It’s field hockey season once again for girls at Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Wilmington. Penalty corners and tomahawking are back in fashion beginning Sept. 4 for four of the six teams, with another getting started on Sept. 5. St. Elizabeth will not play a game until next week.
Wednesday, Sept. 4
Tatnall vs. Padua, 3:45 p.m. at Chase Fieldhouse. A new year brings new optimism for Padua, which struggled through its 2023 campaign. They’ll get some goals from Emme Mulvena, Ava King, Rebekah Haney and Audrey Kehner, and one of the best backstops in the state returns in goal in Taylor Kozink. The Pandas will be playing a formidable schedule. After opening with the Hornets, they’ll also face Newark Charter, who reached the Division II state championship game last season, along with Saint Mark’s, Wilmington Charter, Archmere, Smyrna, Caravel and Cape Henlopen.
Home games in CAPS (all games at 3:45 p.m. except where noted)
Sept. 4: TATNALL, at Chase Fieldhouse
Sept. 7: NEWARK CHARTER, 7:30 p.m. at Abessinio Stadium
Sept. 10: URSULINE, at Chase Fieldhouse
Sept. 13: vs. St. Elizabeth, 3:30 p.m. at Chase Fieldhouse
Sept. 15: SMYRNA, 12:30 p.m. in the Turf Bowl, Rullo Stadium, University of Delaware
Sept. 17: at Caravel, 6:15 p.m.
Sept. 24: at Saint Mark’s
Sept. 27: at Ursuline
Sept. 30: at Wilmington Charter
Oct. 3: APPOQUINIMINK, at Chase Fieldhouse
Oct. 8: ARCHMERE, at Chase Fieldhouse
Oct. 12: at Cape Henlopen, 11 a.m.
Oct. 15: at Tower Hill
Oct. 22: SAINT MARK’S, at Chase Fieldhouse
Oct 25: ODESSA, 5:15 p.m. at Chase Fieldhouse
Saint Mark’s at Ursuline, 3:45 p.m. A veteran Spartans team gets the season going with a battle against rival Ursuline at Serviam Field.
Saint Mark’s posted a 13-3 mark last year, earning the fourth seed in the Division II state tournament. They were upset in the first round, but many of the key players who got then that seed have returned.
The Spartans take on Archmere, Caravel and Wilmington Charter, and they close with a visit to Sussex Academy.
Saint Mark’s
Home games in CAPS (all games at 3:45 p.m. except where noted)
Sept. 4: at Ursuline
Sept. 10: NEWARK CHARTER
Sept. 14: vs. Archmere, 7 p.m. at the Turf Bowl, Rullo Stadium, University of Delaware
Sept. 16: at William Penn, 4 p.m.
Sept. 23: ST. ELIZABETH, 5:45 p.m.
Sept. 24: PADUA
Sept. 28: CARAVEL, noon
Oct. 2: at Concord, 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 4: at St. Georges
Oct. 8: MILFORD, 4 p.m.
Oct. 10: BRANDYWINE
Oct. 15: at Wilmington Charter
Oct 17: WOODBRIDGE, 4 p.m.
Oct. 22: vs. Padua, at Chase Fieldhouse
Oct 24: at Sussex Academy, 5:30 p.m.
Ursuline
Home games in CAPS (all games at 3:45 p.m. except where noted)
Sept. 4: SAINT MARK’S
Sept. 10: vs. Padua at Chase Fieldhouse
Sept. 12: at Caravel, 6:15 p.m.
Sept. 14: vs. Brandywine, 2:30 p.m. at the Turf Bowl, Rullo Satdium, University of Delaware
Sept. 18: ST. GEORGES
Sept. 20: at Delaware Military
Sept. 25: SANFORD
Sept. 27: PADUA
Oct. 1: ODESSA
Oct. 8: vs. St. Elizabeth at Serviam Field
Oct. 10: WILMINGTON CHARTER
Oct. 14: WILLIAM PENN
Oct 16: at Wilmington Friends
Oct. 18: WILMINGTON CHRISTIAN
Oct 25: HODGSON
Archmere at Smyrna, 4 p.m. The Auks and Eagles will meet for the fourth straight season, with Smyrna coming away with close wins the first three times. Archmere has been one of Division II’s best programs the past few seasons, reaching the championship game in 2022 and the quarterfinals last year. Top returning scorers include seniors Maura Read and Carly Polsky, and Caeli McAlonan gives the Auks some experience in net.
They’ll open with four straight and six of seven on the road. In addition to Smyrna — who has been in the Division I finals the last two years, winning in 2022 — the Auks will face teams such as Saint Mark’s, Caravel, Wilmington Charter and Tower Hill.
Home games in CAPS
Sept. 4: at Smyrna, 4 p.m.
Sept. 6: at Wilmington Friends, 4 p.m.
Sept. 10: at Conrad, 3:45 p.m.
Sept. 14: at Saint Mark’s, 7 p.m.
Sept. 17: SANFORD, 3:45 p.m.
Sept. 19: vs. St. Elizabeth at Chase Fieldhouse, 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 24: at Caravel, 6:15 p.m.
Sept. 26: APPOQUINIMINK, 3:45 p.m.
Oct. 8: vs. Padua at Chase Fieldhouse, 3:45 p.m.
Oct. 10: NEWARK CHARTER, 3:45 p.m.
Oct. 12: at Delaware Military, 11 a.m.
Oct. 15: MOT CHARTER, 3:45 p.m.
Oct 19: WILMINGTON CHARTER, 12:30 p.m.
Oct. 22: at Tower Hill, 3:45 p.m.
Oct 24: TATNALL, 3:45 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 5
Ss. Peter and Paul at Severn, 4 p.m. The Sabres got started on Sept. 3 at home against Milford (Del.). Ss. Peter and Paul is coming off a 14-2 season that ended with an ESIAC championship. Senior Katie Murphy leads a team that graduated several talented players but always seems to reload, not rebuild.
Home games in CAPS (all games begin at 4 p.m. except where noted)
Sept. 5: at Severn
Sept. 11: TOME
Sept. 13: at Gunston
Sept. 16: at Delmarva Christian (Del.)
Sept. 18: GUNSTON
Sept. 23: at John Carroll
Sept. 27: INDIAN CREEK
Sept. 30: ANNAPOLIS
Oct. 2: ANNAPOLIS AREA CHRISTIAN
Oct. 4: DELMARVA CHRISTIAN (Del.)
Oct. 7: at St. Paul’s, 4:15 p.m.
Oct. 10: CARAVEL (Del.)
Oct. 12: at Mount DeSales, 10:30 a.m.
Friday, Sept. 6
Archmere at Wilmington Friends, 4 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 7
Newark Charter vs. Padua, 7:30 p.m. at Abessinio Stadium
