On the Pitch: Preseason boys soccer rankings

Salesianum Darius Gavris defends during the DIAA Boys D1 Soccer Championship at Dover High School, Saturday, November 19, 2022. Photo/Don Blake

The high school boys soccer season kicks off Wednesday afternoon so it’s a great time for the first installment of On the Pitch.

 In this week’s edition we will rank the top 10 teams in each Division along with who they play this week.

Defending champions top the rankings in both divisions.

Division 1 soccer

No. 1 Sallies  The Sals lost a lot of offense from last year’s squad and will start the season on Saturday at home against Walter Johnson (MD)

No. 2 Appoquinimink  The Jags beat the Sals in the regular season when the Sals were ranked No. 1 in the region but fell to the Sals in the semis.  They will be doing a lot of traveling this week with a match at Sussex Academy on Thursday and a trp to Malvern Prep (PA) on Saturday.

No. 3 Wilmington Charter  The Force reached the state Championship game last year.  They travel to Caesar Rodney on Thursday for an early season heavyweight battle.

No. 4 Caesar Rodney  The Riders always have a strong soccer team and this tear they will be tested early when they host No. 3 Wilmington Charter on Thursday.

No. 5 Delcastle The Cougars had one of their best seasons in school history last year.  They host Brandywine on Wednesday

No. 6 Cape Henlopen  The Vikings had a strong year last year before falling to Appoquinimink in the State Tournament.  The Vikings don’t play this week as there first match is on Sept. 14 at Smyrna

No. 7 Sussex Central  The Golden Knights upset Delcastle in the opening round of the State tournament last year.  They host St Andrew’s on Thursday night.

No. 8 St Georges Tech  The Hawks are always a solid team.  They will not play this week as their first match is Tuesday Sept. 12 at Mckean.

No. 9 Middletown  The Cavs are another solid team that will try and battle their way into the state tournament this year.  They are also off this week before hosting Glasgow on Sept 12.

No. 10 Dover  The Senators had a winning record last year and just missed the state tournament. They have a pair of tough games this week.  They host Concord on Wednesday night before traveling to Wilmington on Saturday to play Friends.

RELATED STORY: 2022 boys soccer champs

Division 2

No. 1 Caravel  The defending Champions return a lot of talent but will get tested early this season.  They are on the road against two rank teams this week. They travel to Archmere on Thursday and to Indian River on Saturday.

No. 2 Saint Marks  The Spartans made it to the championship last year and will look to get back this year against a tough schedule. They don’t play this week but will travel to William Penn on Tuesday Sept. 12.

No. 3 Indian River  The Indians lost in the semifinals last year to Saint Marks and look real strong for another championship run.  They host Newark Charter on Thursday night and Caravel on Saturday afternoon.

No. 4 Friends  The Quakers had a solid soccer season again last year and will benefit with a heavy home schedule with their first 8 matches at home.  They host Dover on Saturday morning.

No. 5 Tower Hill  The Hillers made it to the state semifinals last year behind some solid defense.  They travel to Newark on Thursday.

No. 6 DMA  The Seahawks had a great season last year and will have a very tough schedule again this year.  They don’t start the season till Sept. 14 when they host Newark Charter

No. 7 Archmere  The Auks were young last year and will look to bounce back this year. They will be tested early as they host top rank Caravel on Thursday.

No. 8 Brandywine  The Bulldogs have had a strong soccer program the last few years and look to be the Blue Hen Flight B favorite this year. They have a tough week with a pair of road games at Delcastle on Wednesday and Conrad on Friday.

No. 9 Sussex Academy They have one of the smallest schools but always seem to make the State Tournament every year.  They host Appoquinimink on Thursday.

No. 10 Conrad  The Red Wolves had one of their best seasons last year and look to keep it going this year.  They travel to MOT Charter on Wednesday before hosting No. 8 Brandywine on Friday.