Sussex Academy field hockey dispatches IR 7-2 on Senior Night

Seahawks are a win away from Henlopen South title

Sussex Academy celebrated the field hockey careers of (l-r) Ryan Lowe, Kacie Rawlings and Shea Danahy before the Seahawks’ 7-2 victory over Indian River Oct. 16. AARON R. MUSHRUSH PHOTOS

Seahawks freshman Emma Orlen has a carry.

Sussex Academy senior Ryan Lowe passes the ball along the sideline.

Seahawks senior Shea Danahy winds up for a shot.

Sussex Academy senior Ryan Lowe looks up as she receives an insert on a corner.

Seahawks senior Shea Danahy centers the ball to Emma Orlen.

Sussex Academy senior Ryan Lowe begins to shoot.

Seahawks junior Liz Layton passes the ball near the Sussex Academy bench.

Sussex Academy coach Caitlyn Hardy said she doesn’t have a word for the level of play senior Ryan Lowe is operating at, saying she makes the engine run in the middle.

Seahawks freshman Emma Orlen crosses midfield.

Sussex Academy senior Ryan Lowe has a go at goal.

Seahawks sophomore Logan Stiles controls the rock.

Sussex Academy freshman Audrey Snyder winds up for a drive.

Seahawks senior Shea Danahy was relentless on offense despite Reece Forrey shadowing her quite a bit.

Sussex Academy senior Ryan Lowe worked some magic to free her left side for a crank.

Seahawks captain Ryan Lowe celebrates the first goal of the game with her teammates.

The hugs continued when captain Shea Danahy doubled the Seahawks lead.

Sussex Academy senior Kacie Rawlings readies her defense (l-r) Maeve Lawson, Meredith Schiff, Liz Layton and Logan Stiles on a penalty corner.

Seahawks senior Kacie Rawlings battles some traffic in front.

Sussex Academy junior Bailey Mears receives a pass in front of the frame.

Seahawks freshman Maddy Lehman, left, celebrates with Bailey Mears after the junior scored on of her two third-quarter goals.

Sussex Academy senior Ryan Lowe fields a ball on a penalty corner.

Seahawks senior Ryan Lowe jumps for joy after she sent a rocket screaming into the net.

Sussex Academy celebrates Bailey Mears’ second goal of the third quarter.

Seahawks junior Meredith Schiff is a one-girl clear sometimes.

Sussex Academy coaches Caitlyn Hardy, left, and Lexie Thomas, right, share a laugh with seniors (l-r) Ryan Lowe, Kacie Rawlings and Shea Danahy before the contest.

Seahawks seniors share a moment with their support systems. Shown (l-r) are Angie Lowe, Ryan Lowe, Wyatt Lowe, Quinn Lowe, Brittany Danahy, Shea Danahy, Kevin Danahy, Lucy Rawlings, Kacie Rawlings, Kara Rawlings and Dayne Eisele.

Shea Danahy walks with her dad Kevin and mom Brittany.

Kacie Rawlings has Dayne Eisele, Kara Rawlings and Lucy Rawlings by her side.

Ryan Lowe is joined by Angie, Wyatt and Quinn Lowe.

Aaron R. Mushrush

October 20, 2025

Event Date:

Fri, 10/17/2025 - 02:45 pm

Sussex Academy celebrated the field hockey careers of (l-r) Ryan Lowe, Kacie Rawlings and Shea Danahy before the Seahawks’ 7-2 victory over Indian River Oct. 16. AARON R. MUSHRUSH PHOTOS

Seahawks freshman Emma Orlen has a carry.

Sussex Academy senior Ryan Lowe passes the ball along the sideline.

Seahawks senior Shea Danahy winds up for a shot.

Sussex Academy senior Ryan Lowe looks up as she receives an insert on a corner.

Seahawks senior Shea Danahy centers the ball to Emma Orlen.

Sussex Academy senior Ryan Lowe begins to shoot.

Seahawks junior Liz Layton passes the ball near the Sussex Academy bench.

