Writer: Shannon Timmons
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The Corner Scoop – Field Hockey Tournament Preview
Writer: Shannon Timmons
The crisp chill in the air means another regular season has come to a close. Eight teams in Division 1 and twelve teams in Division 2 are fortunate enough to have gotten the call and are seeded into the 2025 State Tournament Brackets.
The Eagles of Smyrna take the top seed in D1 while the Quakers of Wilmington Friends sit atop Division 2. There will be a new face on the crown of the D2 championship this year, as we have a tournament without the Delmar Wildcats for the first time since the inception of the split championship in 2018. As a matter of fact, the Wildcats tourney experience goes back to 2008.
No team enters the tournament undefeated so there is no proverbial sports jinx of maintaining the perfect season to get in the way. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, ask Tom Brady and the 2007 Patriots.
The Division 1 bracket holds 8 teams (Henlopen North Champ, Blue Hen Flight A Champ and 6 at large teams) and the Division 2 bracket holds 12 (Blue Hen Flight B Champ, Henlopen South Champ, Independent Champ, Diamond State Champ and 8 at large teams) The tournament games have a different feel, there is an air of excitement and electricity, the pressure is palpable, and title winners will need to take advantage of every opportunity and capitalize on someone else’s mistake.
This week:
Division 2, Round 1 is Wednesday October 29, all games begin at 2:30pm,
Quarterfinals are Friday October 31
Division 1 Quarterfinals are Thursday October 30, all games begin at 2:30pm.
*All games will be at the home field of the higher seed.
Congratulations to the the following teams for capturing the conference and/or division title:
Smyrna, Henlopen North
Sussex Academy, Henlopen South
Odessa, Blue Hen Flight A
Wilmington Friends, Independent
Newark Charter, Diamond State
Division 1 Field Hockey
No. 1 Smyrna (14-1 regular season, 15-1 overall)
The Eagles have not lost a game to a Delaware opponent all season. The one loss on Sept 30th was to Episcopal Academy from PA. No doubt Coach Moffett will have her team ready to fly (no pun intended) this team is fast. It’s what makes them hard to defend along with experience and the will to wear you down. They just keep playing and they capitalize on any mistake you make.
Bree Moffett (Northwestern U) leads with 22 goals, 15 assists, McKenna Wilson follows with 16 goals, 3 assists, Ava Elias 15 goals, 10 assists, and Kennedy Marks has 10 goals, 6 assists. Look for goalkeeper Nora O’Connell in the cage as she has 29 saves this season.
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No. 8 Middletown (9-6 regular season)
The Cavaliers have had a solid season again this year under Coach Krygier. They are no stranger to the tournament and know what it takes to win and advance. They faced Smyrna in the semi finals a year ago and are familiar with seeing the Eagles. Layla Dukes leads the offense with 27 goals and 20 assists, Flannery Grimm adds 21 goals, 7 assists, and Sara Watson has 19 goals, 3 assists. Senior goalkeeper Charlotte Gerber has 85 saves.
No. 4 Odessa (11-4 regular season)
What a season for the Ducks! It’s been so much fun to watch this program grow over the past couple of seasons – congrats Coach Laura Persofsky for a great season and grabbing the 4 seed. The Ducks will see CR for the 2nd time this season. They took the first matchup by a goal, beating the Riders 2-1. We all know how hard it is to beat a team twice in the same season though so the Ducks will need their A game. The offense is led by Olivia Orndorff with 17 goals, Caroline Perry 8 goals, 3 assists, and Naomi Falletta 6 goals, 6 assists.Goalkeeper Tyrina Money has 39 saves
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No. 5 Caesar Rodney (10-5 regular season)
I can say the same for the Riders – what a year! 2022 was the last time we saw them in post season play and after a slow start Coach Woodzell and her staff got the Riders on course and they never looked back. This matchup is very exciting for these two teams and the Riders will look to avenge the regular season loss to advance in the tourney. Montana Fox and Alicia Hunter lead with 12 goals each and Leah Brown has added 8 goals and 9 assists. Madison MacDonald in goal has 66 saves, Elizabeth Paret has 9.
No. 2 Cape Henlopen (14-1 regular season)
The Vikings suffered just one loss all season, an OT loss to Smyrna. That lands them in the No. 2 spot coming into the tournament and they are the only other team in D1 with just one loss. Cape is no stranger to the tournament and what it takes to win and advance. Coach Austin will have her team ready and they will have to take one game at a time, not getting ahead of themselves. The turf at UD certainly favors a fast team like Cape, it lends itself to their passing style and ball schemes. Grace Heers leads with 12 goals, 6 assists, Atia Sabbaugh follows with 11 goals, 15 assists, and Emily Wells has 10 goals, 3 assists. Goalkeepers Izzy Mekulski (11 saves) and Jordyn Bowe (1 save) don’t see a lot of action behind Cape’s defense, but are solid as a rock when they do.
