Sussex Academy soccer secures back-to-back state titles

Treble loaded.

For the second year in a row, Sussex Academy was the last team standing in the DIAA Division II boys’ soccer championship. After claiming the Henlopen South division crown and the Henlopen championship, the Seahawks defeated St. Andrew’s 2-1 in penalties Nov. 16 in Dover to clinch back-to-back trebles, a term in soccer that denotes three major trophies.

“You gotta be willing to just die on the field for it,” said Seahawks coach R.J. Dina. “And isn't that so evident today the way that they just bled for each other to get a save, a result, a chance on goal, a corner, a set piece or to defend the other way?”

Following a scoreless first half, Sussex Academy captain Andres Romero-Nieto got the Seahawks on the board with a majestic finish off a set piece in the second half.

“It was beautiful to make history again for the school – this is my second time winning the state title,” Romero-Nieto said. “It's kind of funny because some people thought Chase [Ballinger] scored.”

Ballinger was the one leading the celebration, after all.

“The whole [St. Andrew’s] student section was talking the whole time, so to silence them was great,” Ballinger said.

“There is a reason Andres was voted a unanimous captain his sophomore year,” Dina said. “There is going to be a massive hole that we need to fill, and I'm not sure we're going to be able to for a few years.”

Within minutes of the go-ahead goal, St. Andrew’s players found themselves threatening deep in Sussex Academy territory. C.J. Norton made a save, but an unknown foul by an unknown player resulted in a penalty kick for the Saints. Norton guessed correctly on Gabriel Musa’s shot, but the sophomore put enough on the blast to tie the game.

A nerve-racking end of the second half and two overtime periods proved fruitless for both sides.

“We didn't score at the end of regulation and C.J. was pumped; everyone was frustrated and he's pumped,” Dina said. “He said, ‘Just get me to PKs and it's done.’ ‘Get me to PKs’ is the same thing he said last year. The arrogance of him to win the toss and want to make the first save and then do it; you don't see that from keepers.”

“I love penalties; penalties are my thing and always have been, always will be, because every time I step on the field, I have to tell myself, ‘I'm the best player out here; ain't no one better than me, especially in pens because that's where I get to own my goal, be myself, do my thing and good things happen,” Norton said.

Following Norton’s save on St. Andrew’s first attempt, Aleksander Danilenko converted his chance to create distance. Although Norton could not save the next St. Andrew’s attempt, Aiden Villar’s strike nestled into the back of the cage.

In what was viewed by many as an unprecedented move, Norton was given a yellow card for telling a St. Andrew’s player, ‘You don’t have it like that,’ following the Saints' second goal. Backup goalkeeper Austin Taylor had to go in following Liam Stegall’s goal.

“I've never heard of that rule, but all year long, we prepare them for things to not go [our] way,” Dina said. “Even to that point, I don't know if you are ever prepared for that moment, but C.J.’s done a tremendous job of mentoring Austin.”

Taylor’s poise was evident, as were his emotions after coming through for his team in one of the most crucial parts of the season with a brilliant save.

“I didn't expect that to happen, because I didn't know that could happen,” Taylor said. “As I was walking to the goal, I knew I had to mentally lock in; I just blocked everything aside and did what I thought was right – I dove left – and that was the right side.”

Norton came back in following a Sussex Academy miss with the potential to clinch the title. Reading the shot, Norton leaped to his right to send the shot wide and clinch back-to-back titles for a public school for the first time since Brandywine in 1979-80. 

“I can leave this program and know that I did everything I possibly could to get us another trophy,” Norton said. “It’s a great feeling to know I can take my skills to the next level and leave this part of my life behind without any regrets.”

“He's gonna go play Division I soccer, he's gonna be an All-American, and he can go beyond and play professionally,” Dina said of Norton. “That positive arrogance about him? That makes him a gifted player.”

“It was not only our last game of the year, it was my last high school game, so obviously I wanted to finish it with a win,” Romero-Nieto said. “To look at the score and see C.J. make the save, it made me so proud.”

Sussex Academy’s title was the first time since 1995 (Glasgow) the state title went to a public school in back-to-back years. Caesar Rodney, the team that won in 1994, made even more history by defeating Salesianum 3-1 in the Division I title game to mark the first time both division winners were public schools. 

Caesar Rodney’s 1-0 win over the Seahawks Sept. 19 was the only in-state loss Sussex Academy had in 2024.