The 12th seeded boys soccer team looked to advance to the second round of the D2 DIAA soccer tournament Tuesday night in their match against the 5th seeded Delaware Military Academy. The Saints knew to win this match, they would have to play as a unit. The team was without Jared Horgan ’22 and Head Coach Matt Carroll for red cards from their final match of the season. Everyone was going to have to step up, for the Saints to pull the upset. 

The Saints rose to the occasion with everyone contributing and helping keep DMA out of the net through regulation. Talan Esposito ’24, as a defender, saved two sure goals to preserve the 0-0 tie. Ike Lawrence ’23 dominated in the air and was able to win many 50/50 balls to give the Saints extra possessions. The Saints thought they had a game winner when Flynn Bowman ’22 scored a goal but it was called back. After 2OTs and still no goals on either side, the match went to penalty shots.

The Saints have been snakebit by penalty shots in the state tournament for over a decade. The Saints were able to shoot second and hoped to finally break the “curse.” DMA scored their first goal but Tony Wang ’22 answered making it 1-1. DMA scored again but Jake Kelly ’22 also scored making it 2-2. Same result in the third frame with DMA scoring and then Ike answering, 3-3. Finally something gave when Emmanuel Appenteng ’23 saved DMA’s fourth shot. Crawford Seeley ’22 gave the Saints the lead that put the team up 4-3. Either Appenteng had to make one more save or it would come down to Liam Hurtt ’22 having to score one more goal. Appenteng, who can be heard every match, directing and encouraging his teammates, wanted the opportunity to lead and put the match away. He did so with a save and the Saints mobbed him in celebration. The team then ran over to stands to celebrate with the fans and hug their families after finally breaking the St. Andrew’s “PK Curse” with the final tally being St. Andrew’s 1, Delaware Military Academy 0 (PKs, SAS 4, DMA 3). The Saints will take on Wilmington Friends School this Saturday at 11:00am in the second round. 

“The Saints truly deserved this victory after having a goal called back in regulation time as well as not having all of the starters. As one of our faithful fans who showed up and stayed until the joyous end remarked, 'they played so beautifully as a team - no one player stood out - they played as one.' Every single player had a foot in this curse breaking win." -Coach Jay Hutchinson