MILLTOWN — The Saint Mark’s girls soccer team wrapped up a challenging seven-day stretch in which they played Division II’s top contenders in fine fashion, defeating defending state champion Archmere, 4-2, at the Graveyard on April 30.
The Spartans went 1-1-1 against the triumvirate of Caravel, Sussex Academy and the Auks. Those three teams are now a combined 25-3-2. Of course, the Spartans are right there with them, with a record of 8-1 after their latest victory. Tuesday’s win was a measure of revenge against the Auks, who defeated the Spartans in last year’s championship game.
The Auks opened with the early momentum, with their best chance coming in the seventh minute when Haley Schleeweis missed just high on a 25-yard blast. Gradually, however, Saint Mark’s turned the balance in their favor, and they applied lots of heat to the Archmere defense.
Lily Phillips and Emma Manley were responsible for much of the offensive pressure, which resulted in a few kicks that missed the net, two corner kicks and two saves by Auks keeper Gabby Fernandez. Her second save, on a shot by Brynn Casapulla, led to a third Spartans corner kick, and the inbounds pass was headed in by Giana DiFebbo in the 22nd minute.
Phillips nearly doubled the lead off a counter in the next minute, firing a shot off the underside of the crossbar, but the ball stayed out. The Auks managed to get a shot on Spartans keeper Marissa Cirillo after that, but Cirillo made the save. The Spartans played the ball to midfield, and Whitney Evancho let a rocket go from approximately 40 yards out that sailed over the outstretched hands of Fernandez and into the top corner for the 2-0 lead.
That was the halftime score, but it didn’t stay that way for long. Cirillo made a stop in the 42nd, but she had no chance in the 44th when Lyla Bell converted a penalty kick to get the Auks on the board.
Bell had a chance to tie it shortly thereafter, but her free kick from about 25 yards out was blocked by Cirillo.
Saint Mark’s got some breathing room in the 58th minute. The Spartans stole a throw-in, and Phillips sent a long through ball down the right side for Manley. Her sharp-angle attempt may have glanced off Fernandez before finding an opening on the short side.
Archmere had much of the possession through the middle part of the second half, but they couldn’t get too much on net. Suddenly, however, they were right back in the contest after Marina Mahon corralled a loose ball some 45 yards from the net and sent a perfectly placed shot into the left side of the net to cut the Spartans’ advantage back to a goal.
Mahon nearly tied the score in the 73rd, booming a shot that handcuffed Cirillo and started trickling toward the goal line. Cirillo recovered and was able to fall on the ball.
Manley picked up her second with an insurance marker with just a few minutes remaining.
Final statistics were not available late Tuesday night. Saint Mark’s plays the fourth of seven straight at home on Thursday at 7 p.m. against Newark Charter. Archmere (8-2) returns home Thursday to meet Delaware Military at 3:45 p.m.
Photos by Mike Lang.
