The Sussex Academy Seahawks defeated Cape 1-0 Nov. 2 to win the Henlopen Conference soccer crown. Shown are in back (l-r) coach Kyle Wheatley, Liam Stegall, McKenna Danahy, Tom O’Donnell, Ben Steimel, Aiden Villar, Esteban Lara, George Sapna, Austin Taylor, CJ Norton, Richie Velasquez-Perez, Carson Klahr, Ruendi Ortiz-Santos, Jesse Jean-Louis, Brandon James, Keenan Williams, Jose Figueroa and Arturo Mora Salas. In front are Bodhi Williams, Emerson Layton, Nate Falcone, Aleksander Danilenko, Noah Benz, Andres Romero-Nieto and head coach RJ Dina. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Sussex Academy junior Chase Ballinger squeezes the ball in the corner of the cage to score the game-winning goal. 
Seahawks junior Liam Stegall passes ahead to Chase Ballinger for the assist.
Cape junior defender Lawson Whaley heads the ball away from the cage. 
Sussex Academy junior Chase Ballinger, left, and Cape junior Brenner Short battle for position on the sideline.
Cape senior Brandon Loucks moves the ball with Seahawks player Liam Stegall in pursuit.
Cape senior defender Jerzy Haines boots a pass across the field. 
Sussex Academy junior George Sapna works to get out of a double-team from Cape’s Brenner Short and Brad Spiegel.
Seahawks senior McKenna Danahy heads the ball upfield.
Sussex Academy junior Ruendi Ortiz-Santos moves the ball away from Cape’s Brandon Loucks. 
Sussex Academy junior Chase Ballinger celebrates the game-winner. 
Cape senior Jack Flynn passes the ball up the sideline past Sussex Academy senior Aleksander Danilenko. 
Cape senior Evan Burris controls play in the midfield.
Cape’s Seth Benjamin moves the ball upfield. 
Cape keeper Jake Hutchison clears the ball after a save.
Sussex Academy senior Aleksander Danilenko heads the ball away from Cape’s Evan Burris. 
Cape senior captain Cardin Benjamin heads the ball downfield for the Vikings.
Sussex Academy senior Aleksander Danilenko battles for a loose ball with Cape’s Cardin Benjamin.
Cape senior Evan Burris gets the edge on a header. 
Cape Chorale students singing the national anthem are (l-r) Dylenn Enright, Marley Fyock and Willow DiMichele.
Cape junior Lawson Whaley heads the ball out of the Sussex Academy offensive area and away from Seahawks junior George Sapna. 
Cape senior Brady Spiegel controls a high bouncer in the midfield.
Seahawks senior goalie CJ Norton makes a save on a free kick.
Cape’s Donnacha Hefferan blasts the ball past Sussex Academy keeper CJ Norton, but it hits the crossbar. 
Cape sophomore Austin Tyndall sets up an offensive play.
The Sussex Academy Seahawks defeated Cape 1-0 Nov. 2 to win the Henlopen Conference soccer crown. Shown are in back (l-r) coach Kyle Wheatley, Liam Stegall, McKenna Danahy, Tom O’Donnell, Ben Steimel, Aiden Villar, Esteban Lara, George Sapna, Austin Taylor, CJ Norton, Richie Velasquez-Perez, Carson Klahr, Ruendi Ortiz-Santos, Jesse Jean-Louis, Brandon James, Keenan Williams, Jose Figueroa and Arturo Mora Salas. In front are Bodhi Williams, Emerson Layton, Nate Falcone, Aleksander Danilenko, Noah Benz, Andres Romero-Nieto and head coach RJ Dina. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Sussex Academy junior Chase Ballinger squeezes the ball in the corner of the cage to score the game-winning goal.
Seahawks junior Liam Stegall passes ahead to Chase Ballinger for the assist.
Cape junior defender Lawson Whaley heads the ball away from the cage.
Sussex Academy junior Chase Ballinger, left, and Cape junior Brenner Short battle for position on the sideline.
Cape senior Brandon Loucks moves the ball with Seahawks player Liam Stegall in pursuit.
Cape senior defender Jerzy Haines boots a pass across the field.
Sussex Academy junior George Sapna works to get out of a double-team from Cape’s Brenner Short and Brad Spiegel.
Seahawks senior McKenna Danahy heads the ball upfield.
Sussex Academy junior Ruendi Ortiz-Santos moves the ball away from Cape’s Brandon Loucks.
Sussex Academy junior Chase Ballinger celebrates the game-winner.
Cape senior Jack Flynn passes the ball up the sideline past Sussex Academy senior Aleksander Danilenko.
Cape senior Evan Burris controls play in the midfield.
Cape’s Seth Benjamin moves the ball upfield.
Cape keeper Jake Hutchison clears the ball after a save.
Sussex Academy senior Aleksander Danilenko heads the ball away from Cape’s Evan Burris.
Cape senior captain Cardin Benjamin heads the ball downfield for the Vikings.
Sussex Academy senior Aleksander Danilenko battles for a loose ball with Cape’s Cardin Benjamin.
Cape senior Evan Burris gets the edge on a header.
Cape Chorale students singing the national anthem are (l-r) Dylenn Enright, Marley Fyock and Willow DiMichele.
Cape junior Lawson Whaley heads the ball out of the Sussex Academy offensive area and away from Seahawks junior George Sapna.
