Royals blank Dragons 3-0 in ESIAC semifinal
Delmarva Christian boys’ soccer booked an appointment with Worcester Prep in the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference championship by triumphing over Salisbury School 3-0 in the Oct.16 semifinal.
“This is a complete turnaround for our school because everybody at our school, they kind of disrespect our soccer program, and me and a lot of the other guys have really had enough of it,” captain Jay Parrish said. “We really want to put the nail in that coffin and win that banner.”
Battling to a 0-0 draw in the first half, the game appeared to be headed for another match decided by one score between the cross-state rivals, but the Royals had the big edge in possession.
“We were able to win a lot of 50/50, balls, and that usually controls the tempo of the game,” captain Kasey Bell said. “If we can win those and then distribute out the midfield, up to our strikers up top, we have a better chance.”
Bell’s distribution to the attacking forwards helped lead to the first goal of the game. Freshman Cam Smithson found himself at the edge of the 18 following a build-up and unleashed a well-placed, well-struck ball to put Delmarva Christian up by one.
“It's so much easier to play offense than to play defense,” Royals coach Luke Shiderly said. “ [Salisbury School] got tired, we got openings, and we could play balls through and move the ball around them.”
The Royals doubled their lead with a freshman-freshman connection when Eli Chavez found Henry Ennis, who had just come on, streaking down the sideline. After firing a rocket into the net, Ennis was overcome with joy, leaping into the air.
“He's been probably one of our hardest workers we've had all year who hasn't been able to score a goal off the bench,” Shiderly said.
“We've got a really promising program with a lot of young, good players, and I can't wait to see what we got for the next few years,” Parrish said.
The sophomore sealed the victory for the Royals when he scored from the spot for his 23rd goal of the year. It was Parrish’s 53rd point of the campaign.
Clinching a spot in the ESIAC title game is a bright spot for the young Royals team, who may be better than their record indicates.
“We can run with any team that we play against, and that's because of a culture created by the captains,” Shiderly said.
With 10 freshman on the roster and their leading goal scorer, Parrish, a sophomore the Royals are optimistic about the future but confident their form can win a title now.
“Worcester better be ready because the Royals are coming in there, and we're gonna win that game,” Parrish said.
