Welcome to the Corner Scoop Week 8, where the stakes are high, and there is some fierce competition between teams in the top 10. Welcome to the Conrad Red Wolves as they find themselves among the top teams for the first time this week. With one undefeated team left, Newark Charter is now the state’s only undefeated team, and I’m sure Coach Spiker and the Patriots are excited about their chances moving forward. It’s the time of year when the rubber meets the road, and all the preparation, perseverance, and determination paid off. What will the regular season records be, and how will these teams fair as the 2024 State Tournament begins to take shape? Good luck to all, as most teams finish up the regular season this week.
Games this week are from Oct. 21-25.
Division 1 Field Hockey
No. 1 Cape Henlopen (12-1): The Vikings ran into the D2 State Champion Delmar Wildcats who handed them their first loss of the season. They will travel for the last two games of the regular season: at Sussex Tech on Tuesday and at Sussex Central on Thursday. A 14-1 team last season that graduated 11 seniors, Head Coach Kate Austin has her young team in top form.
No. 2 Smyrna (10-2): The Eagles regained the No. 2 spot this week after picking up two more wins last week. The Eagles haven’t lost a game since the rematch of the 2023 title game against Cape Henlopen way back on September 12th. With three games left, they hosted Polyech on Monday and travel to Dover Thursday, before Coach Moffett turns her team’s attention to tournament play.
No. 3 Middletown (12-1): The Cavaliers move up a spot in the rankings and will travel to DMA on Tuesday and then host Newark on Wednesday. They have improved on the 11-4 record from a season ago.
No. 4 Charter School of Wilmington (10-3): The Force dropped a game to Newark Charter from the D2 side of hockey and will finish their regular season on the road at Appoquinimink on Wednesday in a night game. As a 10-5 team a year ago, head Coach Michelle Guenther has them on pace again this season.
No. 5 Odessa (9-2): The Ducks rebounded last week, picking up three wins. They host Delcastle Monday night, Brandywine on Tuesday, and travel to Padua Friday. They have an eye on surpassing their 10-5 record from a year ago.
No. 6 Milford (8-4): The Bucs move back up a spot in the rankings, host CR Tuesday, and travel to Polytech on Thursday. They need to pick up a few wins and finish the season as strong as they started it.
No. 7 Sussex Tech (7-3-1): The Ravens have played well this season and will finish up on their home field. They will host No. 1 Cape Henlopen Tuesday and CR Thursday. This is a much improved team from a 3-12 record last season. Kudos to Head Coach Robin Verdery.
No. 8 Conrad (8-5) Congratulations to the Red Wolves as they enter the top ten this week. Conrad hosts DMA Tuesday and travels to the Chase Fieldhouse to take on St. Elizabeth’s Thursday to finish out their regular season.
No. 9 Caesar Rodney (6-7): The Riders travel this week to play Tuesday at Milford and Thursday at Sussex Tech. They have their work cut out for them with two top 10 teams.
No. 10 St. George’s (6-7): St. George’s picked up two wins as it approaches the .500 mark for the season. It will host William Penn on Wednesday and travel to Brandywine on Friday.
Division 2 Field Hockey
No 1. Newark Charter (14-0): The Patriots remain in the No.1 spot as head coach Stacey Spiker and her Patriots remain undefeated and are the only underfeated team left. They will finish their regular season Tuesday at Sanford and then wait for their tournament seeding.
No 2. Delmar (12-1): The Wildcats captured a big win over D1 reigning state champs, the Vikings of Cape Henlopen. That game is always a great battle between two powerhouse teams, but Coach Hollamon has her team ready and in tournament shape. They have two regular-season games to finish the season. This week, they will play at Laurel on Tuesday and return home against Seaford on Thursday.
No 3. Saint Mark’s (10-3): The Spartans improved to 10-3, going 1-1 last week. They will finish the regular season on the road at the Chase Fieldhouse on Tuesday to take on Padua and then at Sussex Academy on Thursday (tentative date). The head-to-head competition with Sussex Academy could reshuffle the top 10 headed into the tournament.
No 4 Sussex Academy (10-3): The Seahawks improved to 10-3, going 2-0 last week and now have the same record as Saint Mark’s. They finish the regular season at home with games on Monday vs. Woodbridge and Thursday vs. Saint Mark’s (tentative date).
No 5 Wilmington Friends (10-1-1): The Quakers continue to improve but don’t cross over into the Henlopen conference like St. Mark’s and Sussex Academy, so they stay at No. 5 based on their strength of schedule. Friends will travel to Sanford on Thursday and return home Saturday to face Tower Hill.
No. 6 Caravel (9-4): The Bucs will finish the regular season on the road and need to play well to gain traction in seeding for the tournament. They will travel to Lake Forest on Monday and to Notre Dame Prep (MD) on Wednesday to make up a previously scheduled game.
No. 7 Archmere (9-4): The Auks take over the 7th spot this week as they keep finding ways to win. They will travel to Tower Hill on Tuesday and host Tatnall on Thursday, looking to finish their regular season on a high note.
No. 8 Indian River (8-5): The Indians are coming off a tough week with losses against Smyrna and Milford that cost them one spot in the rankings. They will need to regroup this week as they host Seaford on Tuesday and travel to Lake Forest on Thursday.
No. 9 Lake Forest (8-5): The Spartans have two tough games left in the regular season but will have home field advantage for both. The Bucs of Caraval roll in Monday evening, and Indian River arrives in Felton on Thursday. No doubt these will be exciting games and could affect rankings.
No. 10 Tower Hill (7-5): The Hillers are one of the few teams that still have three games to play. They will host Archmere on Tuesday and then go on the road Thursday at St. Andrew’s and Saturday at Wilmington Friends.
Please follow me on Twitter (X) @STimmons302, @302sports (Delaware Live)
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