Sussex Academy junior Aiden Villar scored the game-winning goal of the Division II quarterfinal game against Tower Hill. Shown are (l-r) Esteban Lara Nieto, Villar, Ethan Couch and Andres Romero-Nieto. AARON MUSHRUSH PHOTOS
Top seed Sussex Academy faced off against Tower Hill Nov. 11 under the lights in Georgetown. The intensity was high, the temperatures were low, and the action was nonstop in the Seahawks' 1-0 victory.
Seahawks junior goalie C.J. Norton comes up with a big save early in the contest. Seahawks players are (l-r) Esteban Lara Nieto, Joseph Herrera Gomez, Norton and Ethan Couch.
Sussex Academy senior Joseph Herrera Gomez boots the ball toward Tower Hill’s box in the first half.
Seahawks junior C.J. Norton rises up to grab a Tower Hill ball crossed on a corner.
Both teams refused to back down on 50/50 balls, leading to quite a few interesting interactions. Sussex Academy junior captain Andres Romero-Nieto goes flying as the Tower Hill defender cleanly slide tackles the ball away.
Tower Hill goalie Robby Saunders stopped Aiden Villar’s first chance on goal, but he was unable to maintain control of the ball and it squirted loose.
Seahawks junior Aiden Villar follows his first attempt and connects amid a crowd of Tower Hill defenders to give Sussex Academy a 1-0 lead.
Sussex Academy sophomore George Sapna nearly flicked a ball into the goal, but Robby Saunders was able to get the save.
Seahawks sophomore Chase Ballinger delicately diverts the ball from Dailey Welshmer.
Sussex Academy sophomore George Sapna rises up to try and head a ball that fell just out of reach.
Constantly making himself available to his teammates in the middle of the pitch, Seahawks junior Andres Romero-Nieto traverses the field.
Sussex Academy sophomore Liam Stegall challenges a Tower Hill player trying to enter the Seahawks' final third.
In the closing minutes of the game, Tower Hill sent their senior goalkeeper Robby Saunders into the Seahawks' box during corners. Sussex Academy goalie C.J. Norton is able to beat Saunders and the other Tower Hill players to the ball and guide it wide of the net.
Seahawks sophomore Chase Ballinger heads the ball away.
Sussex Academy junior C.J. Norton sends his final save of the night into the frigid air as the official blows his whistle to punch the Seahawks' ticket into the Division II semifinals Wednesday, Nov. 15
Sussex Academy junior Aiden Villar scored the game-winning goal of the Division II quarterfinal game against Tower Hill. Shown are (l-r) Esteban Lara Nieto, Villar, Ethan Couch and Andres Romero-Nieto. AARON MUSHRUSH PHOTOS
Top seed Sussex Academy faced off against Tower Hill Nov. 11 under the lights in Georgetown. The intensity was high, the temperatures were low, and the action was nonstop in the Seahawks' 1-0 victory.
Seahawks junior goalie C.J. Norton comes up with a big save early in the contest. Seahawks players are (l-r) Esteban Lara Nieto, Joseph Herrera Gomez, Norton and Ethan Couch.
Sussex Academy senior Joseph Herrera Gomez boots the ball toward Tower Hill’s box in the first half.
Seahawks junior C.J. Norton rises up to grab a Tower Hill ball crossed on a corner.
Both teams refused to back down on 50/50 balls, leading to quite a few interesting interactions. Sussex Academy junior captain Andres Romero-Nieto goes flying as the Tower Hill defender cleanly slide tackles the ball away.
Tower Hill goalie Robby Saunders stopped Aiden Villar’s first chance on goal, but he was unable to maintain control of the ball and it squirted loose.
Seahawks junior Aiden Villar follows his first attempt and connects amid a crowd of Tower Hill defenders to give Sussex Academy a 1-0 lead.
Sussex Academy sophomore George Sapna nearly flicked a ball into the goal, but Robby Saunders was able to get the save.
Seahawks sophomore Chase Ballinger delicately diverts the ball from Dailey Welshmer.
Sussex Academy sophomore George Sapna rises up to try and head a ball that fell just out of reach.
Constantly making himself available to his teammates in the middle of the pitch, Seahawks junior Andres Romero-Nieto traverses the field.
Sussex Academy sophomore Liam Stegall challenges a Tower Hill player trying to enter the Seahawks' final third.
In the closing minutes of the game, Tower Hill sent their senior goalkeeper Robby Saunders into the Seahawks' box during corners. Sussex Academy goalie C.J. Norton is able to beat Saunders and the other Tower Hill players to the ball and guide it wide of the net.
Seahawks sophomore Chase Ballinger heads the ball away.
