Soccer fans were treated to a splendid display of the world’s game March 26, when Sussex Academy battled the invading Riders to a 0-0 draw.

The season opener against Caesar Rodney was a replay of last year’s Henlopen Conference 1-0 title game victory, and though the Seahawks could not get the win in this year’s first edition of the budding rivalry, there were a lot of positives.

The perseverance, resiliency and adaptability became the prevailing story line. Senior Debora Williams anchored the defense in the clean sheet, and sophomore Ella Sprucebank’s aggression matched her foe in the other net, junior Eva Sheppard, in the nil-nil tilt.

Sussex Academy’s other senior, Yuvia Velasquez-Juarez, nearly solved Sheppard’s riddle, but the junior made a spectacular save on a strike from distance that nearly tucked under the crossbar.

As some proof positive the Henlopen Conference could be a dogfight this season, the Seahawks dropped their March 28 game against Sussex Tech 1-0 when Molly Murphy found Kyla Laz in the 34th minute for the first-half game winner.