taking the drama out of the game and leading 12-2 at the half. The clock ran the entire second half.
Cape goal scorers were Jack Schell with five, Luke Burton with four and Jayden Cannon with two. Joe Coveleski, C.J. Fritchman, Mike Guenther, Evan Burris, Anderson Smith and Brody Smith each scored one goal.
Cape assists came from Coveleski and Burke Healy each with two, and single assists from Burton, Schell, Guenther and Anderson Smith.
Goalie Mason Trench had six saves.
Notes: Cape and Salesianum have met in the championship game eight times, with the Sals holding a 5-3 advantage.
Salesianum won in 1995, 2015, 2017, 2021 and 2022. Cape won the matchups in 2008, 2014 and 2019.
The boys’ lacrosse state tournament began in 1993.
Jeff Trench, now taking photos on the sidelines, was the Cape goalie in 1995, when Cape lost to Sallies 12-6 at A.I. du Pont with fans rimming the field. Jeff’s son Mason, a freshman, is the starting goalie for the 2023 team. Coach Jack Lingo was a middie and face-off man on that ’95 team.
Salesianum has won 11 state titles, including 10 with coach Bob Healy at the helm.
Cape’s Steve Aubrey was the coach of the first state championship team in 1998, going a perfect 19-0; then he stepped aside, retiring with a perfect winning percentage.
Cape, behind coach Mark D’Ambrogi, beat Saint Mark’s 8-4 in the 2002 final. Saint Mark’s was coached by former Caesar Rodney player Dave Reynolds. He would later lead St. Andrew’s to the state championship in 2004, beating Saint Mark’s in the final 5-3.
