A 1-0 overtime win over in Laurel last season was a bit frustrating for the Sussex Academy field hockey team, but the girls made sure their Sept. 24 game went differently, as the Seahawks soared to a 6-0 victory over the Bulldogs at home.

“Last year, we didn't execute well, but this year we definitely executed way better,” sophomore Emma Orlen said. “We got the ball up the field, quick give-and-goes … everything came together this time.”

Captain Bailey Mears tucked away a pass from freshman Bristol Brown to open up the scoring a little over five minutes into the first frame. Senior Liz Layton found Orlen for the sophomore’s first tally and the captain’s first assist. Junior Logan Stiles slammed home an unassisted goal at the start of the second quarter. Less than a minute later, Layton buried a pass from fellow captain Meredith Schiff into the cage, giving Sussex Academy a 4-0 lead at the break. The defense, while prepared, was enjoying the offense’s success.

“We knew it was gonna be a very possessive game on offense, so for our defense, we were working on our press yesterday, and I think it all came together in today’s game,” sophomore Grier Lawson said.

Layton cranked in a shot after receiving a pass from captain Maeve Lawson for the lone goal of the third quarter and her second of the game. 

Laurel made things interesting in the second half with a few chances on offense, but the backline held strong, conceding just one corner and surrendering zero shots in the contest.

“We've been practicing our defensive corners," said Grier Lawson. "And for the one we had, it was very good. Our defense knows they need to keep their sticks down.”

While the 5-0 score is impressive in field hockey, the offense felt it deserved one more reward, and Orlen made it a brace with less than a minute left, arriving to the 6-0 final.

“Very good confidence booster," Orlen said. "I think it's very good to get this big win, because now moving forward, we have all this energy. I think it'll go up from here.”