Sussex Academy senior Benjamin Steimel blasts a clear up the sideline in the 4-1 victory over Lake Forest. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Sussex Academy senior Chase Ballinger battles for possession with Lake’s Nolan Ellwanger.
Sussex Academy junior Brandon Jaimes speeds the ball past Lake Forest’s Nolan Ellwanger.
Seahawks’ senior George Sapna gets to the ball on the sideline past Lake’s Brayden Gerardi.
Seahawks’ senior George Sapna gets to the ball on the sideline.
Jose Figueroa-Morales boots the ball away from Lake’s Noah Kucek.
Sussex Academy junior Carson Klahr gets air to get a ball from Lake’s Benjamin Brown.
Seahawks senior Liam Stegall takes the ball from Lake’s Talan Gerardi, left, and Nolan Ellwanger.
Junior Brandon Jaimes gets major air for a header.
Senior Chase Ballinger controls the ball in the midfield.
George Sapna moves the ball for the Seahawks.
Senior Chase Ballinger, right, battles for a 50/50 ball with Lake’s Caden Miller.
Lake’s Cole Yanoshak, left, and Sussex Academy’s Alexander Horner battle for possession with a header.
Sussex Academy keeper Austin Taylor gets up to grab a corner kick.
Sussex Academy senior Benjamin Steimel blasts a clear up the sideline in the 4-1 victory over Lake Forest. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Sussex Academy senior Chase Ballinger battles for possession with Lake’s Nolan Ellwanger.
Sussex Academy junior Brandon Jaimes speeds the ball past Lake Forest’s Nolan Ellwanger.
Seahawks’ senior George Sapna gets to the ball on the sideline past Lake’s Brayden Gerardi.
Seahawks’ senior George Sapna gets to the ball on the sideline.
Jose Figueroa-Morales boots the ball away from Lake’s Noah Kucek.
Sussex Academy junior Carson Klahr gets air to get a ball from Lake’s Benjamin Brown.
Seahawks senior Liam Stegall takes the ball from Lake’s Talan Gerardi, left, and Nolan Ellwanger.
Junior Brandon Jaimes gets major air for a header.
Senior Chase Ballinger controls the ball in the midfield.
George Sapna moves the ball for the Seahawks.
Senior Chase Ballinger, right, battles for a 50/50 ball with Lake’s Caden Miller.
Lake’s Cole Yanoshak, left, and Sussex Academy’s Alexander Horner battle for possession with a header.
Sussex Academy keeper Austin Taylor gets up to grab a corner kick.The Sussex Academy soccer team started slow, but powered to a 4-1 victory over Lake Forest Oct. 21 at the Seahawks’ home field.
The 7-4-2 Spartans got on the scoreboard first at the two-minute mark on a goal by Brayden Gerardi from Brayden Starkey. They went the next 78 minutes without a tally.
“We actually prepped and talked about starting fast getting out on the front foot today,” said Sussex Academy coach RJ Dina. “Recently, we’ve showcased a bit of a pattern of starting slow, but it hasn’t really hurt us until today.”
Three minutes later, senior George Sapna hit the twine off a pass from Ruendi Ortiz-Santos. At the 24-minute mark, Sapna scored his second off an assist from Carson Klahr.
Brandon Jaimes scored a goal at 38 minutes from Benjamin Steimel, and the teams went into the halftime break with the Seahawks holding a 3-1 lead.
Sapna completed the hat trick at 41 minutes off a pass from Bodhi Williams.
“The leadership and experience in this group shined today. Our two-year captain, Sapna, stepped up after going down 1-0, scored two to bring us back,” said Dina. “That takes tremendous character to lead from that front. The boys responded after conceding the way you expect them to. And from there, it was on. I’m hoping this sends a message to the boys with the games we have coming up – how important it will be to start fast, stay focused and pay attention to the details. It was a good result against a strong Lake squad. The strongest we’ve faced in my tenure. On to the next.”
The Seahawks held a 6-3 advantage in shots and an 8-3 edge in corners.
Austin Taylor made two saves for the Seahawks.
Sussex Academy senior Benjamin Steimel blasts a clear up the sideline in the 4-1 victory over Lake Forest. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Sussex Academy senior Chase Ballinger battles for possession with Lake’s Nolan Ellwanger.
Sussex Academy junior Brandon Jaimes speeds the ball past Lake Forest’s Nolan Ellwanger.
Seahawks’ senior George Sapna gets to the ball on the sideline past Lake’s Brayden Gerardi.
Seahawks’ senior George Sapna gets to the ball on the sideline.
Jose Figueroa-Morales boots the ball away from Lake’s Noah Kucek.
Sussex Academy junior Carson Klahr gets air to get a ball from Lake’s Benjamin Brown.
Seahawks senior Liam Stegall takes the ball from Lake’s Talan Gerardi, left, and Nolan Ellwanger.
Junior Brandon Jaimes gets major air for a header.
Senior Chase Ballinger controls the ball in the midfield.
George Sapna moves the ball for the Seahawks.
Senior Chase Ballinger, right, battles for a 50/50 ball with Lake’s Caden Miller.
Lake’s Cole Yanoshak, left, and Sussex Academy’s Alexander Horner battle for possession with a header.
Sussex Academy keeper Austin Taylor gets up to grab a corner kick.



