Sussex Academy soccer dominates Bulldogs
Expectations remain high for the Sussex Academy girls’ soccer team following its 8-0 victory over Laurel March 27.
As the game started with rain pouring over the Seahawks’ pitch, the girls decided they needed to take advantage of the slippery conditions and do some pouring themselves.
“Soccer is an outside sport – we’re going to play in rain, snow, sleet or whatever it is,” senior Tayler Flaherty said. “It’s about adjusting to it and knowing that it’s going to be slippery, especially on turf. You just need to take shots. I scored because I took shots. Even if I didn’t have a perfect window, I still took it because I knew the ball would skid, and that’s exactly what happened.”
Deborah Williams started the Sussex Academy scoring party in the ninth minute, before Flaherty scored her first in the 11th minute; both were unassisted. Cate Brown got in on the action just one minute later on a pass from Sienna Serpico. She then found Flaherty for her second goal in the same minute. Brown picked up her second assist 60 seconds later when Addyson Bliele finished off a service. Four minutes. Five goals.
“We focused on those little things – how to create team goals and those sorts of things – to break down lines and get as many touches from different players in the final third as we can to create those opportunities for quality finishes,” coach R.J. Dina said.
As the older players were given a well-deserved break, Seahawks fans were able to get a glimpse into the future during the final 20 minutes of each half.
Serpico resumed the onslaught in the 27th minute on a blast from about 27 yards out. Paige Ballinger followed up with a goal two minutes later to give the Seahawks a 7-0 lead heading into halftime.
Possessing the ball cleanly for most of the second half, the younger Seahawks showcased their evolving skill sets. Ballinger, an eighth-grader, found freshman Riley Moriarty in the 75th minute to put the finishing touches on Sussex Academy’s 8-0 victory.
“We're just seeing so much younger talent competing and playing and earning minutes and earning spots,” Dina said. “My first year here, we had no eighth-graders; now we have five.”
