By Tim Mastro

WILMINGTON — It’s not that there was anything wrong with a three-goal halftime lead.

But the Cape Henlopen High boys’ lacrosse team thought it could be bigger.

And with a trip to the state title game on the line, they wanted it to be bigger.
What followed was a third-period onslaught.

The Vikings scored five unanswered goals to start the second half on their way to a 13-6 victory over top seed Archmere Wednesday night at Abessinio Stadium in the semifinals of the DIAA boys’ lacrosse tournament.

Hank D’Ambrogi and Mikey Frederick led the way for No. 5 seed Cape Henlopen (15-3) with four goals apiece.

“Once we shook the jitters out, we really go it rolling,” D’Ambrogi said.

The Vikings will once again meet Salesianum for the championship after the Sals defeated Sanford Wednesday night. Cape Henlopen and Salesianum have played in the last two title games with Cape Henlopen winning in 2019 before the Sals got revenge last year.

The two squads possibly could have also met in 2020 but the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This marks the sixth time Cape Henlopen and Salesianum will face off for the state championship since 2014. Salesianum is 3-2 in those five meetings and the Sals also won the regular season matchup between the two squads on May 3, 13-11.

Cape Henlopen had to shake off a slow start in some intense heat Wednesday to earn another shot at the Sals.

Archmere (16-2) closed to within 4-3 with 5:55 left in the second quarter on Drew Duncan’s third goal of the game. The Vikings were able to find some breathing room headed into the break after a goal by Frederick followed by Jacob Schell’s tally with 10 seconds left in the half.

It was all Cape Henlopen after that.

D’Ambrogi began the third quarter with back-to-back goals in the first two minutes. Cody Trivits was next to score for the Vikings before Frederick added another and Jahden Cannon capped off the five-straight goals in the third quarter.

“We came out pretty flat,” Frederick said. “It’s always a tough thing to deal with nerves and it was hot to start. I think we played hard, we always play hard. I am proud of my team for playing as hard as we can. But we can play better.”

Trivits finished with a pair of goals for Cape Henlopen while Luke Burton rounded out the scoring with one goal. D’Ambrogi and Michael Guenther contributed one assist each.

Staff writer Tim Mastro can be reached at tmastro@iniusa.org.
Follow @TimMastroDSN on Twitter.