2003 Schedule

Second Round State Tournament
Glasgow 1, Indian River 0

For details on the Indians' quarterfinal state tournament loss to Glasgow on Saturday, Nov. 8, click the score above.

First Round State Tournament
Indian River 3, St. Andrew's 0

The Indian seniors knocked off another goal on their to-do list with the first round win in the 2003 Delaware High School Boys' Soccer Tournament on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

The 10 seniors on this year's IR squad had not won a state tournament game in their first two tries as sophomores and juniors.

That became one of their pre-season goals, along with winning the program's first Henlopen Conference championship, which they accomplished with a 3-1 victory over Caesar Rodney last week.

In rising to 15-1 overall, the second-seeded Indians captured their 14th straight victory. Their only loss has been to the top seed in the tournament, Salesianum, by a 1-0 score.

With their first state tournament victory out of the way, the Indians will now focus on their next goal to advance as far as they can in the tourney.

In Saturday's quarterfinals, the Indians will face No. 7 Glasgow, which beat No. 10 Middletown 1-0 on Wednesday. The site and time for the quarterfinals have yet to be determined.

Senior midfielder Jonathan Forte sparked Tuesday's victory with two goals and an assist.

Unlike their previous 14 wins, the Indians didn't dominate No. 15 St. Andrew's. IR managed only two first-half shots, but made one of them count as senior tri-captain Sam Svenson scored off of an assist from Forte at the 10-minute mark.

The Indians finished the game with a 10-6 deficit in shots and a 4-1 deficit in corner kicks, but unlike other matches when they've missed numerous shots, they stuck half of their shots this time.

"Obviously our percentage (of goals to shots) was much higher last night than it was in our previous experiences," said IR head coach Howard Gerken. "It was just a case of two good defenses and not really having many opportunities."

With IR goalkeeper Pat Devine stumping St. Andrew's with 6 saves en route to his 10th shutout of the season, the Indians went up 2-0 on a goal by Forte only three minutes into the second half. He was assisted by Matt Polly on the goal.

Forte then closed the scoring with a goal at the 64-minute mark.

Gerken credited Devine with keeping the Indians in the match until their shots started hitting the net.

"This was a fairly close game and just like in the CR game, he came up with a couple of really big saves in the first half, which again kept the other team from scoring and didn't give them any momentum that we would have had to overcome," said Gerken. "I think when he comes up with a big save it also gets the adrenaline pumping for his teammates, as well."

As for the Indians' quarterfinal opponent, Gerken said they faced Glasgow during the preseason and that the Dragons, who come into the match with a 13-2-2 record, possess more finesse than most teams.

"They have some truly outstanding offensive type players and I think they do more in the way of a ball control game," said Gerken. "We expect it's going to be a good team and a good match."

Indian River 3, Caesar Rodney 1

The Indians capture the Henlopen Conference championship for the first time in the program's history with the victory on Thursday, Oct. 30. Click the score above for details.

Indian River 3, Caravel 2

The Indians had to bounce back from an early 2-0 deficit to keep their winning streak intact on Thursday, Oct. 23.

The Indians, who host Caesar Rodney in a match for the Henlopen Conference championship on Monday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m., have now won 12 straight matches.

Gichner and Martin Chavez added assists, while goalkeeper Pat Devine recorded 4 saves. 

The Indians improved to 13-1 overall, while Caravel dropped to 9-4-1.

Indian River 10, Polytech 0

The Indians recorded their fifth consecutive shutout and their 10th of the season with the Henlopen Conference victory on Tuesday, Oct. 21.

Winners of 11 straight, the Indians are 12-1 overall.

Indian River jumped all over Polytech as they led 5-0 at halftime. They finished with advantages of 40-8 in shots and 5-0 in corner kicks.

Ben Gichner and Jonathan Forte sparked the barrage with two goals and an assist apiece, while Matt Polly scored two goals.

Sam Svenson contributed a goal and three assists and Martin Chavez, Brandon Rickwood and Ryan Walsh each added a goal.

Andrew Cordell, Hale and Brandt Mais each had assists. Goalkeepers Pat Devine and Jeremy Showell combined for 5 saves for the shutout.

Indian River 5, McKean 0

The Indians recorded their fourth straight shutout and five different players found the net in a nonconference match on Saturday, Oct. 18.

Indian River outshot McKean 40-9 as Andrew Cordell, Nate Corvalesski, Ben Gichner, David Gichner and Brandon Rickwood scored the goals.

Goalkeeper Pat Devine posted the shutout with 8 saves. Now 11-1 overall, the Indians have posted 9 shutouts.

Indian River 5, Lake Forest 0

The Indians clinched the Henlopen Conference Southern Division title and kept pace with Caesar Rodney for the conference lead with the shutout on Thursday, Oct. 16.

Matt Polly registered two goals and an assist as IR rose to 10-0 in the conference and 10-1 overall with two conference matches remaining.

Winners of 9 straight games, the Indians have one conference game, against Polytech on Tuesday, Oct. 21, before hosting CR at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 27, in a match that will likely decide the conference championship.

