Pair of hat tricks lifts Seahawks over IR 10-4

Four games into their Henlopen South schedule, Sussex Academy boys’ lacrosse remains undefeated in conference play following a 10-4 win over Indian River April 9.

With just two more games, both against Woodbridge, the Seahawks’ have survived the toughest part of their Henlopen South schedule unblemished.

“It’s grind mindset – we're trying to achieve our goal of winning the Henlopen South, [so] fighting all these South kids is fighting toward that goal,” senior Josh Jovel-Velasquez said.

IR took an early lead before Sussex Academy freshman Clayton Emplit tied things 1-1. Freshman Cooper Hagy gave the Seahawks their first lead, but it was short-lived as the visitors tied the score again. Hagy notched his second goal of the game before the first quarter ended to give Sussex Academy a 3-2 edge after the first frame. 

Hagy was knocked out of the last contest after his first goal and had been out since.

“I hit the ground walking and I built up to my momentum, and then I really started feeling it,” Hagy said.

He meant earning his first hat trick of the year following a rocket that launched from the pocket of Chase Ballinger. The two goals were scored within a minute of one another, and Sussex Academy led 5-2 after Hagy’s tally.

“Getting this hat trick and bouncing back from injury feels good,” Hagy said.

The second Seahawk’s hat trick of the game got its start when sophomore Gideon Sammons slung one in with just over a minute to go in the first half, giving Sussex Academy a 6-2 lead.

Sammons struck again with the only goal of the third quarter to set the stage for a 7-2 Seahawks advantage at the start of the final 12 minutes. IR opened the fourth quarter with a score before Jovel-Velasquez earned the right to fire on goal. The senior rarely leaves the field – playing defense, face-offs, the transition game and offense – and was rewarded for his efforts when he dodged past his defender and buried one in the back of the net.

“It was probably one of the best moments ever, because honestly, scoring a goal for the first time this season feels good, you know?” Jovel-Velasquez said. “Usually, I'm more of a background kind of guy; I pick up the ground balls.”

Sammons completed his hat trick with the next goal and was pretty fired up to complete it.

“There's a lot of emotions that go in the game, and it feels good to be back, especially after playing half a season last year,” Sammons said. “Just felt good to be back, first hat trick of the season.”

Emplit sealed the deal with a late goal as the Seahawks claimed a 10-4 victory and the season sweep of their rival.

“We have a big road schedule coming ahead of us here, and we’ve got to kind of start really putting the pedal to the metal,” said head coach Andrew Fox. “Today was the first time we really started to kind of click as a unit.”