Cape girls’ lax wears down Sussex Academy 20-12
A late Tuesday afternoon semifinal state tournament lacrosse game of runs played out at Milford, featuring the high-powered offense of Sussex Academy versus the unbeaten, diversified attack of Cape Henlopen.
Cape was ahead 12-10 at halftime. The Vikings’ superior depth with no drop-off in speed propelled them to an 8-2 second-half advantage, resulting in a 20-12 victory and a Thursday date with the Tatnall Hornets in the state championship game.
“We just started off slow,” said Cape coach Lindsey Underwood. “After the first quarter, we made some adjustments defensively and the girls started to lock in.”
The championship game will be played at Caesar Rodney’s stadium field at 6 p.m. Tatnall reached the final after beating CR 10-8 in a semifinal played at Caravel.
Cape’s scoring attack was paced by Carrie Clausius with five goals and one assist. Lindsay D’Ambrogi had four goals and four assists.
D’Ambrogi missed the 2023 state tournament as she was sidelined with concussion protocol. Clausius missed the 2022 season with an ACL injury. The senior mates since Beacon Middle School are thriving in their first full high school season together.
“Carrie and Lindsay have been doing a great job together this year,” Underwood said. “They just know where each other are going to be and how to motivate each other. Carrie got goal 100 even with missing a year.”
Lulu Rishko scored three goals, while Macy Steinwedel, Ally Diehl and Haley Gamuciello each scored two. Claire Lopez and Mairead Rishko each scored a goal.
Grace Wiggins was credited with an assist, and she was a major force on the draw control circle while running the middle of the field scooping up ground balls.
Shelby Manlove lit it up for the Seahawks, scoring six goals, including four in the first quarter. Manlove also took more of the draws for Sussex Academy.
Elizabeth Merrick and Callie Short each scored two goals for the Seahawks, while Emiley Bisaha and Shea Danahy scored one goal apiece.
Both goalies, Anna Lopez of Cape and Morgan Leeper of Sussex Academy, were pressed into making multiple athletic saves.
Notes: Cape improved to 17-0 with the win, while Sussex Academy closed the campaign with an overall record of 13-5. Cape lost to Tatnall 10-9 in the 2023 state championship game, breaking a streak of 13 straight Delaware state championships. The Vikings defeated the Hornets 16-4 in the 2022 final and 17-10 in the 2021 championship.
