Sports
Ocean City Girls' Soccer Cruises to First-Round Win
The Red Raiders top Lacey, 3-1, to advance to the South Jersey quarterfinals.
The girls' soccer team opened the Group III South playoffs with a dominating performance.
A year ago, the Red Raiders won their first two playoff games in penalty-kick shootouts. There was no need for extra time this season.
No. 6 Ocean City cruised past No. 11 Lacey Township, 3-1, Monday afternoon to advance to the sectional semifinals.
Find out what's happening in Ocean Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Red Raiders will head to No. 3 Central Regional in Ocean County on Nov. 3. The Eagles topped No. 14 Cumberland, 4-3, on Monday.
“Today was our most complete game of the year,” Ocean City coach Bill Pesda said. “We got great work out of our flanks, Leah Canderan and Fran Babore. They were up and down the field all day. It’s the best game they had all year."
Find out what's happening in Ocean Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Red Raiders opened the scoring 11 minutes into the game, as freshman Ashley Edgell found the back of the net. Babore headed in a rebound two minutes after halftime to give Ocean City the 2-0 lead.
"That is something we really talk about, the first 10 minutes of each half and the last five minutes of each half being the entire game,” Pesda said. “Three quarters of goals are scored in that time period. That is our focus. And it has paid off in the tournament. We start early and get a goal. We pride on our defense and being fit. We work on wearing teams down.”
Lacey scratched out a goal with 25 minutes left in the game to get within one, but Ocean City’s Karissa Borbeau scored on an assist from Nicole Barbieri to put the Red Raiders back in front by two goals.
Other than the goal scored on a free kick, the Red Raiders dominated play and the tempo of the game. The back line of Megan Devil, Caitlyn Brice, Erica Johns and Shana Zoeller kept Lacey at bay, and allowed just three shots on goal.
“Those four were fantastic,” Pesda said.
The Red Raiders are looking forwarded and eventually earning a berth into the sectional finals. But first they have to get past Central.
Ocean City made it to the sectional semifinals in 2010.
“We get together each spring and pick a couple of goals and that is tow in the league and win a state championship,” Pesda said. “We are one game closer. We have to win a few more to get there.”
