Seahawks soar back into Division II state championship

With their 13th shutout of the season, a 1-0 win over Caravel, the Sussex Academy boys’ soccer team punched a ticket to the DIAA Division II state championship for the second year in a row.

An experienced team by all accounts, Sussex Academy tapped into what got them their first state title.

“We had the mentality like it was the first time being here; it was our first time in the semifinal – everything was new,” said senior Andres Romero-Nieto. “We tried to keep the same mentality as last year so we had the same ambition.”

Last year, Romero-Nieto scored the equalizer against Indian River with three minutes to go in the first half. This year, the captain once again came through for his team by scoring the game-winning goal in the 69th minute.

Following a scoreless first half, Sussex Academy made a few adjustments to the offensive approach.

“During halftime, we were talking about how aggressive the game was and how we were trying to win the ball in the air more than playing on the ground,” Romero-Nieto said. “That's what we changed and that's what led to the goal.”

“We struggled in the first half ... and they outplayed us,” Seahawks coach R.J. Dina said. “We made small adjustments at halftime, adjusted shape and talked about where to be and when to be in certain attacking moments.”

Romero-Nieto’s winner was the result of being in the right spot on an offensive. Fellow captain George Sapna struck a ball with velocity that Caravel’s Yusef Boland could not corral. Romero-Nieto fought his way to the rebound and capitalized.

“They played a bit more confidently and had a bit more freedom to go in the attacking third to compete,” Dina said.

Defensively, the Seahawks remained stout throughout despite Caravel generating a few quality chances.

“It took a lot of communication in the back end; they had a lot of great players, a lot of great individuals, so we just had to work that out,” said junior Ben Steimel. “Talking constantly throughout the game was the reason why we could pass people on and off, and get the shutout.”

One of Stiemel’s stops, late in the second half, forced a throw-in from midfield after he cleared it from deep inside the Seahawks’ defensive third. Keeper C.J. Norton also helped to keep his sheet clean by dominating on corners and making one stop in the first that seemed destined for the upper 90 but met Norton’s paw before glancing off the field goal post.

“They have a lot of great individuals that have played at really high levels, but as a unit together, we're stronger, and that's something we go by,” Stiemel said. “It's five of us and one or two of them – we can take them.”

Sussex Academy takes on St. Andrew’s at 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 16, at Dover High School in the Division II state championship.