Sussex Academy soccer’s three-peat chase ends with 1-0 loss

Saint Mark’s strikes late; game called before Seahawks kick corner

“Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more.” – William Shakespeare. AARON R. MUSHRUSH PHOTOS

Sussex Academy sophomore Bodhi Williams battles with Saint Mark’s junior Justin Baxley along the sidelines as Ruendi Ortiz-Santos swoops in.

Seahawks senior Austin Taylor looks for options after collecting the ball.

Sussex Academy senior Ruendi Ortiz-Santos rocks and rolls.

Seahawks senior Chase Ballinger gets a header in the box.

Seahawks freshman Alex Horner locks claws with Spartans senior Gabriel Arick.

Despite the 2025 loss, no one can take away the state champion status earned by keeper Austin Taylor and senior Ben Steimel.

Seahawks sophomore Bodhi Williams levitates along with the ball.

Sussex Academy sophomore Bodhi Williams has the best view in the house of junior Jose Figueroa-Morales winning this ball.

Sussex Academy senior Ben Steimel boots the ball out of his half.

Seahawks senior Liam Stegall blazes past Spartans sophomore Scott McDermott.

Sussex Academy junior Jose Figueroa-Morales turns around Saint Mark’s senior Luke Podolak.

Sussex Academy senior Ben Steimel absorbs some contact on a carry.

Seahawks junior Carson Klahr begins to pass the ball.

Seahawks senior Austin Taylor knocks a free kick out of his defending third.

Sussex Academy eighth-grader Nico Haskell, left, and Liam Stegall try to win a ball against Saint Mark’s senior Gabriel Arick while Noah Benz looks to posses away from the mess.

Sussex Academy senior Liam Stegall tries to clear himself for a shot or a cross as he approaches the box.

Seahawks senior Ruendi Ortiz-Santos breaks up the Spartans’ social.

Sussex Academy senior Noah Benz bends around his defender.

Seahawks senior Noah Benz came very close to getting a touch on a dangerous ball, but Thomas Swasey reeled it in.

Sussex Academy senior Ben Steimel, voices his approval of his classmate Austin Taylor’s save as Bodhi Williams breaks out for a potential outlet.

You never know what the pitch will bring. Making the Karate-kid-like moves are Sussex Academy senior Ruendi Ortiz-Santos and Saint Mark’s senior Gabriel Arick.

Seahawks senior Chase Ballinger begins to send a ball for his teammates to chase.

Sussex Academy All-American George Sapna slices through the Saint Mark’s defenders.

Seahawks senior George Sapna loads the cannon for a shot with Jesse Jean-Louis offering his services.

Seahawks senior Liam Stegall keeps his head in the game.

Sussex Academy senior Liam Stegall breaks free.

Seahawks sophomore Bodhi Williams passes the rock.

Sussex Academy senior Liam Stegall leaves a trail of defenders in his wake.

Seahawks senior George Sapna carries the ball with strength.

Seahawks senior Jesse Jean-Louis nearly tied the game in the closing minutes. The forward did everything he could to try and find that equalizer.

Sussex Academy senior Noah Benz flicks a ball as his classmate George Sapna runs toward it.

Seahawks student section cheers on the lads as they try to tie the game late.

Sussex Academy senior Liam Stegall contemplates on of the biggest kicks of his career. The service was there, and the boys nearly found the goal.

Seahawks junior Brandon Jaimes kicks the final corner of the game.

Sussex Academy junior Carson Klahr flies up on a corner and nearly generated a goal.

Saint Mark’s sophomore Scott McDermott stops a would-be goal shortly after scoring the game-winner.

“Being perfect is about being able to look your friends in the eye and know that you didn't let them down, because you told them the truth. And that truth is that you did everything that you could. There wasn't one more thing that you could've done.” - Friday Night Lights. It is not about the score. These boys were perfect.

Sussex Academy head coach R.J. Dina lifts his captain Bent Steimel up off the pitch. Dina constantly praises Steimel’s leadership.

Seahawks JV coach Tom O’Donnell consoles Austin Taylor.

Sussex Academy coach Kyle Wheatley comforts Austin Taylor.

Seahawks senior George Sapna embraces freshman Alex Horner, highlighting how much these guys care for each other.

Sussex Academy head coach R.J. Dina explains to Austin Taylor that he has no reason to hang his head down after a brilliant season and championship game as the Seahawks keeper.

