Sussex Academy senior Ryan Lowe looks upfield as she tries to get the ball out of Seahawks territory during the girls’ 1-0 loss to top-seeded Wilmington Friends Oct. 31. AARON R. MUSHRUSH PHOTOS
Seahawks junior Meredith Schiff runs past her defender.
Sussex Academy freshman Mady Lehman races toward the ball.
Seahawks captain Ryan Lowe gets a tap past her defender.
Seahawks freshman Mady Lehman tries to save the ball.
Sussex Academy freshman Mady Lehman leads the charge out of the defensive third.
Seahawks junior Liz Layton winds up for a shot.
Sussex Academy sophomore Logan Stiles begins to carry the ball.
The always fearless Meredith Schiff leads the charge on a corner.
SUssex Academy senior Kacie Rawlings makes a save in the muck.
Seahawks senior Kacie Rawlings eyes up the ball.
Sussex Academy sophomore Logan Stiles tries to pass around her defender.
Seahawks freshman Mady Lehman drives toward goal.
Sussex Academy freshman Emma Orlen eyes up her choices near the circle.
Seahawks senior Ryan Lowe navigates in the corner.
Seahawks freshman Audrey Snyder controls the ball.
Sussex Academy freshman Emma Orlen settles the rock.
Seahawks junior Bailey Mears earns a late corner for her team.
Sussex Academy sophomore Mave Lawson runs around her defender.
Sussex Academy senior Shea Danahy tries to get a look in front of the frame.
Sussex Academy sophomore Mave Lawson is roughed up a bit on her carry.
Seahawks senior Shea Danahy tries to get deep down the flank.
Sussex Academy freshman Emma Orlen tries to avoid a poke check.
Sussex Academy senior Ryan Lowe looks upfield as she tries to get the ball out of Seahawks territory during the girls’ 1-0 loss to top-seeded Wilmington Friends Oct. 31. AARON R. MUSHRUSH PHOTOS
Seahawks junior Meredith Schiff runs past her defender.
Sussex Academy freshman Mady Lehman races toward the ball.
Seahawks captain Ryan Lowe gets a tap past her defender.
Seahawks freshman Mady Lehman tries to save the ball.
Sussex Academy freshman Mady Lehman leads the charge out of the defensive third.
Seahawks junior Liz Layton winds up for a shot.
Sussex Academy sophomore Logan Stiles begins to carry the ball.
The always fearless Meredith Schiff leads the charge on a corner.
SUssex Academy senior Kacie Rawlings makes a save in the muck.
Seahawks senior Kacie Rawlings eyes up the ball.
Sussex Academy sophomore Logan Stiles tries to pass around her defender.
Seahawks freshman Mady Lehman drives toward goal.
Sussex Academy freshman Emma Orlen eyes up her choices near the circle.
Seahawks senior Ryan Lowe navigates in the corner.
Seahawks freshman Audrey Snyder controls the ball.
Sussex Academy freshman Emma Orlen settles the rock.
Seahawks junior Bailey Mears earns a late corner for her team.
Sussex Academy sophomore Mave Lawson runs around her defender.
Sussex Academy senior Shea Danahy tries to get a look in front of the frame.
Sussex Academy sophomore Mave Lawson is roughed up a bit on her carry.
Seahawks senior Shea Danahy tries to get deep down the flank.
Sussex Academy freshman Emma Orlen tries to avoid a poke check.
The Sussex Academy field hockey team nearly fulfilled its role of spoiler in the Division II state tournament, but lost 1-0 to No. 1 Wilmington Friends Oct. 31.
“That was the best game of hockey I've seen in a very long time from our girls,” said Sussex Academy coach Caitlyn Hardy. “The fundamentals, what we've learned from the season, adjusting to attitudes against us, and embodying all that. We really kept our composure, played really great hockey out there; I'm so proud.”
The Seahawks and Quakers generated plenty of scoring chances in the fast-paced contest, but Wilmington Friends did not score until there was 2:17 left in the game. Although the 1-0 loss ended their season, the Seahawks will carry a lot of momentum into the 2026 season after finishing strong.
“It's been a lot with a very young team,” Hardy said. “Their maturity level has grown a lot this season. The older girls have really helped with that, and I'm really excited for the next couple years.”
Shots were even at five apiece, and Sussex Academy had nine corners compared to Wilmington Friends’ eight, but the Seahawks couldn’t get an opportune bounce in front of the goal. Senior Kacie Rawlings made four saves in her final game as a Seahawk.
“It really meant everything to me,” Rawlings said. “I got the opportunity to get a higher level of education, and field hockey really bettered me as a player. I think it improved me as a person, as a player and gave me the higher competition that I needed to thrive.”
The hugs on the sidelines were coming as fast as the tears on a team that gave it their all to try and get their seniors a shot at the title. Rawlings said it will be hard to pick just one thing she will remember.
“The players, the coaches, the atmosphere that we have, the support that we have, just everything,” Rawlings said.
Sussex Academy wrapped up its season at 10-8. Wilmington Friends followed the win with a 4-0 victory over Archmere to advance to the state championship against Newark Charter Friday, Nov. 7.
Sussex Academy senior Ryan Lowe led the team with 15 goals on the year while Bailey Mears had 11. Freshman Mady Lehman joined them in the double-digit club with 10. Senior Shea Danahy had eight goals.
Lowe led the team with nine assists, giving her a team-high 39 points on the year.
Rawlings’ 110 saves give her 346 for her career.
Sussex Academy senior Ryan Lowe looks upfield as she tries to get the ball out of Seahawks territory during the girls’ 1-0 loss to top-seeded Wilmington Friends Oct. 31. AARON R. MUSHRUSH PHOTOS
Seahawks junior Meredith Schiff runs past her defender.
Sussex Academy freshman Mady Lehman races toward the ball.
Seahawks captain Ryan Lowe gets a tap past her defender.
Seahawks freshman Mady Lehman tries to save the ball.
Sussex Academy freshman Mady Lehman leads the charge out of the defensive third.
Seahawks junior Liz Layton winds up for a shot.
Sussex Academy sophomore Logan Stiles begins to carry the ball.
The always fearless Meredith Schiff leads the charge on a corner.
SUssex Academy senior Kacie Rawlings makes a save in the muck.
Seahawks senior Kacie Rawlings eyes up the ball.
Sussex Academy sophomore Logan Stiles tries to pass around her defender.
Seahawks freshman Mady Lehman drives toward goal.
Sussex Academy freshman Emma Orlen eyes up her choices near the circle.
Seahawks senior Ryan Lowe navigates in the corner.
Seahawks freshman Audrey Snyder controls the ball.
Sussex Academy freshman Emma Orlen settles the rock.
Seahawks junior Bailey Mears earns a late corner for her team.
Sussex Academy sophomore Mave Lawson runs around her defender.
Sussex Academy senior Shea Danahy tries to get a look in front of the frame.
Sussex Academy sophomore Mave Lawson is roughed up a bit on her carry.
Seahawks senior Shea Danahy tries to get deep down the flank.
Sussex Academy freshman Emma Orlen tries to avoid a poke check.Event Details :
Premier Listing
Sponsored Content
Premier Listing
Sponsored Content
Local Dining
Sponsored Content
Real Estate Marketplace
Sponsored Content
In the Market
Sponsored Content
