The final week of the regular season has arrived for all sports except football, and there are still lots of big contests on tap. Whether teams are making a state tournament push or not, they are happy to have had a season, which was far from certain a few months ago.
Girls
Field hockey
Monday
St. Elizabeth (0-11) at Hodgson (3-7), 3 p.m.
Wilmington Charter (5-4) at Ursuline (5-5), 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday
Archmere (8-1) at MOT Charter (3-5-2), 3 p.m.
Wednesday
Archmere at Newark Charter (8-0), 11 a.m. The Auks and Patriots have a coffee-break game that will determine the winner of the Diamond State Athletic Conference. The Auks have a high-scoring offense, but Newark Charter has given up just one goal all season, posting seven consecutive shutouts.
Saturday
Archmere at Wilmington Charter, 3 p.m.
Volleyball
Monday
Wilmington Friends (8-1) at Ursuline (5-5), 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday
St. Elizabeth (2-9) at Delaware Military Academy (7-3), 6:30 p.m.
Padua (8-1) at Saint Mark’s (9-0), 7:15 p.m. The rivals meet in a match that could affect where each is seeded in the state tournament. The Spartans defeated the Pandas on Broom Street in late October, something the Pandas certainly will have in mind when they get to Saint Mark’s.
Saturday
Padua at Wilmington Friends, 5 p.m. The last day of the regular season includes two stellar matchups, beginning with this one at Friends. The Quakers are extremely athletic, with a superb defense. They will be put to the test against the Pandas’ big front line.
Saint Mark’s at Ursuline, 6:15 p.m. This matchup has been the final one on the state’s regular-season schedule, and why not? This year, the Spartans and Raiders wrap up the slate at Ursuline, which promises to be loud even with limited attendance. Expect lots of great defense from two programs that cover the floor as well as anyone.
Boys
Soccer
Monday
St. Elizabeth (2-8) at Hodgson (3-6), 3 p.m.
Saint Mark’s (6-3-1) at Newark Charter (8-0-1), 3 p.m.
Tuesday
MOT Charter (6-4) at Archmere (3-1-2), 3 p.m.
St. Elizabeth at A.I. DuPont (0-7), 5:15 p.m.
Wilmington Friends (7-2-1) at Salesianum (7-1), 7 p.m.
Wednesday
Archmere at Delaware Military (4-5-1), 4:30 p.m.
Friday
Newark Charter at Archmere, 1 p.m. The Diamond State Athletic Conference title is on the line in this matinee in Claymont. The Patriots have conceded just three goals all year, while Archmere will be playing its third game in four days.
Saturday
Brandywine (7-1) at Saint Mark’s, 1 p.m. The Spartans welcome the Bulldogs on the final day of the regular season for what promises to be an up-and-down match. Brandywine brings the heat with a veteran lineup, including high-scoring John Murphy. They will test the Spartans, who get scoring from a number of players, including senior Ryan Farina.
Wilmington Charter (4-4) at Salesianum, 7 p.m.
Football
Friday
Salesianum (3-2) at Sussex Central (3-2), 7 p.m. Both teams need wins to keep their postseason hopes alive. The Sals are coming off a convincing performance against Hodgson, while the Golden Knights blanked Sussex Tech in their most recent game.
Saint Mark’s (4-1) vs. St. Elizabeth (2-3), 7 p.m. at Saint Mark’s
Saturday
Delaware Military (4-0) at Archmere (5-0), 11 a.m. The Seahawks travel to meet the Auks in a game that could have major implications in the Division II state tournament picture. The Auks will test the DMA defense with a balanced air and ground attack led by quarterback Chris Albero, but their defense will need to find a way to stop Seahawks running back Devon Green, a task other opponents have found nearly impossible.