Caesar Rodney is also 10-0 in the conference after beating Cape Henlopen on Thursday, Oct. 16. The Riders face Dover on Tuesday, Oct. 21, before the match against Indian River on Oct. 27.

Against Lake, Sam Svenson added a goal and two assists for the Indians, while Martin Chavez posted a goal and an assist. The Indians' other goal was scored by Brandon Rickwood. Jonathan Forte contributed an assist.

The Indians completely dominated the match with a 41-4 advantage in shots and a 4-1 edge in corner kicks. Goalkeeper Pat Devine recorded the shutout with 2 saves.

Indian River 2, Dover 0

The Indians continued to roll through the Henlopen Conference as they recorded their seventh consecutive conference shutout on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

The win improved Indian River to 9-0 in the conference and 9-1 overall.

Ben Gichner and Jonathan Forte scored the goals for the Indians in the first and second halves, respectively, with Gichner's goal coming off an assist from Jordan Hale.

Goalkeeper Pat Devine recorded 2 saves for IR, which outshot Dover 30-7 and led 4-1 in corner kicks.

Indian River 1, Cape Henlopen 0

The Indians win a battle of conference unbeatens on Thursday, Oct. 9. For details, click the score above.

Indian River 5, Milford 2

The Indians remained unbeaten in the Henlopen Conference on Tuesday, Oct. 7.

In rising to 7-0 in the conference and 7-1 overall, the Indians await a big match against unbeaten Cape Henlopen at IR on Thursday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m.

Against Milford, the Indians got a hat trick by Jonathan Forte and two more goals by Sam Svenson as they outshot the Bucs 23-6.

Goalkeeper Pat Devine notched 3 saves for IR.

Indian River 5, Delmar 2

The Indians fought off a Delmar challenge to remain undefeated in the Henlopen Conference on Thursday, Oct. 2.

IR jumped out to a 3-0 lead on goals by Jeremy Showell, Ben Gichner and Sam Svenson, but Delmar battled back to within 3-2 in the second half.

The Indians then put the game away with goals by Ryan Walsh and Martin Chavez.

Sam Svenson registered 2 assists for the Indians, while Jonathan Forte and Andrew Cordell contributed an assist apiece.

Now 6-0 in the conference and 6-1 overall, Indian River outshot Delmar 33-20 but trailed 17-7 in corner kicks.

Indian River 3, Sussex Central 1

The Indians beat rival Sussex Central on Tuesday, Sept. 30, to complete a perfect month of September in the conference. Click the score for details on the game.

Indian River 3, Sussex Tech 0

The Indians continued to dominate the Henlopen Conference as they outshot Sussex Tech 44-8 in a Henlopen Conference win on Thursday, Sept. 25.

Sam Svenson led the way for IR with a pair of goals. Ben Gichner added the other goal. Matt Lewis, Brandon Rickwood and Jeremy Showell each registered an assist.

All four of the Indians' wins have come by shutout. The Indians have outscored their five opponents 24-1 this year.

With a 4-0 mark in the conference and a 4-1 overall record, the Indians await a key conference contest against visiting rival Sussex Central on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m.

Indian River 5, Seaford 0

The Indians continued their domination of the Henlopen Conference with the victory on Tuesday, Sept. 23.

Now 3-0 in the conference and 3-1 overall, IR got three goals from Jonathan Forte.

Sam Svenson and David Gichner added the other goals for the Indians, who led 10-4 in shots and 7-1 in corner kicks.

Gichner and Jeremy Showell registered assists. Goalkeeper Pat Devine stopped all 4 Seaford shots for the shutout.

Indian River 9, Woodbridge 0

The Indians scored their second Henlopen Conference shutout as they rose to 2-0 in the conference and 2-1 overall on Tuesday, Sept. 16.

Four players -- Martin Chavez, Ben Gichner, David Gichner and Ryan Walsh -- scored two goals apiece for IR, while Sam Svenson added the other score.

Jonathan Forte, Brandt Mais and Cameron Powell recorded an assist apiece. Goalkeeper Pat Devine posted two saves for the shutout.

The Indians took a 4-0 lead over Woodbridge in the first half. IR held overwhelming advantages in shots at 34-2 and corner kicks at 6-1.

Salesianum 1, Indian River 0

The Indians dropped the nonconference contest on Thursday, Sept. 11, to fall to 1-1 overall.

Indian River managed only 4 shots to the Sals' 10. Goalkeeper Pat Devine stopped 9 of Salesianum's shots. IR trailed 4-1 in corner kicks.

Salesianum scored the match's only goal at the 56:00 mark of the second half.

Indian River 7, Smyrna 0

The Indians started the season with an offensive explosion behind seniors Sam Svenson and David Gichner on Tuesday, Sept. 9.

Svenson and Gichner both recorded hat tricks to lead an Indian offense that out-shot Smyrna 30-9.

IR's other goal came when Smyrna knocked the ball into its own goal.

The Indians also built a 6-2 edge in corner kicks. Goalkeeper Pat Devine recorded 3 saves.