Players to Watch: Delaware HS Girls Finals

Delaware High School girls soccer is down to four teams left with a rematch of the Middletown Derby played in the final a year ago and a battle between a Cinderella and perennial power set for Cape Henlopen on Saturday.   Here's a look at some players to watch in the doubleheader, which kicks off with the DIAA Division 1 final at 4 p.m. between top seed and defending champs Middletown and No. 2 seed Appoquinimink, followed by the Division 2 final at 7 p.m. between No. 3 seed Caravel Academy vs No. 8 seed Ursuline Academy.    Riley practically willed her team to victory in last year's final and will be the focal point of the attack again as Middletown looks to claim their second straight state title playing in the final for the third year in a row.   The University of Delaware commit has been scoring goals pretty much when she wants this season, including a hat trick in Middletown's win over Appo earlier in the season. Another win over the crosstown rivals would be a dream way to cap a great career.     Appo has a young team with just two seniors on the roster and as one of the returning captains from last year's state finalist squad, Whary - along with fellow defender and classmate Amber Clever - will have the task of keeping the dangerous Middletown attack in check.   Offensively, the Jaguars create a lot of offense pressuring the ball in the final third but this leaves the back sometimes vulnerable to direct play, which Middletown has played to its benefit.     Lily was sensational last year in the state final win as one of the youngest players on the field and appears to be the next star in the making for Middletown.   She's a handful to defend because of her ability to win balls in the air, beat you on the dribble, disrupt defenders and score virtually from anywhere in the final third.     As mentioned already, Appo has a number of young attacking talents in their attack and a core of sophomores and juniors that will need to be at their absolute best on Saturday but Catania has the ability to be an X factor.   Her close down speed, quick feet and fearlessness make her a threat to turn nothing into goals as she has done repeatedly this season as a stat sheet stuffing type of player with double digit goal contributions.     Ursuline has been the surprise of the post-season in Delaware this year, making it all the way to the Division 2 final as an 8 seed and upsetting 2023 finalist St. Mark's in the process. Carberry has three of the four goals the Raiders scored in their three playoff games, including two in the massive quarterfinal win over St. Mark's. She also had a golazo against St. Mark's in the regular season and is playing with a ton of confidence. Her touch, her shooting and her finishing skills will be crucial to pulling off an upset against a talented and deep Caravel team.     Maci is a great soccer player who does a little bit of everything for this Caravel team. She's a very strong 1v1 defender but is also very versatile and can be moved into different positions on the field depending on match-ups and game situations.   Whatever the situation will call for in a match where Caravel will be favorites, Hood will be the person you most expect to step up and deliver for her team.     You don't have to watch Caravel or Sporting long to notice the impact Hayden can have on a team.   She's dangerous with and without the ball whether she's running at the defense with the ball at her feet, changing the tempo with hold-up play or playing with her back to goal.   State finals can often be a way to cap a successful high school career but they can also be a place to see the emergence of future stars. Hayden is poised for the latter.

Delaware High School girls soccer is down to four teams left with a rematch of the Middletown Derby played in the final a year ago and a battle between a Cinderella and perennial power set for Cape Henlopen on Saturday.