Cape, Delmar sweep Delaware field hockey Player of the Year awards
There have been a lot of changes in 2020, but there was no change at the top in Delaware high school field hockey.
Cape Henlopen won its fourth straight DIAA Division I title, and Delmar swept to a fifth consecutive Division II title.
So it was no surprise when the two schools swept the Player of the Year honors and had several players listed when the Delaware Field Hockey Coaches Association’s All-State teams were announced.
Cape junior Reagan Ciabattoni is the Division I Player of the Year, while Delmar sophomore Maci Bradford was named the top player in Division II.
The Vikings went 13-1, their only loss coming to Delmar. Ciabattoni scored a third-quarter goal as Cape wrapped up the D-I crown with a 3-0 win over Polytech in the championship game on Dec. 12.
STILL ON TOP:Left is right as Cape Henlopen wins fourth straight Division I field hockey crown
“It’s a feeling that I’ve experienced many times. But each time, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime feeling,” she said after the victory. “It’s just crazy. We’ve worked so hard this season that it’s just amazing.”
Cape teammates Noelle Sabbagh, Emily Monigle and Julie Heffernan joined Ciabattoni on the Division I first team. Dover’s Superia Clark and Chelsea Johnson, Milford’s Summer Davis, Padua’s Anna Getty, Polytech’s Mairead McKibbin and Megan Popp, and Smyrna’s Madi Simpson and Lilly Short also made the top squad.
Bradford scored the first and last goals as Delmar capped a 15-0 season with a 4-1 win over Caravel in the D-II championship game.
“It’s so amazing to be able to be here,” she said. “It’s just crazy and unbelievable that we have this opportunity, and we come out here and get it done.”
The Wildcats’ Josie Hollamon, Jordyn Hollamon, Morgan Bradford and Kelly Davis joined Maci Bradford on the Division II first team.
THAT'S FIVE:Delmar's drive for five complete in Division II field hockey
Other D-II first-teamers were Archmere’s Bella Dell’Oso and Lindsey Renshaw, Brandywine’s Jillian Vandenbraak, Caravel’s Alice Pifferi and Maddie Dalton, Wilmington Friends’ Rosa Cochran, Newark Charter’s Mary Catherine Anson, Sussex Academy’s Addy Leonhartt, Tatnall’s Rachael Whitehead, Tower Hill’s Maggie Bailer, Ursuline’s Julianna Copeman and Wilmington Christian’s Gabby Armesto.
Caravel’s Sarah Keever was named the state’s Coach of the Year. After a 9-7 season in 2019, the Buccaneers improved to 12-3 and reached the Division II final this season. Their only losses were to Cape and Delmar.
Kevin Phillips contributed to this report.
Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ
DFHCA All-State field hockey teams
Division I
FIRST TEAM
Reagan Ciabattoni, jr., Cape Henlopen, Player of the Year
Noelle Sabbagh, jr., Cape Henlopen
Emily Monigle, sr., Cape Henlopen
Julie Heffernan, sr., Cape Henlopen
Superia Clark, jr., Dover
Chelsea Johnson, sr., Dover
Summer Davis, sr., Milford
Anna Getty, sr., Padua
Mairead McKibbin, sr., Polytech
Megan Popp, jr., Polytech
Madi Simpson, jr., Smyrna
Lilly Short, jr., Sussex Tech
SECOND TEAM
Alani Lawrence, sr., Appoquinimink; Casey Best, sr., Concord; Hailey Miller, sr., Concord; Julia Osborn, sr., Middletown; Kaitlyn Murphy, sr., Middletown; Julia Levase, sr., Mount Pleasant; Abby Brainard, sr., Padua; Marie Brainard, so., Charter of Wilmington
Division II
FIRST TEAM
Bella Dell’Oso, so., Archmere
Lindsey Renshaw, so., Archmere
Jillian Vandenbraak, so., Brandywine
Alice Pifferi, jr., Caravel
Maddie Dalton, sr., Caravel
Josie Hollamon, so., Delmar
Maci Bradford, so., Delmar, Player of the Year
Jordyn Hollamon, 8th, Delmar
Morgan Bradford, sr., Delmar
Kelly Davis, jr., Delmar
Rosa Cochran, sr., Wilmington Friends
Mary Catherine Anson, jr., Newark Charter
Addy Leonhartt, sr., Sussex Academy
Rachael Whitehead, so., Tatnall
Maggie Bailer, sr., Tower Hill
Julianna Copeman, sr., Ursuline
Gabby Armesto, sr., Wilmington Christian
SECOND TEAM
Becca Olsen, so., Archmere; Hannah McLamb, jr., Caravel; Gigi DeGregory, sr., Caravel; Logan Dean, sr., Delmar; Ella Shockley, jr., Delmar; Adriana Palladinetti, jr., DMA; Brenna Ziegler, jr., Newark Charter; Carlie McKenry, sr., Tatnall; Annie Malatesta, sr., Tower Hill; Caitlin Smith, so., Tower Hill
Coach of the Year – Sarah Keever, Caravel