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Seahawks suffer first loss in thriller against Tower Hill

Sussex Academy runs out of time in 10-9 defeat
Sussex Academy junior Jack “Taco” Meszaros wins another face-off during the Seahawks’ 10-9 loss to Tower Hill April 10. AARON R. MUSHRUSH PHOTOS
Aaron R. Mushrush
April 13, 2026

A 6-5 lead at halftime under the lights in Wilmington April 10 wasn’t enough of a cushion for Sussex Academy, as host Tower Hill’s comeback was complete in the third quarter, and the Hillers hung on for a 10-9 victory, handing the Seahawks their first loss.

“It was a good test,” coach Andrew Fox said. “We haven't had a close game like this. We had some guys really step up and make some plays.”

Heading into the game, Sussex Academy had outscored its opponents 46-7 in the first three games. This was the boys’ first time in a back-and-forth contest, and despite the loss, the team walked off the field knowing they had just taken part in a showdown.

“There's got to be a winner, there's got to be a loser, and today we're losers,” Fox said. “Players win games and coaches lose them, so I think they gave everything they had today. Maybe there's a few coaching things that we did as a staff that lost it.”

Tower Hill opened up the scoring before Chase Ballinger knotted the contest, and another quick goal from the Seahawks gave the visitors a 2-1 lead. The Hillers evened things up, but Jack “Taco” Meszaros secured the ensuing face-off and buried a buzzer-beater to give Sussex Academy a 3-2 lead to start the second quarter.

Extra-man offense goals from Cooper Hagy and Gideon Sammons, who then scored a regular-strength goal, gave the Seahawks a 6-2 edge. Tower Hill rattled off three straight to end the first half and three more in the third quarter to build an 8-6 lead. Sammons struck again for a hat trick, but Tower Hill tallied another goal before the quarter ended, taking a 9-7 lead. Sammons scored his fourth and final goal to put the Seahawks within one.

“Gideon was on another level today; that was some of the best lacrosse I've seen him play in four years,” Fox said. “I'm super proud to see everything that he's done.”

The Seahawks saw a glimmer of hope for an instant when junior Anthony Tattoli tied the contest, but Tower Hill managed to find the game-winning goal and run the clock for a 10-9 win.

“We needed this kind of ... a little bit of a wake-up call,” Fox said.

Sussex Academy will look to start another winning streak when they welcome Woodbridge at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 15.

Seahawks junior Gideon Sammons has a look at goal.
Sussex Academy sophomore Ty Jarrell has to deal with a check to his back.
Seahawks junior Brandon Jaimes launches the ball at midfield.
Sussex Academy sophomore Cooper Hagy operates behind the cage.
Seahawks senior Sebastian Scruggs locks in on defense.
Sussex Academy sophomore Cooper Hagy starts to dodge.
Seahawks junior Gideon Sammons gets to work on a dodge.
Sussex Academy senior Chase Ballinger celebrates scoring the Seahawks’ first goal.
Seahawks sophomore Cooper Hagy leaps for joy after a goal.
Sussex Academy junior Taco Meszaros heads toward the box after winning a face-off.
Seahawks sophomore Cooper Hagy launches a shot from a tricky angle.
Sussex Academy junior Taco Meszaros begins to shoot on his buzzer-beater goal.
Seahawks junior Taco Meszaros reacts after beating the clock to give Sussex Academy a 3-2 lead.
Sussex Academy junior Armaan Chadha gets a touch in the box.
Seahawks senior Chase Ballinger races past his defender.
Sussex Academy junior Gideon Sammons has a pretty low center of gravity.
Gideon Sammons somehow got this shot off as three defenders were closing in.
Sussex Academy junior Gideon Sammons is fired up after he scored.
Seahawks freshman Chase Watkins runs toward the box.
Sussex Academy junior Gideon Sammons winds up for a crank.
Seahawks junior Gideon Sammons puts on the brakes.
Seahawks junior Anthony Tattoli tied the game late in the fourth quarter.

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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. 

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