For The Dialog
DOVER – Second-seeded Salesianum’s lacrosse team won its third straight title with a 13-5 win over fourth-seeded Cape Henlopen on June 3 at Dover High School. The Sals got a goal by Patrick Drake 15 seconds in and never trailed in winning their sixth title in the last seven years and ninth overall.
After Drake found the net, Sallies added two more early goals as Bradley Santore scored a minute later, and senior Mike Drake connected with an absolute laser with 6:07 left in the first quarter. Cape got its only goal of the first quarter with 2:32 remaining when Gregory Boyce beat the goalie. The Sals extended their lead to 5-1 by scoring two quick goals to open the second quarter. Again, it was Santore, followed by Mike Drake with a 1:32 gone.
That is when the tide started to change. The Vikings scored consecutive goals on the man-up situation, one from Brock Maloomian and the second from Boyce, to cut it to 5-3 with 4:34 left in the half. They were man-up again when they got caught for a retaliation penalty, and Salesianum made them pay. Cooper Urban scored twice on the advantage, as the penalty was unreleasable, meaning a goal did not end the infraction. Brett Hobbs then added a goal on a bounce shot with 52 seconds left in the half for an 8-3 advantage.
The goalies stole the show in the third quarter. Vikings goalie Brandon Kane and Sallies goalie Brady Emmi made several key stops early and often in the third. Each team scored a pair goals in the stanza, and Urban and Patrick Drake tallied gave the Sals a 10-5 lead going into the final 12 minutes. The Sals scored the only three goals, coming from James Hobbs, Bret Hobbs and Santore to close out the win.
Santore and Urban each scored three times for the Sals, who finished with a record of 15-3. Mike and Patrick Drake each added a pair, including a sweet behind-the-back goal from Patrick. The Sals were a perfect 7-0 against in-state teams, including 2-0 vs. the Vikings. Cape Henlopen got two goals apiece from Boyce and Maloomian.