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No. 7 Polytech (9-6 regular season)
The Panthers have had a solid season, losing only to the powerhouse teams in field hockey around the state. Coach Judy Rippert has a young squad (3 seniors) that will be tested in the tournament environment. Elizabeth Schroeder leads with 15 goals, 4 assists, Cara Willis and Emma Carey have 7 goals each, and Elizabeth Merkle added 4. Sophomore goalkeeper Sabrina Siaca has 127 saves on the season.
No. 3 Padua (11-3-1 regular season)
The Pandas return to the tournament this season after a year away from post season action. This senior laden roster wants to go out with a season they can remember. Coach Kehoe has to be proud of this team that won 8 of the last 9 games of the season and enter the tourney on a winning streak. Confidence can take you everywhere you want to go this time of year and the Pandas seem to have it. Twelve different players have scored this season but Emme Mulvena leads her team with 12 goals, 6 assists followed by Rekekah Haney with 6 goals, 1 assist, and Scarlett Walther 5 goals, 2 assists. Molly Murphy (55 saves) and Amelia Romagnoli (22 saves) lead the efforts in the cage.
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No. 6 Milford (7-7-1 regular season)
The Bucs had, quite possibly, the toughest end of season schedule of everyone in the tournament. I know Coach McPike well enough to say she would say we can’t make excuses, we have to get better. Credit to her Bucs for playing so well early on so when the going got tough, and it did, they still earned the opportunity to be in the post season conversation. This team lost a lot of experience to graduation so this group will have to figure out how the tournament feels and Isabel Betts, Leah Metzner, and goalkeeper Madison Stahl will have to help the younger players gain and keep composure. Katelyn Joseph leads with 10 goals, 5 assists and Bria Leyanna, Isabel Betts, and Molly Masten all have contributed 7 goals each. Stahl has 94 saves.
Division 2 Field Hockey
Teams with a First Round Bye:
No. 1 Wilmington Friends (14-1 regular season) The Quakers have had quite a season. This is another program that has been exciting to watch, build, and grow under Scott Clothier’s tutelage. His group of seniors will lead this team in all areas of play, they have the tournament experience and are well versed on the UD turf. Sprinkle in some juniors and an eighth grader, and you have the making of a very tough team. Molly Dolan leads with 21 goals, 11 assists, Ella Fontanazza 15 goals, 2 assists, Peyton Galbraith 13 goals, 11 assists, Lila Rubano 9 goals, 8 assists, and Sara Clothier 5 goals, 10 assists. Senior Anna Weiner has 60 saves in goal.
No. 2 Caravel Academy (12-2-1 regular season) The Bucs are strong as ever and only had one loss in state to D1 Smyrna. Sarah Broehl’s squad is always well coached and prepared for the tournament. The Bucs have speed, scoring can come from anywhere (16 players have scored) and they are gritty. Hailey Haynes leads with 13 goals, 10 assists, Carly Milhorn 10 goals, 2 assists, Sydney Holley 6 goals, 4 assists, and Rogue Nordin with 5 goals, 4 assists. Freshman Hartley Haynes has 59 saves in goal.
No. 3 Newark Charter (11-4 regular season) The Patriots went 8-0 before running into Caravel, Cape, Wilm Charter and Tatnall. Winning early was important to give them a chance with a tough end of season schedule. Stacey Spiker and her squad have been on the hunt for a title and in the mix for the past few seasons. An early tournament exit last season has them hungry this year, and with the likes of Audrey Nelson (25 goals, 5 assists), Alexandra Horning (8 goals, 5 assists), Mia Lang (8 goals, 2 assist) and Genevieve Walch (4 goals, 8 assists) they are certainly a fun team to watch. Two goalkeepers have seen action: Karly Estes (50 saves) and Saylor McGroarty (18 saves).
No. 4 Archmere Academy (10-5 regular season) The Auks are a tournament staple. Credit to Coach Dell’oso for the program’s consistency and high standard of play. This year’s team is a great mix of experience and youth so Auks fans have to be excited about where they are seeded. Two losses to top D1 schools and the other three were to the top three seeds, means they are exactly where they belong and have a great opportunity to win and advance. Bernadette Patino (13 goals, 14 assists) and Juliet Polsky (13 goals, 4 assists) are the heart of the offense followed by Lauren Wenger (7 goals, 9 assists). Goalkeepers Paige Noval (35 saves) and Brinton Harra (9 saves) have gotten the job done in the cage.
No. 8 Sussex Academy (9-6 regular season, 9-7 overall)
Caitlyn Hardy and her Seahawks had a great regular season, capping it off with a Henlopen Southern Division Championship. This program has been one to watch for several years now and continues to drive southern Delaware field hockey while making a name for itself. They play a very difficult schedule and are battle tested, ready for tournament play, and are young. Rostering on only 3 seniors, the tournament will be a new experience for many Seahawks this season. They are led by seniors Shea Danahy (8 goals, 3 assists), Ryan Lowe (11 goals, 9 assists) and goalkeeper Kacie Rawlings (106 saves). Junior Bailey Mears has contributed 11 goals and 2 assists.
