Battle of Sussex on the pitch goes to Academy’s girls
The Sussex Academy girls’ soccer team headed west on Route 9 to take on Sussex Tech April 25. Flying away with a 4-0 victory over the Ravens, the Seahawks solidified their claim as the best team in Georgetown.
“You think every year you got to get them up for big matches, but this group has just been ready from the jump from day one,” Seahawks coach R.J. Dina said. “It's been impressive to watch, and it shows with how we've performed this year.”
The loss moves the Henlopen North-leading Ravens to 6-2-2. It was the sixth straight clean sheet, seventh overall, for Sussex Academy.
The Henlopen South’s Sussex Academy (8-1) controlled possession for most of the game, limiting Sussex Tech to only one corner, one shot and a free kick that was out of sophomore Bri Gabbert’s range. Senior captain Grace Kilroy said the high press through the midfield was the key to suffocating the Ravens.
“The midfield is definitely very beneficial to us – they’re the first line to press – and then it comes to us,” Kilroy said. “If they’re not on their game, repressing, it puts a lot more pressure on us, but they were on their game today.”
Kilroy believes that, despite the shutout streak, the backline wasn’t playing up to their full potential, causing them to lose their shape and possession at times. The captain said the girls worked hard in practice and came out firing against Indian River earlier in the week, setting the tone for their performance against Sussex Tech.
One of the anchors of the midfield, Cate Brown, continued to prove why she is a threat anytime she crosses midfield. In the seventh minute, Brown received a pass from Tayler Flaherty about 35 yards out. Surrounded by an unkindness of Ravens, Brown created separation and unleashed a shot from about 30 yards out to start the scoring. A free kick in the 26th minute afforded Brown another opportunity to crank a ball in from distance, making it 2-0 at half.
Flaherty kicked off the second-half scoring after a few frustrated takes with her left foot. Working to gain position in front of the frame, she relied on her right to power one past Tech goalie Kim Garcia-Sandoval.
To close out the scoring, freshman Riley Moriarty battled in the box on a loose ball following a Brown corner.
A reward for her hard work in recent games, the Seahawks appeared elated for their young teammate.
“It was exciting!” Moriarty said. “I usually don't score that much. So they made me happy when they all cheered for me.”
In a quick turnaround, the Seahawks squared off against one-loss St. Mark’s April 26, but were handed their first loss, 4-0.
