With the last three weeks of regular-season competition under way in most sports, teams are finding out where they might be seeded in their respective state tournaments. There are some big games coming up that will have postseason implications.
The volleyball courts around the diocese will be filled with big matches this week, including at Padua, which welcomes an undefeated foe from New Jersey. Ss. Peter and Paul wraps up another successful field hockey regular season before moving on to the ESIAC championship game.
In boys’ sports, Saint Mark’s soccer meets up once more with Caravel in what has become quite the rivalry. And football gets an extra day of action, with Archmere kicking off at Mount Pleasant on Thursday.
Check schedules to make sure dates and times haven’t changed. Also, some schools require tickets to be purchased in advance or online or both.
Girls
Volleyball
Tuesday, Oct. 8
Gunston at St. Peter and Paul, 5 p.m.
MOT Charter (7-2) at St. Elizabeth (2-6), 5:30 p.m.
Archmere (5-4) at Delaware Military (4-4), 6 p.m.
Paul VI (N.J.) at Padua (8-2), 7 p.m. The Pandas welcome the undefeated Eagles to Broom Street in what has become an annual must-watch on the schedule. These teams have gone five sets in each of the last three seasons, with Padua taking two of those. Paul VI has lost just five sets in 14 matches, although most of them are best of three.
Smyrna (6-4) at Saint Mark’s (7-2), 7:15 p.m. The Eagles are the reigning state champions, but the players who returned this season no doubt remember that it was the Spartans who were the lone team to hang a loss on them last season.
Thursday, Oct. 10
Ursuline (7-2) at St. Elizabeth, 5:30 p.m.
Saint Mark’s at Appoquinimink (6-1), 6 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 11
Archmere at Conrad (5-3), 4:15 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 12
Cape Henlopen (7-2) vs. Ursuline, 3 p.m. at Salesianum. The Raiders welcome the Vikings to their temporary home for their annual battle. Cape is once again back on top of the Henlopen North, featuring a powerful front line. That should make for quite an offensive show since the Raiders also possess a plethora of front-line talent.
Field hockey
Tuesday, Oct. 8
Archmere (6-3) vs. Padua (3-6), 3:45 p.m. at Chase Fieldhouse
Ursuline (3-4) vs. St. Elizabeth (3-5), 3:45 p.m. at Serviam Field
Milford (5-3) at Saint Mark’s (7-2), 4 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 10
Delaware Military (1-7) vs. St. Elizabeth, 3:30 p.m. at Chase Fieldhouse
Newark Charter (10-0) at Archmere, 3:45 p.m. Newark Charter allowed a goal eight minutes into the first game of the season, and no one has scored on the Patriots since. They are also the highest-scoring team in the state in either Division I or II. The Auks have gotten outstanding play from goalie Caeli McAlonan; she and the scorers, including Maura Read and Carly Polsky, will need to be at the top of their games.
Brandywine (3-3) at Saint Mark’s, 3:45 p.m.
Wilmington Charter (8-2) at Ursuline, 3:45 p.m.
Caravel (6-4) at Ss. Peter and Paul (10-3), 5 p.m. The Sabres welcome Caravel to Easton. The Buccaneers started the season with six wins in their first seven games, but the offense has struggled since then. Ss. Peter and Paul has mowed through its schedule, having won five straight before suffering a loss on Oct. 7. The Sabres have reached double figures in goals six times this season.
Saturday, Oct. 12
Ss. Peter and Paul at Mt. DeSales, 10:30 a.m.
Padua at Cape Henlopen (9-0), 11 a.m.
Cross country
Tuesday, Oct. 8
Conrad and Wilmington Christian vs. Archmere, 3:30 p.m. at Bellevue State Park
Ss. Peter and Paul, Salisbury Christian, and the Salisbury School at Worcester Prep, 4 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 13
Padua at Manhattan Invitational, Van Cortlandt Park (N.Y.)
Soccer
Tuesday, Oct. 8
Gunston at Ss. Peter and Paul (6-3), 4 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 10
Worcester Prep at Ss. Peter and Paul, 3:45 p.m.
Boys
Soccer
Tuesday, Oct. 8
Saint Mark’s (5-2) vs. St. Elizabeth (0-7), 3:30 p.m. at Banning Park
Tatnall (5-2) at Archmere (3-5), 3:45 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 9
Boys Latin at Ss. Peter and Paul (2-5), 4 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 10
Saint Mark’s at Caravel (6-2), 6:15 p.m. The Spartans and Bucs have played some momentous games over the past few seasons. Their last meeting came in the Division II quarterfinals last November, with the Spartans getting the 1-0 win. This year’s Caravel squad has not had trouble scoring, so this might be a bit of a shootout.
Archmere at Newark Charter (5-2-2), 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 11
Ss. Peter and Paul at Indian Creek, 4 p.m.
Kingsway (N.J.) at Salesianum (3-4-1), 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 12
Newark Charter vs. St. Elizabeth, 10:30 a.m.
Archmere at Woodbridge (2-5), noon
Cross country
Tuesday, Oct. 8
Conrad and Wilmington Christian vs. Archmere, 3:30 p.m. at Bellevue State Park
Wednesday, Oct. 9
Ss. Peter and Paul, Indian Creek and Key at Gunston, 4 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 12
Salesianum at Manhattan Invitational, Van Cortlandt Park (N.Y.)
Football
Thursday, Oct. 10
Archmere (4-1) at Mount Pleasant (4-1), 3:30 p.m. The Auks and Green Knights are playing a Thursday matinee because of the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. Archmere has gotten the best of Mount in recent years, but the Auks should not underestimate the Green Knights, who have won four straight.
Friday, Oct. 11
Saint Mark’s (3-2) at Appoquinimink (5-0), 7 p.m. The Spartans take on one of the highest-scoring teams in the state in the undefeated Jaguars. Appo’s passing attack has given opponents fits, so the Spartans may rely more than usual on their rushing attack in an attempt to keep Appoquinimink’s offense off the field.
Saturday, Oct. 12
St. Elizabeth (2-3) at Wilmington Charter (1-3), 11 a.m. The Vikings hit the road to take on a Class 1A finalist from last season. The Force have two quality runners in Amir Scott and Jeremiah Pressey-Fullman, while the Vikings counter with Ryan McCormac and the passing game of quarterback Cole Andrews.
Salesianum (4-1) at William Penn (2-3), noon. The Sals can’t look past the Colonials with Appo looming next week. In four wins, Salesianum has allowed a total of 22 points, and they’ll want to keep that level of defense against Penn.
