Sussex Academy soccer allows first goal of season in loss to CR
A shutout streak spanning seven halves of soccer ended 10 minutes into the eighth half of the Sussex Academy boys’ soccer 2024 season Sept. 19 at Caesar Rodney. It was the only goal scored in the 1-0 war waged on Legacy Field in Camden.
“They're a good side, and I think they did exactly what they needed to do,” said Seahawks coach R.J. Dina of the Riders. “They were disciplined, and we fell short of that. I think it's a learning experience for these boys.”
Dina said the team was lucky to suffer the loss early in the season, allowing time to make the necessary adjustments moving forward.
Both teams entered the game with shutout streaks spanning six halves, but the Riders surrendered two goals in their first game against Charter School of Wilmington. Sussex Academy had not let up a goal to start the young season and has a team goal of conceding fewer than five all season.
Seahawks senior keeper C.J. Norton and CR sophomore goalie Grant Parsons each showed that goals would be at a premium in the contest. Parsons stonewalled a rocket from junior Chase Ballinger early in the first half, while Norton fully extended on the ground to keep a late-half attempt from the Riders out of his net.
“C.J. is outstanding,” Dina said. “He does just a tremendous job in the one or two chances that we give him.”
To start the second half, the Seahawks pressed high with their frontline. The riddle-proof Riders had solutions each time.
“Grant is phenomenal as well, and I kind of got to see him grow for the last four years; he’s a kid that I've seen at the club level that has performed at a high level, and you can't say enough about a game that goes 1-0, but has chance after chance after chance, without talking about the keepers,” Dina said.
The lone goal of the game came in the 50th minute after the Seahawks spent most of the second half in their attacking third. Following a set piece, the Riders stormed up the field to take advantage of their favorable ratio. CR junior Jamal Richards streaked toward the goal ahead of the Sussex Academy defense. Forcing Norton to make a decision, Richards made one more pass to Landon Roberson, who did not miss a near-open look at the frame. It was the first goal the Seahawks gave up in 370 minutes of soccer.
The Seahawks locked in for the final half-hour and were kept in the game by a few clutch saves from Norton. Juniors Liam Stegall and George Sapna nearly worked some magic up the middle of the field but were a few inches away from a finish. The last true chance Sussex Academy had came on a Stegall pass that just missed Sapna and a charging Aiden Villar. Dina thinks his team will find those goals in the near future.
“Some of the guys that have been freshmen, sophomores and juniors that have kind of floated through and have played every minute of every game are suddenly realizing ... somebody has to step up,” Dina said.
Parsons had 10 saves in the shutout, while Norton stopped 14 shots. CR edged out the Seahawks in corners 4-3.
