Seahawks fall in OT to Newark Charter in soccer quarterfinals

Despite two improbable bounce-backs late in the second half, No. 3 Sussex Academy was upset 3-2 in overtime by No. 6 Newark Charter in the quarterfinals of the DIAA girls’ soccer state tournament May 22.

“At least we went out with a bang,” said senior Sienna Serpico. “That was one heck of a game.”

Newark Charter struck first on a goal from freshman Natasha Slijepcevic two minutes into the game. The tally would prove to be the difference at halftime, as the two combatants refused to concede for the rest of the half. 

Sussex Academy finally broke through when eighth-grader Patricia Lara Nieto made an incredible run from midfield, blowing past the Patriots’ backline to tie the game 1-1 with 18 minutes left to go. The jubilation was short-lived, as Slijepcevic notched a brace on a goal scored less than 30 seconds after Lara Nieto’s strike.

Unwavered, the Seahawks got right back to attacking Newark Charter’s 18 but couldn’t quite find twine ... until the final minute of play.

“To equalize and then concede 20 seconds later, I think a majority of teams would hang their head and give up, but not our girls,” said coach Chase Humphrey. 

With their last gasp in regulation, Sussex Academy forced overtime when Lara Nieto scored in the 79th minute. The slippery sphere found its way across the line about four different times. Captain Deb Williams initially got a header on the ball, directing it down as seniors Serpico and Natalie Roblero Chavez crashed the net. For good measure, Serpico’s touch punctuated the goal, but it was ultimately decided Lara Nieto’s touch was the goal scorer and even Serpico said it was a team goal.

With momentum on their side, it seemed like Sussex Academy was going to pull off another 3-2 overtime win over the Patriots, like they did April 12, but Newark Charter freshman Alana Rhodes had other plans. Following a turnover just outside the 18, Rhodes saw a chance to place a shot where it would be impossible for most goalies to reach. From the left side of the frame, she calculated perfectly the lift the ball needed to avoid any block or save before tucking just under the crossbar.

“I just love this team so much,” Serpico said. “We've done so much good that I think we can't overlook just because of this one loss. It didn't go our way today, but there was so much good that we did this season, and I know that the rest of the girls are only going to get better from here, and the program is only going to progress.”

Sussex Academy finished the season 12-4-1 with Henlopen South and Henlopen Conference titles to their names.

“They brought it from day 1, and you see it in how they play, you see it in victory and you see it in loss,” Humphrey said. “It's just a testament to who they are as people in general.”