Seahawks captains Ben Steimel and George Sapna lead the lads on the pitch for one last time to acknowledge their fans.

Sussex Academy parents and fans cheer on the boys following the game.

The support system the Seahawks have shows them love one final time in the 2025 season.

Keep that chin up Austin Taylor, life is a string of endings followed by beginnings.

A temporary changing of the guard, as coach R.J. Dina will need to find a new leader to replace the qualities of Ben Steimel, who will be graduating.

Sussex Academy senior Noah Benz receives his silver medal.

Seahawks All-American George Sapna picks up his final piece of high school hardware following an illustrious career.

Sussex Academy senior Liam Stegall finally stopped moving on the pitch to collect his medal.

Seahawks senior Jesse Jean-Louis shakes hands as he gets his silver medal.

Sussex Academy Chase Ballinger left it all on the field and picked up his final reward.

Sussex Academy captains (l-r) George Sapna, Liam Stegall and Ben Steimel head back to their team with the second-place trophy.

Aaron R. Mushrush

November 17, 2025

Event Date:

Sat, 11/15/2025 - 09:30 pm

“Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more.” – William Shakespeare. AARON R. MUSHRUSH PHOTOS

Sussex Academy sophomore Bodhi Williams battles with Saint Mark’s junior Justin Baxley along the sidelines as Ruendi Ortiz-Santos swoops in.

Seahawks senior Austin Taylor looks for options after collecting the ball.

Sussex Academy senior Ruendi Ortiz-Santos rocks and rolls.

Seahawks senior Chase Ballinger gets a header in the box.

Seahawks freshman Alex Horner locks claws with Spartans senior Gabriel Arick.

Despite the 2025 loss, no one can take away the state champion status earned by keeper Austin Taylor and senior Ben Steimel.

Seahawks sophomore Bodhi Williams levitates along with the ball.

Sussex Academy sophomore Bodhi Williams has the best view in the house of junior Jose Figueroa-Morales winning this ball.

Sussex Academy senior Ben Steimel boots the ball out of his half.

Seahawks senior Liam Stegall blazes past Spartans sophomore Scott McDermott.

Sussex Academy junior Jose Figueroa-Morales turns around Saint Mark’s senior Luke Podolak.

Sussex Academy senior Ben Steimel absorbs some contact on a carry.

Seahawks junior Carson Klahr begins to pass the ball.

Seahawks senior Austin Taylor knocks a free kick out of his defending third.

Sussex Academy eighth-grader Nico Haskell, left, and Liam Stegall try to win a ball against Saint Mark’s senior Gabriel Arick while Noah Benz looks to posses away from the mess.

Sussex Academy senior Liam Stegall tries to clear himself for a shot or a cross as he approaches the box.

Seahawks senior Ruendi Ortiz-Santos breaks up the Spartans’ social.

Sussex Academy senior Noah Benz bends around his defender.

Seahawks senior Noah Benz came very close to getting a touch on a dangerous ball, but Thomas Swasey reeled it in.

Sussex Academy senior Ben Steimel, voices his approval of his classmate Austin Taylor’s save as Bodhi Williams breaks out for a potential outlet.

You never know what the pitch will bring. Making the Karate-kid-like moves are Sussex Academy senior Ruendi Ortiz-Santos and Saint Mark’s senior Gabriel Arick.

Seahawks senior Chase Ballinger begins to send a ball for his teammates to chase.

Sussex Academy All-American George Sapna slices through the Saint Mark’s defenders.

Seahawks senior George Sapna loads the cannon for a shot with Jesse Jean-Louis offering his services.

Seahawks senior Liam Stegall keeps his head in the game.

Sussex Academy senior Liam Stegall breaks free.

Seahawks sophomore Bodhi Williams passes the rock.

Sussex Academy senior Liam Stegall leaves a trail of defenders in his wake.

Seahawks senior George Sapna carries the ball with strength.

Seahawks senior Jesse Jean-Louis nearly tied the game in the closing minutes. The forward did everything he could to try and find that equalizer.

Sussex Academy senior Noah Benz flicks a ball as his classmate George Sapna runs toward it.

Seahawks student section cheers on the lads as they try to tie the game late.

Sussex Academy senior Liam Stegall contemplates on of the biggest kicks of his career. The service was there, and the boys nearly found the goal.

Seahawks junior Brandon Jaimes kicks the final corner of the game.

