For The Dialog
WILMINGTON – Salesianum has the top-ranked boys lacrosse team in Delaware, but the Sals had played just one in-state team until April 22, when they hosted third-ranked Cape Henlopen at Baynard Stadium. The Sals used a big third quarter to pull away for a 17-3 win.
Cape found their pace early, winning the opening faceoff and getting a goal by Eric-Stephan Stancofski less than a minute into the game. The Vikings won the second faceoff and went into a slowdown, controlling the ball for more than half the first quarter.
Salesianum finally reached the offensive zone with less than six minutes to go in the first and tied the game on a goal by Brett Hobbs. A few minutes later, the Sals took the lead on a steal by Patrick Davis, who made a nice move to beat the goalie.
“We needed that play because we had a couple early turnovers, and it seemed to fire the team up,” Drake said.
Sallies would add three more goals before the half. Chad Cannon, Garrett Cannon and Drake did the honors to make it 5-1 at the break.
The Sals broke the game wide open in the third, netting 10 goals, most of them within a short span. They also took advantage of a full three-minute man-up situation, scoring five times. Cape ended a 12-goal run by the Sals when Jacob Brown tallied, ending a 30-minute drought for the Vikings.
Michael Drake had four goals in the third, while Patrick Drake and Hobbs also found the net as the Sals took a 15-2 lead.
The Sals played the game knowing that Canadian power Hill Academy loomed the next day. Coach Bob Healy said he wasn’t worried about his team looking ahead.
“This game is a rivalry game, and I knew I would get my team’s max effort tonight,” he said.
Salesianum is 8-1 and meets Hill Academy at 1 p.m. Saturday at Baynard. The Vikings (6-3) meet rival Caesar Rodney on Wednesday at 7 p.m. on the road.