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No. 9 Sanford (9-6 regular season)
The Warriors broke my top ten mid-season and went on a streak, winning five games in a row to become a real contender and in the conversation weekly. Head coach Katie Weaver, assisted by former University of Delaware skipper Rolf van de Kerkhof, put the Warriors on this path to the tournament and never looked back. To win it all they will have to figure out how to get past the Seahawks and/or Wilmington Friends/Tatnall as they handed them 2 losses each during the regular season as they played both teams twice – great strength of schedule! Julia Caldwell is their leader (15 goals, 4 assists), followed by Siena Cadungog (5 goals, 6 assists) who is just a freshman. Lindsay Fletcher has 131 saves in goal.
No. 5 Ursuline (11-4 regular season)
The Raiders are hot finishing the regular season on a nine game win streak. They also broke my top ten mid-season and never looked back. Coach Lindsay Russell has her team primed and ready, playing some of their best hockey, peaking at the right time as they enter the tournament. Her roster is one of the most balanced I’ve seen, about five players from each grade level, which bodes well now and for the future. That’s how you keep yourself in the conversation. Here’s your top three on offense: Senior Samantha Weinert (9 goals, 6 assists), Sophomore Kendall Gulli (9 goals, 7assists) and Senior Katherine Layton (5 goals, 4 assists) . Georgia Rassias in goal has 86 saves on the season.
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No.12 Tatnall (7-8 regular season)
Kelsey Martin’s Hornets are at the 12 seed a game below .500 but had a challenging schedule and got off to a slow start this season. The good news is they regained momentum right at the end headed to tournament time. With a roster full of seniors, they can lean into their experience and team chemistry to see what they can do against the Ursuline Raiders. Anastasia Tsatsaronis leads the offense with 11 goals, 2 assists and multiple players have 3 goals each: Ava Simpers, Sutton Matter, Madelyn Farewell, and Riley Alexander. Senior goalkeeper Sophia Sirotinin-Remmel has 41 saves for the Hornets.
No. 7 Indian River (11-4 regular season)
What a season for the Indians and Coach Torrie Huk! She dialed up the difficulty and her team responded this season. Four losses to top teams (Cape and CR in D1) and they never looked back. Huk, a Sussex Tech grad, is back home in Sussex County and making her mark. The core of this team are seniors and that’s what has them in the No. 7 seed, experience and wanting to make this season special as seniors. Led by Baylie Williamson (26 goals, 9 assists) who’s speed will be a factor, Ella Peterson (10 goals, 10 assists), Brynn Knight (7 goals, 4 assists), and Kacie Kirschner (6 goals) round out the senior power for the Indians.
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No. 10 Lake Forest (10-5 regular season)
Crazy as it sounds, Michele Tucker and the Spartans are in what I would consider a little bit of a rebuilding year after a talented graduating class a year ago. That said, here they are as the ten seed. Familiar names like Rylin (14 goals, 3 assist) and Rowan McCloskey (10 goals, 3 assists), Savannah Messick (12 goals), Ashley Robbins (10 goals, 4 assists), and goalkeeper Jessica Lewis (67 saves) are joined by a new crop of freshmen who will experience tournament play for the first time. We’ll see how they handle the pressure – these two teams met in the regular season with a nod to IR but this time will feel different, and Coach Tucker will have the Spartans prepared, there’s no doubt about that.
No. 6 Tower Hill (9-6 regular season)
The Hillers are just another team who plays such a difficult regular season schedule. They play the top teams in Division 1 and Division 2. They just handed Wilmington Friends their first loss of the season in OT to cap the regular season, a thrilling end to a strong season. Lindsay Goeller brings her team back to the tourney with hopes of moving on. That has not been the case for the past three seasons with losses in the first round. This team has plenty of experience to see them through, but they have to execute that on game day. Junior Charlotte Vanni (11 goals, 6 assists), junior Hailey Allen (10 goals, 9 assists), senior Ella Vanni (7 goals), and sophomore Molly Gallagher (7 goals, 5 assists) lead the offense. Joie Quinlan has 98 saves in goal.
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11 Concord (9-6 regular season)
The Raiders have been a little inconsistent this season when you look at the schedule but what they aren’t inconsistent about is being a tournament team. They are no strangers to the post season and represent the Blue Hen Flight B teams well. The Raiders have been a tournament team every year since 2016, but need to get over the hurdle of the first round. They have a “hill to climb”, but it comes down to game day and the Raiders need to bring their “A” game. Sophomore Brynn Ellis leads the offense (13 goals, 10 assists), along with Victoria Romeo (7 goals, 1 assist), and Ciara Mullenix (5 goals, 6 assists). They have tried several goalkeepers but seems to be the steady Emma Powell (96 saves).
Lock in folks, it should be an exciting ride in both divisions to another field hockey championship and we will crown a brand new champion in division 2. Follow me on X, subscribe to 302 Sports and be sure to join our broadcasts of semifinal and final action on the NFHS network.
Please follow me on X (Twitter) @STimmons302, @302sports
Semi Finals and Finals will be held at Rullo Stadium, University of Delaware Campus, Newark, DE and streamed live on the NFHS Network .