Sussex Academy junior Carson Klahr flies up on a corner and nearly generated a goal.

Saint Mark’s sophomore Scott McDermott stops a would-be goal shortly after scoring the game-winner.

Sussex Academy head coach R.J. Dina lifts his captain Bent Steimel up off the pitch. Dina constantly praises Steimel’s leadership.

Seahawks JV coach Tom O’Donnell consoles Austin Taylor.

Sussex Academy coach Kyle Wheatley comforts Austin Taylor.

Seahawks senior George Sapna embraces freshman Alex Horner, highlighting how much these guys care for each other.

Sussex Academy head coach R.J. Dina explains to Austin Taylor that he has no reason to hang his head down after a brilliant season and championship game as the Seahawks keeper.

Seahawks captains Ben Steimel and George Sapna lead the lads on the pitch for one last time to acknowledge their fans.

Sussex Academy parents and fans cheer on the boys following the game.

The support system the Seahawks have shows them love one final time in the 2025 season.

Keep that chin up Austin Taylor, life is a string of endings followed by beginnings.

A temporary changing of the guard, as coach R.J. Dina will need to find a new leader to replace the qualities of Ben Steimel, who will be graduating.

Sussex Academy senior Noah Benz receives his silver medal.

Seahawks All-American George Sapna picks up his final piece of high school hardware following an illustrious career.

Sussex Academy senior Liam Stegall finally stopped moving on the pitch to collect his medal.

Seahawks senior Jesse Jean-Louis shakes hands as he gets his silver medal.

Sussex Academy Chase Ballinger left it all on the field and picked up his final reward.

Sussex Academy captains (l-r) George Sapna, Liam Stegall and Ben Steimel head back to their team with the second-place trophy.

Chances are the boys from the smallest public school in Sussex County who just went on a nearly unprecedented run would strongly argue that losing one still stings a bit. Sussex Academy’s 1-0 loss to Saint Mark’s in the Division II state championship Nov. 15 at Dover High school ended the Seahawks’ quest for their third title in as many years.

“We committed to a 30-game project, and we had a rough freshman year with them, but we committed at the end of 30 games that they would be the best, and they committed to me,” said coach R.J. Dina. “They work incredibly hard. People in the community talk about this program, and the first thing they always say is that they are just relentless workers, and that's something that I'm proud of, and I know that they are as well.”

A shot off the foot of Saint Mark’s sophomore Scott McDermott in the 64th minute resulted in the lone goal of the contest. Sussex Academy took the concession in stride and began seeking the equalizer.

All-American George Sapna’s first-half attempt was probably the best scoring chance the Seahawks had, but Spartans keeper Thomas Swasey came up big for his team. In the closing 15 minutes of the game, Sussex Academy inched closer and closer. Hardworking Jesse Jean-Louis nearly knocked one in, and his classmates Liam Stegall and Noah Benz fought to keep control along the right flank.

“We worked really hard over the last few years to be where we are, and I can't speak much more on how proud I am of these guys,” Dina said.

Chase Ballinger came close on another attempt, but the Seahawks just couldn’t crack the code.

Goalkeeper Austin Taylor and center backs Ben Steimel and Carson Klahr moved up on a corner kick, highlighting the urgency that was needed. Junior Brandon Jaimes lifted a ball over the horde in front of the goal and found Klahr ready to receive. His header nearly found its way across the goal line, but McDermott clinched player of the game with a saving header of his own.

Believe it or not, a new rule in Delaware soccer this year requires all games to end at 0:00, regardless of situation. That played a part in the final, as the whistle was blown as the Seahawks prepared to kick a corner.

While the memories of their previous two campaigns will offer some comfort in the future, it was clear just how much this game meant to the most successful senior class in program history.

It was one year ago on the same field when the varsity story of Austin Taylor began, as the then-junior was called on to and performed successfully a save in penalties, contributing in a major way to that title. Taylor stood on his head again this season, stretching his body to keep the net clean and clear in the first half while never hesitating to come off his line.

“He's an incredible goalkeeper,” Dina said. “You look at where he started and where he is now … he should never hang his head. The kid is incredibly coachable and worked so hard. I can't ask for anything better.”

Taylor and Jean-Louis, close friends, were two of the last players up off the turf as Dina and his coaching staff picked the lads up. Sapna consoled freshman Alex Horner and then joined Ben Steimel as the two captains led the Seahawks to their fans for one last time.