All of the regular season is done, and now, for some teams, the second season has begun. Girls tournament action is under way in lacrosse, soccer and tennis, with softball getting started later this week.
In the sports remaining, Archmere is the only defending champion among Catholic high school teams. The Auks won Division II girls soccer last spring, and they are back in the field in 2024. They also have two defending individual state tennis champions, and both have advanced to the quarterfinals of that tournament.
Tickets for all events are available at https://gofan.co/app/school/DIAA. Locations and times of games are subject to change.
Soccer
Wednesday, May 22
Division II first round: No. 8 Ursuline (9-6-1) at No. 1 Saint Mark’s (13-2), 6 p.m. The Raiders visit the Spartans in a quarterfinal-round match. Ursuline defeated Sanford, 1-0, to advance. This will be a rematch of a game on May 8, won the Saint Mark’s, 7-1. The Spartans like to get the offense moving, scoring nearly five goals per game. The Raiders typically play a more defensive game.
Thursday, May 23
Division II first round: No. 7 Newark Charter (10-6) at No. 2 Archmere (13-2), 4 p.m. The Auks open defense of their 2023 championship at home against Diamond State Athletic Conference foe Newark Charter. The Patriots and Auks met in Newark on March 26, with the Auks winning, 2-0. Newark Charter has played a tough schedule in anticipation of postseason challenges, Archmere has lost only to the top seed in Division I, Middletown, and the top seed in Division II, Saint Mark’s.
Division I quarterfinal: No. 6 Padua (6-8) at No. 3 Polytech (11-2), 4 p.m. A very young Pandas team earned a berth in the state tournament thanks to their strength of schedule, and they’ll open with the Panthers, whose two defeats came to Division II powers. Padua will have to find a way to solve a Polytech team that posted six shutout wins this season
Softball
Thursday, May 23
First round: Winner of No. 19 Sussex Tech-No 14 Middletown at No. 3 Saint Mark’s (14-3), 4 p.m. The Spartans continued their success of the past couple seasons while breaking in new pitchers. In addition to the pitching, Saint Mark’s was solid on defense, and their bats are potent. Their losses came to the teams seeded second, fourth and fifth in the tournament.
Saturday, May 25
Second round: If Saint Mark’s advances, the Spartans would host either No. 22 Concord, No. 11 Polytech, or No. 6 Cape Henlopen at 4 p.m.
Tennis
Tuesday, May 21
Quarterfinals, 3:30 p.m. at Caesar Rodney, Dover and Smyrna high schools. Archmere has participants remaining in all five positions. Ursuline and Padua each have a player left in first singles, and the Raiders also have a player still alive in third singles.
Wednesday, May 22
Semifinals, 3:30 p.m. at St. Andrew’s School and Middletown High School
Thursday, May 23
Finals, 2 p.m. at St. Andrew’s School, Middletown
