At last, redemption for Sallies in boys lacrosse final

Armed with raw talent, hustle, and the bitter memory of last year, the Salesianum lacrosse team scored early and often to set the tone for the Delaware high school boys lacrosse state championship against Tower Hill.

Last year, a heavily favored Sallies team was denied the chance to win a second straight by Cape Henlopen – a team that stole its fifth title in 2008. Against Tower Hill, which won in 2005, Sallies never relaxed in a 13-4 win Saturday, May 23 at Caravel Academy’s Bob Peoples Stadium.

“We had a group of angry, motivated young men to get back here,” Sallies head coach Bob Healy said. “Just super kids. They’ll never forget this.”

Healy said associate head coach Shawn Plews came up with “a master defensive scheme” to hold a well coached Tower Hill team to four goals. In addition, senior Brandon Groux was stellar, scoring four goals, he added.

Groux also had one assist to lead the Sals, and freshman Dylan Walker, sophomore Andrew Blundin and junior Andrew Salvitti each scored two goals.

Groux, of Newark, was a sophomore starter on Salesianum’s 2007 championship team. He will play lacrosse for Salisbury next year.

“Knowing this was my last high school game, it’s definitely incomparable," he said. “There’s no feeling like this in the world. Everyone put in their two cents and did whatever they could to get the win.”

Tower Hill senior Evan DeDominicis scored three goals to lead the Hillers. Hunter Bolling scored once while Max Timmons and Chas Robino each had one assist.

Tower Hill coach Brad duPont said there was no shame in losing to a Sallies team that is  coached well, athletic, physical and disciplined.

“They were definitely on a mission,” he said. “We tried to be that speed bump and throw them off. It was just a little too much for us to handle.”