BEAR — Two of the best girls soccer programs in Delaware met in a battle of unbeatens on April 3, and Caravel, the defending Division II state champion, managed two second-half goals to edge Saint Mark’s, 2-1.
The Spartans, who were the top seed in last season’s Division II state tournament, entered the contest with a 4-0 mark, while the host Buccaneers were 2-0. The teams played an entertaining, physical brand of soccer with an outcome that wasn’t certain until the final whistle blew.
Caravel had the better opportunities in the early going, including a corner kick in the 11th minute and a free kick from 20 yards out that missed high. They had the Spartans on their heels for a bit, but Saint Mark’s took advantage of a chance to take the lead.
In the 16th minute, the Spartans had a throw-in deep in the corner to the left of Bucs goakeeper Taylor Fitzgerald. Emma Manley (St. John the Beloved Parish) received the ball near the sideline and managed to work around a pair of Buccaneers before lofting a shot toward the net. Fitzgerald watched as the ball went over her head and bounced into the far side of the net for the 1-0 Spartans lead.
Fitzgerald and her Saint Mark’s counterpart, Emma Gibbons, helped prevent any other scoring for the next 30 minutes of game action. The Buccaneers spent several minutes of the first half after Manley’s goal in their offensive zone, but they could not get set up as the Spartans aggressively marked them at every turn. After turning the momentum, the Spartans put the heat on the Bucs. They had a pair of corner kicks in the 37th minute, but Fitzgerald made a combined three saves on those plays. Caravel had a stellar opportunity in the last 30 seconds of the half after Gibbons came off her line, but a defensive player made a stop to keep the Spartans ahead at the half.
Gibbons made a save in the 45th minute, but she had no chance two minutes later. The Bucs’ Lillian O’Brien had the ball about 25 yards out to Gibbons’ left, and she rocketed a shot into the upper left corner to tie the score.
Caravel took the lead in the 55th on a corner kick. The inbounds kick was headed straight up by a Spartans defender, and the Bucs’ Taylor Abe sent a header directly to the foot of Hailey Haynes, who hit an open net.
There was still plenty of time to try to equalize, and the Spartans had some chances. A free kick in the 56th minute was headed just wide, as was a corner kick two minutes after that. Fitzgerald caught a free kick, and she stopped another shot in the closing minutes.
Fitzgerald made seven saves, and Abe had assists on both goals. Caravel (3-0) hosts Tower Hill on Friday at 6:15 p.m.
Saint Mark’s had an 8-6 shot advantage and earned five corner kicks to Caravel’s three. Gibbons had four saves. The Spartans (4-1) continue to challenge themselves; they’ll host Division I power Appoquinimink on April 7 at 4 p.m.
Photos by Mike Lang.
