Following the Indian River varsity soccer team’s 4-2 win over Sussex Central on April 5, Lady Indians (4-1) head coach Steve Kilby decided to give his players the week off during the spring break holiday to mend up and vacation with their families.
Coastal Point • SHAUN LAMBERT:
Sophomore reserve Courtney Lake makes the most of an opportunity to play against Sussex Central as injuries stack up for the Lady Indians.
They will return to practice April 12 and will have had four practices in preparation for a much-anticipated rematch against Delmar on April 17.
Delmar has grabbed early leads and defeated the Lady Indians in each of the past two seasons, by a combined score of 6-4. In 2005, the Lady Wildcats prevailed in overtime, 2-1, and last season they held on to an early 2-0 first-half lead in a 4-3 win.
Kilby suggested that his team took the threat of Delmar lightly the previous two seasons. But he mentioned they would undoubtedly return to practice ready to compete at a high level.
“I really think our girls will be mentally prepared to play (Delmar) this year, he said.
“I think we took the game lightly the last two years. But this year I think they’re prepared. I think this year they understand they can take nobody lightly,” Kilby continued.
And though the Lady Indians have taken a few hits in the injury department, Kilby noted with great pleasure that certain players — including his bench — have risen to the occasion and are playing great soccer.
Kilby said that Erin Kortvelsey, Jenna McKone, Courtney Lake and Kaitlin Binstead “have done a nice job filling in.”
The Lady Indians are currently without a pair of midfielders, in Emily Hendrickson and Anne Marie Brown, as well as defender Brooke Timmons, because of injury.
“Erin Kortvelesy has done a nice job on the flanks and Jenna McKone has been our utility soccer player, just like the utility infielder in baseball. She’s done a great job at every position she’s played this season. And Courtney Lake and Kaitlin Binstead have done a great job coming off the bench.
“They’re really starting to learn their roles,” he added.
Fortunately for the Lady Indians, all three injured players are expected to play again this season. But, in their absence, Kilby has developed a better idea of his team’s depth, which is important heading into the final 11 games and the state tournament.
Before they know it April will be over and the Lady Indians will round out the regular season with the likes of Middletown and Tower Hill. And they will need players that can contribute at the highest level of play.
“We need players that can spell our starters, and right now I feel confident putting any of those four girls [Kortvelesy, Brown, Binstead and McKone] in for any stretch of the game,” Kilby said.
The Lady Indians will host Delmar, Seaford and Cape Henlopen on April 17, 19 and 24, respectively.