Seahawks edge Sallies 3-2 in statement victory
Two feet and a face provided the scoring in the Sussex Academy boys’ soccer team’s 3-2 win over Salesianum Sept. 6 in Georgetown.
The matchup marked the first meeting between Division I Sallies – winners of 22 state championships – and the two-time defending Division II champion Seahawks.
The game proved that past accolades don’t guarantee present results, as Sussex Academy showed it could take down Delaware’s perennial powerhouse.
Sallies struck first in the 12th minute when Sawyer Valle ripped a left-footed shot off a feed from Joseph Turtoro, sneaking it past keeper Austin Taylor. The Seahawks responded eight minutes later, when George Sapna delivered a cross to Jesse Jean-Louis, who buried the equalizer behind goalkeeper Thomas DeRosa.
One of the most bizarre goals came midway through the first half. DeRosa’s attempted clearance ricocheted directly off Jose Figueroa’s face and bounced into the back of the net, giving the Seahawks a 2-1 lead.
“Never in my life have I seen a play like that,” said Seahawks coach RJ Dina. “We couldn’t have drawn it up if we tried.”
Five minutes into the second half, Sapna converted a penalty kick to extend the lead to 3-1. Sallies answered back when Bryan Perez-Herrera scored unassisted to cut the deficit to one, but the Seahawks tightened defensively to secure the 3-2 win.
“These guys have a ton of talent,” said Dina. “But heart is what gets you across the line, and that’s what we showed tonight. Austin played great in goal – he’s got a real will to win.”
Taylor, a senior, finished with nine saves.
“It’s stressful when they get the ball in the box late,” Taylor said. “But I know I have to stay locked in and protect it no matter what. Stressful, yes, but nothing we can’t handle.”
Senior midfielder Chase Ballinger echoed the confidence.
“We know Sallies is a powerhouse,” Ballinger said. “But we can handle anything. We just have to stick to our brand of football. Tonight, we handled business.”
Sapna emphasized the physical battle.
“You’ve got to stick every tackle,” he said. “A team like Sallies will capitalize if you don’t.”
The Seahawks also drew energy from their student section, which acted like a 12th man in the stands.
“They fire us up,” said Ballinger. “It fuels our passion having them behind us.”
The Seahawks return to action Thursday, Sept. 11, when they host Woodbridge at 5:30 p.m.
Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs.
