OCHS Roundup: Soccer Team Cruises, Field Hockey and Cross Country Unbeaten

The boys' soccer team has won five consecutive games to improve to 7-3 on the season.

"I just think it was kind of a mental shift," Ocean City coach Aaron Bogushefsky said. "We lose one game to St. Augustine that was a heartbreaker, losing in the last minute, and that really bugged them. Another game (a 3-0 loss to Absegami) was a total mental breakdown. I told them they get one and that was it.

"We have a heavy senior roster and they look at themselves. This is their senior year and they are going to pick themselves up. We use a basic game plan each game. We went out and beat Mainland, and we did the same thing against Hammonton. It's more of a mental thing more than how we play."

After beating Mainland, Hammonton and avenging a loss to Egg Harbor Township, the Red Raiders defeated Atlantic City, 4-1, on Oct. 3 and edged Millville on Oct. 5.

Against the Vikings Tim Zellers scored twice, and Brendan MacFarlane and Max Berardis added goals.

Tristan Johns scored a second-half goal, and keeper Kieran Keyser made three saves in a win over the Thunderbolts.

"It has been everybody," Bogushefsky said. "It has been a total team effort. It hasn't been one person."

The Red Raiders have been leaning on the seniors this season, but MacFarlane, a sophomore has been making an impact.

"He hustles," Bogushefsky said. "He is a player that runs down everything and gets the team up to the next level. Just by his effort he motivates other players."

Soaring Past the Eagles

The Egg Harbor Township game was supposed to be one of the toughest CAL matchups of the year for the Ocean City field hockey team.

However, the Red Raiders scored four second half goals to beat the Eagles, 5-0.

Shannon Lawson added two goals, and Paige Bradley, Jacquie Fenton and Ali Stever also found the back of the cage.

Goalie Roisin Dougherty made 10 saves.

Leader of the Pack

The Red Raiders boys' and girls' cross country teams are both 7-0 heading into today's meet against Buena.

Ocean City boys defeated Vineland, 21-38, for their latest win. Kevin Scott, who finished eighth in the Varsity B race at the Shore Coaches Invitational on Oct. 1 in Holmdel, took first against the Fighting Clan, finishing with a time of 17:12.

A.J. Gilhooley (17:34) was second, Dan Murray (17:45) was fourth, Louis Paone (18:02) was sixth and Eddie Keenan (18:33) was eighth.

The girls swept the top-8 spots against Vineland with Mary Kate Brelsford (21:49), Kelly Williamson (21:53), Kaylie Gallagher (22:08), Rachel Stremme (22:39) and Maddie Brady (23:01) scored points for the Red Raiders.