Cape soccer clinches first Henlopen title in program history

A replay of the 2025 Henlopen Conference Championship gave the Cape boys’ soccer team a chance to register a program first against rival Sussex Academy Nov. 5.

This time, the Vikings were at home, and with a win over the Seahawks earlier in the year, they also had the confidence to win the school’s first boys' soccer conference title with a 3-1 victory over Sussex Academy.

“It's always a big game for us, because we lost to them two years in a row, but we were coming into this with a win over them previously in the year,” junior Carter Matarazzi said. "We really wanted to win this game because we have never won it before.”

“They've gotten the best of us the last couple years, so for us to come out and take it was special,” coach Patrick Kilby said. “We set these goals at the start of the season; it was an expectation that we make this game and we win this game. We weren't shocked – we're certainly happy, but we're not shocked.”

Celebrating the win, there was a lot of joy, but also a sense that this was the second step in a list of postseason goals.

“We have three games left,” Kilby said. “We had a goal as well to win a state title, and we're going to start that journey."

Kilby thinks the silverware will help the training sessions ahead of the DIAA Division I tournament.

In the Nov. 5 contest, Fernando Hernandez Coreas got the party started with a goal in the 18th minute. He pressed the defense and sent a rocket into the net.

“We are training every day for this,” the sophomore said. “We won the first conference title, and I am so excited, so proud of the team and coaches.”

The Seahawks battled from behind for nearly the rest of the half before sophomore Alex Horner knotted the game with five minutes left in the first half. Unfortunately for the Seahawks, a selfless attack took the lead back.

“We were under pressure a lot – they kept hacking the ball with us – but we stayed calm, and I was there to thankfully tap it in and get us the lead back, and that really gave us the momentum to go forward,” Cape sophomore Cameron Blyth said. “I've never been much of a goal scorer; I've always been much of the assist maker.”

“We have a unit that, from top to bottom, I trust completely to put on the field and to execute a game plan, and if you look at our stats, it's dispersed evenly across the board,” Kilby said.

Evidence of the unselfish play could be found in the insurance goal scored by Matarazzi and assisted by sophomore Logan Cortijo as the rain poured down at Legends Stadium.

With the 3-1 victory and champions of the Henlopen North and Henlopen Conference, the lads gave themselves a serious boost ahead of the tournament. Two goals have been accomplished, and the third is still on the table. Kilby preaches staying levelheaded.

“We have to stay medium: we can't get too high, we can't get too low,” Matarazzi said. “Coach tells us all the time, because if you get too high, then they can just come right back at you, and if you get too low, they just beat you to the ground every single time.”

The fellas had a long weekend before returning to training on Monday with the ultimate test laid before them. How will they do?

“We are Cape,” Hernandez Coreas said. “We can make history.”

The No. 2 Vikings will open the Division I state tournament against No. 7 Sussex Central at 6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 12, at Legends Stadium. Salesianum earned the No. 1 seed in the tournament.

Sussex Academy earned the eighth seed in the Division II tournament. The Seahawks will host No. 9 Delmar at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 10. If victorious, they’ll move on to face No. 1 Newark Charter at 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 14.

The 2026 boys' soccer Henlopen Conference champion Cape Henlopen Vikings. AARON R. MUSHRUSH PHOTOS

Coaches and players of the 2026 Henlopen Conference champs.

One last trophy raise before the night ends.

Cape coaches.

The players celebrate with an obligatory trophy raise.

Cape senior Seth Benjamin carries the trophy over with his fellow captains, Carter Matarazzi, left, and Colby Wheeler.

Coach Patrick Kilby holds the trophy before senior Seth Benjamin, center, and Carter Matarazzi, left, and Colby Wheeler carry it over to the lads.

Coach Patrick Kilby, left, holds the trophy with Cape Assistant Athletic Director Michael Connors before handing it over to the captains.

The fellas thank the supporters.

The boys make their way over to the bleachers after the game.

Sussex Academy freshman Daniel Mareev passes the ball.

Seahawks sophomore Alex Horner boots the ball.

Sussex Academy senior Dom Catlett battles for the ball with Cape junior Kihara Ngido.

Seahawks junior Leo Benz clears the ball.

Cape sophomore Kasen Adams reels in the ball.

Cape sophomore Cameron Blyth celebrates the go-ahead goal with Levi Manlove.

Vikings sophomore Logan Corijo, left, congratulates his classmate, Cameron Blyth, after the latter's goal.

Cape junior Colby Wheeler shields the ball from Sussex Academy freshman Nico Haskell.

Vikings junior Colby Wheeler carries the ball.

No. 12 Alex Horner celebrates tying the game.

Sussex Academy junior Bodhi Williams shields the ball from Cape junior Colby Wheeler.

Seahawks senior Jose Figueroa-Morales reacts to a bouncer with Vikings senior Keagan McMahon behind him.

Sussex Academy captain Brandon Jaimes takes a shot.

Cape junior Colby Wheeler looks inside for operations.

Sussex Academy senior Jose Figueroa-Morales prepares to pass the ball.

Seahawks captain Bodhi Williams operates just outside the tackle football red zone.

Cape freshman Liam Tyndall begins to settle the ball.

Vikings sophomore Logan Cortijo wins a 50/50 ball against Seahawks junior Bodhi Williams.

Cape sophomore Fernando Hernandez Coreas jumps for joy after scoring the opening goal.

Vikings junior Colby Wheeler tracks down a ball.

Sussex Academy junior Bodhi Williams jostles for the ball with Keagan McMahon.

Cape senior Seth Benjamin passes the ball along the sidelines.

Sussex Academy freshman Anderson Martin-Chilel tries to settle the ball.

Sussex Academy players connect for the national anthem.

Cape stands in line for the national anthem.

Players stand for the national anthem before the contest.

Cape soccer clinches first Henlopen title in program history

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