Sussex Academy coach Caitlyn Hardy said she doesn’t have a word for the level of play senior Ryan Lowe is operating at, saying she makes the engine run in the middle.

Seahawks freshman Emma Orlen crosses midfield.

Sussex Academy senior Ryan Lowe has a go at goal.

Seahawks sophomore Logan Stiles controls the rock.

Sussex Academy freshman Audrey Snyder winds up for a drive.

Seahawks senior Shea Danahy was relentless on offense despite Reece Forrey shadowing her quite a bit.

Sussex Academy senior Ryan Lowe worked some magic to free her left side for a crank.

Seahawks captain Ryan Lowe celebrates the first goal of the game with her teammates.

The hugs continued when captain Shea Danahy doubled the Seahawks lead.

Sussex Academy senior Kacie Rawlings readies her defense (l-r) Maeve Lawson, Meredith Schiff, Liz Layton and Logan Stiles on a penalty corner.

Seahawks senior Kacie Rawlings battles some traffic in front.

Sussex Academy junior Bailey Mears receives a pass in front of the frame.

Seahawks freshman Maddy Lehman, left, celebrates with Bailey Mears after the junior scored on of her two third-quarter goals.

Sussex Academy senior Ryan Lowe fields a ball on a penalty corner.

Seahawks senior Ryan Lowe jumps for joy after she sent a rocket screaming into the net.

Sussex Academy celebrates Bailey Mears’ second goal of the third quarter.

Seahawks junior Meredith Schiff is a one-girl clear sometimes.

Sussex Academy coaches Caitlyn Hardy, left, and Lexie Thomas, right, share a laugh with seniors (l-r) Ryan Lowe, Kacie Rawlings and Shea Danahy before the contest.

Shea Danahy walks with her dad Kevin and mom Brittany.

Kacie Rawlings has Dayne Eisele, Kara Rawlings and Lucy Rawlings by her side.

Ryan Lowe is joined by Angie, Wyatt and Quinn Lowe.

All that stands between the Sussex Academy field hockey team and history is Lake Forest after the Seahawks celebrated their senior trio with a 7-2 win over Indian River Oct. 16.

“It was definitely an intense game,” said senior Kacie Rawlings. “At first, we started off a little slow, a little rocky, but we definitely pulled ourselves together in that first quarter, and I think the intensity just got a lot better.”

Rawlings was joined by fellow seniors Shea Danahy and Ryan Lowe in walking across the field with their families prior to the rivalry game. Despite the energy shift, the girls relied on what got them in position to win the first Henlopen South title in program history.

“We always have our rituals of going to the locker room and getting hype and listening to music, coming out here with high intensity, even though it's a slow start with all the walking down and everything,” Danahy said. “I think it's nice to recognize everybody, but going into our warmups and still being hype is what gave us the win today.”

“Emotions were high at the beginning, but we were all playing for each other,” Rawlings said.

Following a scoreless first, Sussex Academy continued to pressure an IR backline that seemed to sniff out every chance. Captain Ryan Lowe blasted the first goal four minutes into the second quarter.

“We were looking forward to this game; we knew it was going to be a great competition,” Lowe said. “IR is always a scrappy ... a great team to play.”

Danahy was rewarded for her work on offense and in press before the half ended, doubling the Seahawks’ lead.

“Everyone wants to score on their Senior Night,” Danahy said. “I just love doing it with my family, friends and everyone around me.”

Sussex Academy kept the momentum going in the second half, striking thrice in the third frame. Junior Bailey Mears picked up a brace in the quarter, while Lowe notched her second tally.

“Our girls did a great job of keeping possession the entire game, stepping to all the balls, being there for everything, stepping up from the defense, and on those corners offensively, getting our sticks down and being there for the tip-in,” said coach Caitlyn Hardy.

Baylie Williamson got the visitors on the board with just under 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, and her classmate, Makenzie Truitt, added another before Sussex Academy freshman Mady Lehman closed the game out with two goals.

With the 7-2 victory, Sussex Academy only needs to beat Lake Forest Oct. 21, to clinch the program’s first Henlopen South title.