Cape senior Brady Spiegel controls a high bouncer in the midfield.
Seahawks senior goalie CJ Norton makes a save on a free kick.
Cape’s Donnacha Hefferan blasts the ball past Sussex Academy keeper CJ Norton, but it hits the crossbar.
Cape sophomore Austin Tyndall sets up an offensive play.
The Henlopen South champion Sussex Academy soccer team won the conference championship Nov. 2, with a 1-0 win over Northern Division champion Cape Henlopen at Legends Stadium in Lewes.
It’s the Seahawks’ second consecutive conference title. They defeated Sussex Central 2-1 in 2023.
“Great to be on the winning side of this one,” said Sussex Academy head coach R.J. Dina. “Back-to-back conference titles, that’s a testament to these boys and their work ethic. They prepare day in and day out to accomplish these feats. They should be proud. Cape and Sussex Academy has become a massive soccer rivalry. We’ve been fortunate to be on the winning side of many of these games. It’s always going to be a battle. Proud of this group to stick with it and battle until the end. It’s not always pretty, but at this stage of the season, it’s win at all costs.”
Sussex Academy junior Chase Ballinger scored the game’s only goal off a pass from Liam Stegall.
“When the ref said play on, I just kept it moving,” said Ballinger. “I knew Liam was going to slot it and/or try to put it across the middle. It came to me and I just finished it. It’s our second title in a row, and it feels amazing.”
Sussex Academy held a 4-3 shot differential. Seahawks keeper CJ Norton made three saves, while Cape goalie Jake Hutchison stopped three shots.
“It’s an unfortunate result,” said Cape head coach Patrick Kilby. “We have to turn our attention to the state tournament and getting back to the state final.”
“We played a good game tonight,” said Cape captain Cardin Benjamin. “We just couldn’t get a ball in the back of the net, unfortunately. We need to stay focused during training and come out fast like we did in the Henlopen North championship if we want to have a chance at the next round.”
“We have it locked down on defense,” said senior Jerzy Haines. ”We just have to do better on our transitions and our attack to the goal.”
Sussex Academy earned the top seed in the Division II state tournament. The Seahawks will host the winner of the first-round match between No. 8 Saint Mark’s and No. 9 Indian River. The second-round game is set for 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 9, at Sussex Academy.
Thanks to a great run at the end of the season, Cape slipped into the Division I state tournament as the No. 8 seed. The Vikings will face top-seeded Caesar Rodney for the third time this season in a first-round battle at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 7, at CR.
The Sussex Academy Seahawks defeated Cape 1-0 Nov. 2 to win the Henlopen Conference soccer crown. Shown are in back (l-r) coach Kyle Wheatley, Liam Stegall, McKenna Danahy, Tom O’Donnell, Ben Steimel, Aiden Villar, Esteban Lara, George Sapna, Austin Taylor, CJ Norton, Richie Velasquez-Perez, Carson Klahr, Ruendi Ortiz-Santos, Jesse Jean-Louis, Brandon James, Keenan Williams, Jose Figueroa and Arturo Mora Salas. In front are Bodhi Williams, Emerson Layton, Nate Falcone, Aleksander Danilenko, Noah Benz, Andres Romero-Nieto and head coach RJ Dina. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Sussex Academy junior Chase Ballinger squeezes the ball in the corner of the cage to score the game-winning goal.
Seahawks junior Liam Stegall passes ahead to Chase Ballinger for the assist.
Cape junior defender Lawson Whaley heads the ball away from the cage.
Sussex Academy junior Chase Ballinger, left, and Cape junior Brenner Short battle for position on the sideline.
Cape senior Brandon Loucks moves the ball with Seahawks player Liam Stegall in pursuit.
Cape senior defender Jerzy Haines boots a pass across the field.
Sussex Academy junior George Sapna works to get out of a double-team from Cape’s Brenner Short and Brad Spiegel.
Seahawks senior McKenna Danahy heads the ball upfield.
Sussex Academy junior Ruendi Ortiz-Santos moves the ball away from Cape’s Brandon Loucks.
Sussex Academy junior Chase Ballinger celebrates the game-winner.
Cape senior Jack Flynn passes the ball up the sideline past Sussex Academy senior Aleksander Danilenko.
Cape senior Evan Burris controls play in the midfield.
Cape’s Seth Benjamin moves the ball upfield.
Cape keeper Jake Hutchison clears the ball after a save.
Sussex Academy senior Aleksander Danilenko heads the ball away from Cape’s Evan Burris.
Cape senior captain Cardin Benjamin heads the ball downfield for the Vikings.
Sussex Academy senior Aleksander Danilenko battles for a loose ball with Cape’s Cardin Benjamin.
Cape senior Evan Burris gets the edge on a header.
Cape Chorale students singing the national anthem are (l-r) Dylenn Enright, Marley Fyock and Willow DiMichele.
Cape junior Lawson Whaley heads the ball out of the Sussex Academy offensive area and away from Seahawks junior George Sapna.
Cape senior Brady Spiegel controls a high bouncer in the midfield.
Seahawks senior goalie CJ Norton makes a save on a free kick.
Cape’s Donnacha Hefferan blasts the ball past Sussex Academy keeper CJ Norton, but it hits the crossbar.
Cape sophomore Austin Tyndall sets up an offensive play.Event Details :
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