Middletown girls soccer remains undefeated

Middletown Girls soccer Gabby Rileyscored two goals in the win over Saint Marks. Photo courtesy of Middletown Girls Soccer Facebook

On a rainy Friday evening the 11-1 St. Marks girls’ soccer team visited Cavalier Stadium and the 12-0 Middletown squad in what many considered a potential state final matchup of days gone bye before most Delaware sports switched over to a multi division format.

Back and forth they went early as both teams seemed content to kick and chase despite having talent up and down the field.

St. Marks’ Lily Phillips found Emma Manley multiple times early but were unable to secure any quality scoring opportunities while the Cavaliers found their own offense rhythm 15 minutes into the first half that culminated with a goal in the 18th minute as Gabby Riley found the back of the net off a Cavalier corner kick.

The goal seemed to energize the Cavaliers. Riley and company pushed forward with run after run putting pressure on the Spartan defense who found themselves on their heels until the 7 minute mark when Lily Holcroft found the ball at her feet from about 8 yards out.

Holcroft turned a fired a left footed shot back across the goal mouth into the far side netting to put Middletown up 2-0 with time left to spare in the half. For the first time this season the visiting Spartans found themselves with little to no answers for the opposing team’s offensive attack.

The Cavalier offensive pressure continued into the second half as the Middletown passing continued to keep the Spartans off balance despite the wet conditions. Then just 4 minutes into the half, the home team secured a free kick from 25 yards out.

Gabby Riley sent a low shot skipping off the wet turf past a diving Marissa Cirillo to give the Cavaliers a 3-0 lead.

St. Marks did not go away quietly. In the 50th minute, St Marks’ Ava Frohnapfel, who coincidently gave up the foul that lead to Middletown’s 3rd goal, redirected a St. Marks corner into the back of the net for their first goal of the match.

With 16:06 to go in the game, the Spartans struck again. Emma Manley drove a shot past a diving keeper as her momentum drove her out of bounds and to the ground but not before making the score 3-2.

St. Marks continued to put their own pressure on the Cavalier defense but were unable to pull even on the scoreboard as the Cavaliers held on for their 13th win of the season.

It’s a win that should surely give the Middletown squad a boost of confidence as they head into state tournament play in coming up in less than 2 weeks.