Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/26/23 – From Staff Report
Even hours after her Tatnall School team had defeated Cape Henlopen, 10-9, for the Delaware state championship Thursday at Delaware State, senior standout Lydia Colasante was equally emotional, ecstatic and proud.
“It feels incredible especially after last year getting knocked down like that,” said Colasante of the 18-4 shellacking Tatnall took in the state finals to Cape. “This is a really special team that worked so so hard for this.
“Every day, our sites have been set on this. It’s a special moment for all of us.”
The Hornets’ come-from-behind win was monumental. It snapped Cape Henlopen’s 13-year reign as state champion of Delaware lacrosse and ended an amazing 176-win streak of state opponents, dating back to 2009. Tatnall (17-1) – which also fell to the Vikings in the 2021 state final – had to fight back from deficits of 3-0 and then 7-3 before fighting back to within 7-5 at the half.
Avery Brumfield’s only goal with 3 minutes 15 seconds to play was the deciding tally. Tatnall won the ensuing draw and ran the rest of the time off the clock.
“It’s hard to put into words what this means,” said Colasante, who recently went over 300 career goals. “Every single person today – and all season – did their role to the best of their ability. Every matchup, especially on defense, came together. We spent hours scouting them and it was a full team effort.
“After we won the draw following the goal by Avery, we spent the last 3 minutes running around. That’s probably as fast as I have run in my entire life.”
Colasante, a Boston College signee who had four goals and an assist, said the team became stronger with each challenge – especially junior goalie Devon Chipman, who had several key saves during the second-half comeback.
“Our goalie stood on her head,” said Colasante. “I grew up playing with her and I have never seen her play like that. I have never seen anyone on the team play like that.”
At first it looked like another Cape blowout. The Vikes took a 3-0 lead in the first 4½ minutes, but Tatnall regrouped a from Kali Clayton (five goals) scored three straight to tie it, 3-3. Cape, though, again went on a run and scored four straight to seize the 7-3. Colasante, however, tallied twice before the half.
Then Colasante converted twice to open the second half and it was 7-7. Cape’s Alexi Nowakowski (four goals) and Tatnall’s Clayton traded two goals twice to make it 9-9 until Brumfield got the clutch tally.
“The game plan going in was to start off on the right foot and to stay super composed,” said Colasante. “They run a high press defense and they’re very fast with a quick transition. We we worked on that and practiced against the faceguard. Through every situation, man down, man up, down four goals, down one, we were prepared and we stayed super composed. I’m so proud of the girls and so happy all the work paid off.”
Delaware State Championship
Tatnall School 10, Cape Henlopen 9
Tatnall 5-5-10
Cape 7-2-9
