CLAYMONT —Ellie DeLuca was a tour de force for Archmere on March 26 against Newark Charter. The freshman scored eight goals to lead the Auks to a 17-8 victory in girls lacrosse.
It was the Patriots who got on the board first, however. An Archmere turnover set Newark Charter up in good position, and eighth-grader Ivana Novakovic found the net just 32 seconds into the game.
The Patriots missed on a free-position shot shortly thereafter, but their aggressive defense led to more chances. Archmere was able to keep the deficit at one and eventually got their offense on track. With 6:21 left in the quarter, after a save by the Patriots, Bella Hughes got the Auks on the board with a bouncer. Hughes twisted her way into position less than a minute later, sending a shot low into the net as Archmere took the lead.
The Auks’ success was predicated on draw controls and ground ball wins. DeLuca’s first goal, which came at the end of a long possession as she crossed through the front of the net, started with a steal by the Archmere defense. Archmere led, 3-2, after one.
The Auks turned up the pressure early in the second quarter. Hughes notched her second goal a minute and a half in, converting a rebound into a goal. It took just 21 seconds for Archmere to add to its lead, with Bridget Malloy controlling the draw and finding Ciara Knapp in front. Twelve seconds later, after another win on the draw, Hughes got the assist on a bouncer by DeLuca.
Maja Novakovic scored for Newark Charter with 2:37 to go in the half to get the Patriots back to within four at 8-4, but another draw control led to another DeLuca tally just 11 seconds later. The Auks scored twice more before halftime, with Marley Brown going upstairs with just three seconds left on the clock.
Hughes finished with a hat trick for the Auks, who improved to 3-0. Freshman goalie Mia Luce had five saves for her first win. Archmere is off until April 9, when Saint Mark’s visits for a 3:45 p.m. start.
For the Patriots, Maja Novakovic had three goals. Newark Charter (2-1) is also off until April 9, when they host Wilmington Charter under the lights at 7 p.m.
Photos by Mike Lang.
