Seahawks battle Bucs in pre-season scrimmage
The Sussex Academy Seahawks appear ready for takeoff after a dominating 6-0 preseason home victory over Milford in girls’ soccer.
Senior Tayler Flaherty kickstarted the goal-scoring party after forcing a Milford turnover in its final third with its goalie out of position.
A few minutes later, the Alvernia University commit threaded a needle of two defenders to find a cutting Paige Ballinger and give the Seahawks a 2-0 advantage.
Not wanting to be outdone by the eighth-grade class, Samira Zahraoui finished off a team effort with an incredible individual effort and blasted the Seahawks’ third goal of the match to give the senior class two goals.
Milford’s defense, implementing a high line in an attempt to trap the Seahawks offsides, eventually settled in halfway through the first half to quell the barrage of shots. Bucs senior goalie Isabella Hanna made quite a few impressive saves to close out the first half and begin the second half. However, an aggressive Sussex Academy squad created too many chances for Milford to handle.
Junior Natalie Roblero Chavez delicately beat Hanna following a turnover to expand the Seahawks' lead to four before senior Cate Brown picked up her second to claim a 6-0 victory for the home team.
One of the reasons for the Sussex Academy's victory was not only its time of possession, but also where it possessed the ball. Milford struggled to get the ball past midfield, and when the Bucs managed to breach a stout Seahawks midfield, a poised defense quickly eliminated any chance for an effective build-up.
Having wrapped up the preseason, Sussex Academy will kick off the regular season at 6:30 p.m., Monday, March 18, at home against Cape Henlopen. During the halftime ceremony, the players from the boys' team will receive their Division II State championship rings.