Sussex Academy junior C.J. Norton sends his final save of the night into the frigid air as the official blows his whistle to punch the Seahawks' ticket into the Division II semifinals Wednesday, Nov. 15
For the second time in four seasons, the Sussex Academy boys’ soccer program will be playing for a spot in the DIAA Division II championship. Top-seeded Sussex Academy defeated Tower Hill 1-0 Nov. 11 to advance to the DIAA semifinals, where they will square off against Indian River.
“It's massive for the boys to win at home under the lights,” said coach R.J. Dina. “For our seniors, this is their last game on this pitch, and we talked about how they perform today is a lasting memory for them. We talked about the energy level that was needed to come out and perform in a highly intense game like this, and they did it.”
Sussex Academy and Tower Hill maintained intensity throughout the game despite frigid temperatures. Each team refused to back down on 50/50 balls but maintained focus on the ball, leading to a physical but clean game. Early on it looked like Tower Hill might break through, but junior goalkeeper C.J. Norton stayed strong yet again.
“He hit a nice ball that had a little zing and I was able to get there, which felt amazing,” Norton said. “I then had to make another save right after that.”
The defenses held tight to close out the first half. It was Sussex Academy’s adjustments that would put them over the top, and a series of corners led to the icebreaker.
“I was going into the corner kick thinking I was just gonna head it from the back, mark the back post, but I heard coach R.J. screaming, ‘Mark up on the keeper! Mark up on the keeper, Aiden. That's your man!’ He said to keep my hands down and stay in his face,” said Seahawks junior Aiden Villar.
As he dutifully stayed in front of the goalie, the cross made its way to Villar’s feet. He blasted a shot. Tower Hill senior Robby Saunders managed to block it, but he wasn’t able to corral the loose ball. Villar followed his shot and connected again, and this time, the ball found twine. Seahawks led 1-0.
“It's an incredible feeling, especially in the quarterfinal when all is on the line; there are no other games if we were to lose,” Villar said. “I was doing it for my senior friends, too, because I know this is their last season, the last time they're gonna play home on this pitch. I didn't want it to end here.”
Despite Tower Hill’s best efforts in the closing minutes of the game, the Seahawks backline and Norton answered the call corner after corner.
Sussex Academy will square off against Indian River in the semifinals at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 15, at Milford High School.
Sussex Academy junior Aiden Villar scored the game-winning goal of the Division II quarterfinal game against Tower Hill. Shown are (l-r) Esteban Lara Nieto, Villar, Ethan Couch and Andres Romero-Nieto. AARON MUSHRUSH PHOTOS
Top seed Sussex Academy faced off against Tower Hill Nov. 11 under the lights in Georgetown. The intensity was high, the temperatures were low, and the action was nonstop in the Seahawks' 1-0 victory.
Seahawks junior goalie C.J. Norton comes up with a big save early in the contest. Seahawks players are (l-r) Esteban Lara Nieto, Joseph Herrera Gomez, Norton and Ethan Couch.
Sussex Academy senior Joseph Herrera Gomez boots the ball toward Tower Hill’s box in the first half.
Seahawks junior C.J. Norton rises up to grab a Tower Hill ball crossed on a corner.
Both teams refused to back down on 50/50 balls, leading to quite a few interesting interactions. Sussex Academy junior captain Andres Romero-Nieto goes flying as the Tower Hill defender cleanly slide tackles the ball away.
Tower Hill goalie Robby Saunders stopped Aiden Villar’s first chance on goal, but he was unable to maintain control of the ball and it squirted loose.
Seahawks junior Aiden Villar follows his first attempt and connects amid a crowd of Tower Hill defenders to give Sussex Academy a 1-0 lead.
Sussex Academy sophomore George Sapna nearly flicked a ball into the goal, but Robby Saunders was able to get the save.
Seahawks sophomore Chase Ballinger delicately diverts the ball from Dailey Welshmer.
Sussex Academy sophomore George Sapna rises up to try and head a ball that fell just out of reach.
Constantly making himself available to his teammates in the middle of the pitch, Seahawks junior Andres Romero-Nieto traverses the field.
Sussex Academy sophomore Liam Stegall challenges a Tower Hill player trying to enter the Seahawks' final third.
In the closing minutes of the game, Tower Hill sent their senior goalkeeper Robby Saunders into the Seahawks' box during corners. Sussex Academy goalie C.J. Norton is able to beat Saunders and the other Tower Hill players to the ball and guide it wide of the net.
Seahawks sophomore Chase Ballinger heads the ball away.
Sussex Academy junior C.J. Norton sends his final save of the night into the frigid air as the official blows his whistle to punch the Seahawks' ticket into the Division II semifinals Wednesday, Nov. 15Event Details :
Premier Listing
Sponsored Content
Premier Listing
Sponsored Content
In the Market
Sponsored Content
Real Estate Marketplace
Sponsored Content
