By Andy Walter

CAMDEN — A year ago, the Riders thought they were in.

Caesar Rodney High’s girls’ lacrosse team even had a practice scheduled after the end of the regular season.

But before that practice, CR’s players found out that another team’s record had changed.

That team was in the DIAA state tournament and the Riders were out.

So the turnaround this year, when the Riders earned the final spot in the 12-team tourney on a tiebreaker, wasn’t lost on CR.

“It was a happy surprise this time,” said senior defender Shannon Dolt, “instead of a disappointing surprise like last year.”

The bottom line is that the 12th-seeded Riders (11-4) will play at No. 5 Dover (12-3) at 6 p.m. on Wednesday in the state tourney’s opening round.

It’s the first time CR has reached the state tournament in six years.

The Riders earned the spot by winning their last five games. That included a crucial 11-8 victory over Wilmington Charter in their regular-season finale.

CR ended up in a tie with St. Mark’s for the final tournament berth. But the Riders got the spot because they beat Charter while the Spartans lost to the Force.

“Honestly, I felt very nervous because I really wanted to go to the playoffs,” senior attack Camille Arlotta-Luke said about the Charter game. “Even if we’re the lowest seed, we can have a Cinderella story. It’s really fun. I’m just having an amazing time.”

“It’s just a really overcoming feeling,” senior defender Zeynep Munson said about the victory. “One of my favorite things is running to the goalie after we win.”

CR has already won three more games this year than it did in last season’s 8-7 campaign.

With just three seniors on the roster, the Riders are a young team. Along with 10 juniors, there are a combined 11 sophomores and freshmen on the squad.

Second-year head coach Georgina Voss said it just took a little while for CR to hit its stride this spring. A Cape Henlopen grad, Voss played on the Vikings’ first four state-championship teams (2009-12).

“We’ve been probably playing the best we have all season,” said Voss. “We’ve finally been making good connections. I think it was like puzzle pieces finally fitting together and having that season to mature and grow — especially for the younger players.

“I love seeing the leadership on the field. I can step back and trust them and they trust each other.”

All four of CR’s losses this year came against teams that ended up in the state tournament. One of those setbacks was a 15-10 loss to Dover on March 30.

The Riders, of course, like having the chance to redeem themselves against their rivals. On the other hand, they’d be happy to be playing anybody at this time of year.

“It’s especially exciting for me since I’m a senior,” said Dolt. “I don’t know if I’m going to play in college or not so this is it. I’ve been playing lacrosse for 12 years.

“The last game might have been my last game. But now I have one more game.”

Notes

Also on Wednesday, No. 11 Polytech (8-7) plays a 4 p.m. matchup at 6-Archmere (12-3). The Panthers are in the state tournament for the 10th straight year (not counting the 2020 season canceled by the pandemic). ... The winner of the Dover-CR game plays at No. 4 Tower Hill (12-2) on Saturday at 11 a.m. . .. Dover is in the tourney for the third time in the last four seasons. The Senators have lost 12-11 in their last two tournament games.
Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at 741-8227 or walter@iniusa.org.
Follow on Twitter @DSNSports.