Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 6/5/22 – Staff Report
Salesianum School senior attackman Caelan Driggs admits the Sals had high expectations in 2022. And did his team meet them?
“I feel we exceeded the expectations,” said Driggs after scoring six goals and helping his squad down Cape Henlopen, 13-11, Saturday at Caravel Academy to repeat as Delaware state champions.
“Winning the state championship was the goal and doing it the way we did was what we worked towards. The way the season went was better than expected for sure.”
Sallies (15-4) had, as usual, an ambitious schedule in 2022 and gained key wins over Hill Academy (Ontario) and Manasquan (N.J.) while also taking on such powers as Malvern Prep, Radnor, IMG National, and Chaminade (N.Y.). One goal was to make its mark on the National scene, but the biggest objective was winning a state crown and holding off a strong Cape Henlopen team it had defeated by the same 13-11 score a month ago.
“The entire team bought in to get to the final goal no matter the consequences,” said Driggs. “That is why we were successful.”
Cape (15-4) held a 7-6 halftime lead, but Driggs, headed for the Air Force, scored the first three goals of the second half (two assisted by Rowyn Nurry) and Braeden Korb made it 10-7 Sallies.
Goals by Driggs and Brady McMahon later stretched the lead ro 13-8, but the Vikings weren’t done.
Mikey Frederick (4G), Hank D’Ambrogi (3G, 3A) and Jacob Schell each scored to pull Cape within 13-11, but Ryan Sellers (17 saves) made a key save on Schell with just over a minute to play and Sallies had its title.
“The emotions are inexplicable,” Driggs said. “Winning this the day after graduation is the best feeling ever and doing it with the group of guys we went to war with day in and day out is the best feeling in the world.”
Cape actually built a 6-4 lead at one point in the first half, outscoring the Sals, 5-1, after falling behind, 3-1. But Driggs said his team never doubted itself.
“The game plan was pretty simple,” he said. “Play fast, pick up ground balls, and just make the right decisions. We knew when we got the ball whether it was a face off or a defensive stop that we were going to score, so going to the net immediately was a big part of what our game plan was.”
Cape outshot Sallies, 41-25, but Sellers was sharp throughout and Chase Cellucci led the defense. Zack Friend had two goals and Nurry added a goal and three assists. Charlie Ruoss and Griffin McGovern each had a goal and an assist.
Salesianum has won 9 of the past 11 championships. Cape won it in 2014 and 2019 and no champion was crowned in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Delaware State Championship
Salesianum School 13, Cape Henlopen 11
Salesianum 3-3-5-2- 13
Cape 3-4-1-3 – 11
Salesianum
Caelan Driggs 6g
Rowyn Nurry 1g, 3a
Zack Friend 2g
Griffin McGovern 1g, 1a
Charlie Ruoss 1g, 1a
Braeden Korb 1g
Brady McMahon 1g
Ryan Sellers 17 saves
Cape Henlopen
Hank D’Ambrogi 3g, 3a
Jack Schell 1g, 1a
Mike Geunther 1g
Mikey Frederick 4g
Joe Coveleski 1a
Luke Burton 1g, 1a
Cody Trivits 1g
Evan Erhardt 11 saves
