By Mike Livingston
Phiollylacrosse.com, Posted 5/4/26
CAMDEN, DE – It feels like as good a time as any.
If Tower Hill is hoping to win its first Delaware girls’ lacrosse state title in nearly 20 years, it appears the Hillers may have their best chance right now.
Following their 19-8 victory Monday over host Caesar Rodney, the No. 3 team in the LaxNumbers Delaware power rankings, the Hillers moved to a perfect 12-0 and sit at No. 2 behind only perennial powerhouse and 15-time state champion Cape Henlopen.
Tower Hill fell to Cape, 20-9, in last year’s title game. Veteran head coach Wiz Applegate’s squad also lost in the state title game to Cape Henlopen in 2013 and 2016. Before that, the Hillers claimed five DIAA state titles in 2000, 2001, 2006, 2007, and 2008, all under Applegate.
“Well, I think that we just take things one day at a time and one game at a time,” said Applegate. “And we really don’t look too far forward. We really focus on what we’re doing on that day and then maybe look forward to the next day.”
That strategy has gotten the Hillers pretty far in 2026. The team hasn’t scored fewer than 17 goals in a game and is averaging 19.8 GPG. Its closest margin of victory was a seven-goal win over No. 4 Tatnall.
The electrifying offensive effort is driven mainly by the Hillers’ dynamic trio of 2027 Stanford commit Charlotte Vanni (68 goals, 86 points), 2027 Pittsburgh commit Cece Clough (43 goals, 88 points), and 2028 Lucia Colasante (44 goals, 86 points) Colasante had 5 goals and 2 assists today, while Vanni added 5 goals and an assist and Clough added 3 goals and 4 assists.
The trio is flanked by talent throughout the Hiller roster, also on attack, where Division III Washington & Lee commit Maisie Carr makes her impact. Carr started the scoring for Tower Hill, taking the opening draw just seconds into the contest for a 1-0 lead.
Vanni quickly followed Carr’s goal off the ensuing draw to make it 2-0.
Aside from a quick response by Riders junior attack Brooke Roberts to make it 2-1, the Hillers pulled away. They closed out the first quarter with three straight goals to make it 5-1, taking numerous draw wins directly down the field for goals throughout the game.
The Hillers continued to dominate and scored four goals in the first 2:20 of the second period to the Riders’ one, leaving the tally 9-2 when Rodney head coach Georgina Voss called an early second-period timeout.
“I think Caesar Rodney is a team to be respected,” said Applegate, whose Hillers defeated Caesar Rodney in last year’s state semifinals, 12-11 in overtime. “They have such quick scorers, and they move the ball offensively.
“I do think that the draws and the draw possessions in the circle really helped us in terms of being able to gain momentum and push the ball downfield.”
Tower Hill led, 12-5, at halftime and outscored Caesar Rodney 5-2 in the third period to put the running clock in place.
Kate Ingelsby contributed 3 goals for Tower Hill. Logan Fuchs had 3 goals for the Riders (9-4) while Delaney Miklus – who reached 200 career draw controls in the first quarter – and Roberts each had 2 goals and 2 assists.
“Just like any team, we’ve tried to teach being unselfish and move on and off the ball,” said Applegate. “I think that we have worked hard on enforcing those teachings this year.”
That unselfishness has paid dividends and shown on the field.
