Heartbreaking Loss for Ocean City Field Hockey

It hurt because they felt like it wasn't supposed to end this way.

It hurt because for the first time in four years the Ocean City High School field hockey team didn't walk off the field as champions. It hurt because the Red Raiders had multiple opportunities to win Tuesday's game.

It hurt most of all because it was over, the finality of the situation was felt right away.

Ocean City, the top seed, lost a penalty stroke shootout to No. 3 Kingsway, 3-1, after the two teams ended regulation and two overtime periods tied at 2-2, in the NJSIAA Group III South championship game.

"We wanted this for so, so long, and we were so close, and it slipped through our hands," said Ocean City senior Liz Cruz with tears in her eyes. "It was right in front of us, but unfortunately we couldn't capitalize. I'm so proud of all the girls and everything we accomplished."

"The girls are upset and I'm upset," Ocean City coach Cory Terry said. "I told the girls, 'You're this upset because it means that much to you and you invested so much of your life into this program and into this team.' It's absolutely so impressive to see these young ladies just absolutely give all of themselves to each other and this program."

Kingsway goalie Kelsey Dominik made three saves in the shootout, including stops of the first two Ocean City shooters. Kingsway's Alexa McIntyre, the Dragon's fifth shooter, clinched the win and the championship with a goal.

Ocean City's Ali Stever was the only Red Raider to score in the shootout. The shootout wasn't the only time the Rd Raiders struggled with penalty strokes. Ocean City failed to convert on two opportunities in regulation.

"We practice penalty strokes a ton," Terry said. "We didn't execute today for whatever reason. Sometimes that just happens unfortunately. But that's the way life is."

Even with the missed penalty strokes, Ocean City had plenty of chances to beat Kingsway, which led 1-0 at halftime.

Ocean City held a 2-1 lead after a pair of second-half goals by Cruz. Cruz scored two goals in less than three minutes to give the Red Raiders the lead with 24:55 left in regulation. The second goal was assisted by Mia Tomkins.

Ocean City held the advantage until the Dragons' Rachel Ippolite scored her second goal of the day with a blast off a corner to tie the game.

The Red Raiders threatened late in the second half with a pair of corners in the last two minutes, but couldn't beat Dominik.

Ocean controlled both overtime periods, especially the second 10 minutes, registering five shots on goal even though the Red Raiders played a player short in the final 3:20 because the referee said she pushed a Kingsway player.

Cruz had several opportunities in the second half, but Dominik made the saves in close quarters.

"We were so close," Cruz said. "I think we dominated the entire game."