For years, the best players in Delaware high school field hockey have taken the field for Delmar and Cape Henlopen.
Now, add Smyrna to that elite list.
The Eagles shocked Cape 2-1 in overtime in the DIAA Division I championship game last fall, ending the Vikings’ five-year run of titles.
This season, Smyrna has already proved that was no fluke by beating the Vikings 2-1 again on Sept. 14, at Cape Henlopen’s Champions Stadium.
Grace Wiggins of Cape Henlopen (left) tries to get the ball upfield past Smyrna's Bree Moffett on Sept. 14. Both players are ranked among the best in Delaware high school field hockey by the state's coaches.
Meanwhile, Delmar continues to roll along. The Wildcats are ranked No. 1 in Division II, 4-0 this year, outscoring their opponents 33-1 so far.
That runs the Wildcats’ current winning streak to an amazing 119 games.
So it should be no surprise that when the state’s top coaches were asked to rank the best players heading into the 2023 season, athletes from those three schools were obvious standouts.
Eagles, Vikings and Wildcats occupy all of the top six spots – two from each school. Combined, the three teams have 10 players among the top 18.
So it may be tough going for everyone else when the playoffs roll around. But the coaches identified plenty of other talented athletes around the state, including five ranked players from Newark Charter and four from Lake Forest.
Click through the photo gallery and see the coaches’ early season ranking of the Top 41 players in Delaware high school field hockey.
Smyrna sophomore McKenna Wilson advances the ball upfield past Alexi Nowakowski of Cape Henlopen.
39. Delaney Brunner, sr., Caravel
38. Katie Schaller, sr., Archmere
Archmere's Kirsten Wenger (left) and Kathleen Schaller compete with Tatnall's Lydia Colasante in the Auks' 1-0 win in a semifinal of the DIAA Division II state high school tournament at the University of Delaware's Rullo Stadium, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022.
37. Cat Kaminski, sr., Saint Mark's
Saint Mark's junio Catherine Kaminski (21) gains control of a loose ball against Charter School of Wilmington during the first-round game in the DIAA Girls Lacrosse Tournament at Charter of Wilmington, Wednesday, May 17, 2023. Charter won 16-9.
36. Riley Redding, jr., Newark Charter
35. Audrey Nelson, so., Newark Charter
34. Atia Sabbagh, fr., Cape Henlopen
Cape Henlopen freshman Atia Sahbagh prepares to fire a shot on goal in Thursday's 2-1 loss to Smyrna.
33. Shelby Manlove, jr., Sussex Academy
32. Callie Short, sr., Sussex Academy
31. Kate Ambrose, jr., Newark Charter
30. Hayden Haynes, so., Caravel
Caravel freshman Hayden Haynes (3) pursues St. Georges junior Arianna Hairston during Caravel’s 3-1 win Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022.
29. Maura Reed, jr., Archmere
28. Sawyer Rowland, jr., Wilmington Friends
Wilmington Friends' Sawyer Rowland (left) tires to avoid the ball hit directly at her as Tower Hill's Amelia Gregory looks on during Friends' 3-2 overtime win in the first round of the DIAA Division II state tournament Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022 at Wilmington Friends School.
27. Brogan Callahan, sr., Caesar Rodney
26. Carolyn Walker, jr., Tatnall
Tatnall's Carolyn Walker drives the ball upfield in Archmere's 1-0 win in a semifinal of the DIAA Division II state high school tournament at the University of Delaware's Rullo Stadium, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022.
25. Carmella Gannon, jr., Lake Forest
24. Rilyn Lehman, jr., Sussex Academy
23. Kylee LaVere, sr., Polytech
Sophomore Kylee LaVere of Polytech advances the ball past Cape Henlopen's Amiyah Sizer in first quarter.
22. Madison Lawson, sr., Lake Forest
21. Maya Jester, sr., Lake Forest
20. Ella Stack, sr., Charter of Wilmington
Wilmington Charter's Ella Stack (left) and Conrad's Kayla Dillon converge in the second half of Charter's 9-0 win Wednesday, Oct.19, 2022.
19. Morgan Leeper, jr., Sussex Academy
18. Devon DeGregory, sr., Cape Henlopen
Cape Henlopen's Devon DeGregory (left) works on offense as Jordyn Hollamon defends in the second half of the Wildcats' 2-1 win at Delmar High School, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022.
17. Rachel Carey, sr., Polytech
16. Louise Rishko, sr., Cape Henlopen
Cape's Louise Rishko battles Emily Dunlop for possession in Thursday match, won by Smyrna 2-1.
15. Ava Hughes, sr., Archmere
Archmere goalie Ava Hughes stops Tatnall's Lydia Colasante in the fourth quarter of the Auks' 1-0 win in a semifinal of the DIAA Division II state high school tournament at the University of Delaware's Rullo Stadium, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022.
14. Hannah Zimmerman, jr., Milford
Milford sophomores Hannah Zimmerman (9) and Smyrna junior Dru Moffett (11) battle for the ball during the field hockey game at Smyrna, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. Smyrna won 3-0.
13. Halle Geiger, sr., Smyrna
Smyrna goalkeeper Halle Geiger comes out to block shot attempt by Macy Steinwedel of Cape Henlopen during the Eagles 2-1 victory on Thursday September 14, 2023.
12. Katie Hanich, jr., Saint Mark’s
11. Alexa Guarneri, jr, Charter of Wilmington
Charter School of Wilmington's Alexa Guarneri works on offense in the Eagles' 1-0 win in a semifinal of the DIAA Division I state high school tournament at the University of Delaware's Rullo Stadium, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022.
10. Morgan Newcomb, sr., Cape Henlopen
Cape Henlopen's Mackinzie Brown (14) and goalkeeper Morgan Newcomb defend as Delmar's Laura Rogers tries to add to the lead in the second half of the Wildcats' 2-1 win at Delmar High School, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022.
9. Amanda Rattay, jr., Newark Charter
8. Sophia Walch, jr., Newark Charter
7. Bailey Masten, jr., Milford
Milford sophomores Bailey Masten (4) keeps her eyes on the ball as teammate and sophomore Hannah Zimmerman (9) battles for the ball against Smyrna junior Dru Moffett (11) during the field hockey game at Smyrna, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. Smyrna won 3-0.
6. Grace Wiggins, sr., Cape Henlopen
Grace Wiggins of the Vikings manuevers with the ball through a pair of Eagle defenders on Thursday September 14, 2023.
5. Baylie Phillips, sr., Delmar
Cape Henlopen's Louise Rishko (left) tries to move the ball upfield as Delmar's Baylie Phillips moves in during the second half of the Wildcats' 2-1 win at Delmar High School, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022.
4. Bree Moffett, so., Smyrna
Cape Henlopen's Grace Wiggins tries to steal ball away from Bree Moffett during Smyrna's 2-1 win on Thursday September 14, 2023.
3. Hannah Maney, sr., Cape Henlopen
Cape Henlopen High School junior Hannah Maney (18) battles for the ball against Smyrna High School senior senior Kirstein Johnson (5) during the DIAA Field Hockey championship Division I game at the University of Delaware’s Rullo Stadium in Newark, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. Smyrna won 2-1 in overtime.
2. Dru Moffett, sr., Smyrna
Dru Moffett of Smyrna working the ball upfield past Addison Basile of Cape Henlopen.
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