Sussex Academy soccer finds late winner on Senior Night

The Sussex Academy girls’ soccer team won a 3-2 thriller over Wilmington Charter on Senior Night May 14.

“We were all hype hours before the game – we were so ready to play,” said senior Grace Fiorilla. “We did it all for Tayler [Flaherty] because she's been there for us for so much.”

Flaherty is sidelined with an injury.

The Seahawks jumped out to an early lead, thanks to a long-distance crank from Cate Brown at the 10-minute mark.

“I wrote ‘Mom’ on my wrist. She passed away when I was 11, and it was recently Mother's Day,” Brown said. 

Sussex Academy doubled its lead 10 minutes into the second half when eighth-grader Paige Ballinger broke away from the defense to slide one into the goal.

The girls’ resolve was tested, though, as Wilmington Charter responded three minutes later with a goal and then tied the game with six minutes left.

Battling to keep the ball in Wilmington Charter’s half, the Seahawks inched closer and closer to finding the right shot. 

Flaherty had scored the game-winner in the closing minutes of last year’s game, but was unavailable for the May 14 match. Ironically, it was Deb Williams, who assisted Flaherty last year, fighting through a sea of defenders to put a foot on a Cate Brown corner kick and score with just three minutes left to go.  

“We knew this was gonna be tough because, with this team, it's always a battle when we play them,” said Mimi Zahraoui. “It wasn't going to be something handed to us, but we've never taken any handouts as a team. We had to put up a bigger fight because of Tayler; she has carried us all throughout the years that she's been here.”

Coach R.J. Dina said the resiliency of his seniors is what they will be known for and something they have instilled in the younger players.

“I have to do less and less coaching every single day with that bunch, because they're just so sure of themselves – where to be, what to do and how to react in situations,” he said. “It's ice-cold the way that they compete sometimes. You can't ask for a better bunch.”