For The Dialog
GREENVILLE – The second-ranked Archmere girls lacrosse team had a great day on May 15. First the Auks defeated Tatnall, 19-9, then they earned the top seed in the state tournament that starts on Thursday.
Tatnall did strike first, as Erica Hager scored early to give the Hornets their only lead. The Auks(14-1) answered quickly as Delaney Dearing scored. Riley DeBaecke, Caroline Donovan, and Kate Olsen scored in succession to give the Auks a 4-1 lead. Donovan and Dearing each added a pair of goals to give the Auks an 8-2 lead.
The Auks kept up the pressure and Donovan added her fifth goal of the first half to give the Auks a 13-5 halftime lead. Archmere outscored the Hornets, 6-4, in the second half to win their 14th straight.
Donovan finished with six goals, while Dearing added five, and Olsen four for the Auks. They will host the winner of the Appoquinimink-Padua game on Saturday at 11 a.m.
The Hornets (7-8) got two goals each from Laura Jensen, Madeline Volp and Jessica Principe.
Other Catholic schools participating in the state tournament include Ursuline, the No. 2 seed; St. Mark’s (3); and Padua (8). The Pandas open Thursday at 7 p.m. against No. 9 Appoquinimink at Caravel. St. Mark’s will host No. 5 Polytech on Saturday at 11 a.m., while Ursuline is home Saturday at 3 p.m. at Serviam Field against the winner of Wilmington Charter vs. Tower Hill.
Cape Henlopen earned the third seed in the tournament. The Vikings have won eight consecutive state titles.
