OCEAN CITY – The Red Raiders boys soccer team got back to winning ways at home against Oakcrest Friday afternoon, beating the Falcons 3-0, following it with a 3-1 victory over Williamstown Saturday morning and a 5-0 shutout of Lower Cape May Regional Monday.
Friday was a “get right” game for Ocean City (12-3-1) as the Red Raiders come down the stretch, coming off two straight losses.
“Coming right before the playoffs, it feels good to get a little momentum,” senior Jon Leap said. “Especially as a young team, it feels good to build off this after two losses this week to Prep and Life Center. It feels good to solidify the division and beat Oakcrest. It feels great.”
“We played two tough games earlier this week,” head coach Aaron Bogushefsky said, “and we were in both of them against really good teams. We didn’t get the results we wanted, but today we came out with purpose. We knew we needed a win, and how we wanted to play. We got the job done.”
The Raiders controlled the pace throughout and took advantage early on for a 1-0 lead.
In the ninth minute, Leap made an excellent play on a loose ball that squeaked past a defender.
“I took a touch, I saw the dude was coming in close to me, and I kind of just put my head over it and ripped it,” Leap said. “It went in the back of the net.”
Getting on the board first, and quickly, proved crucial.
“It’s great to get that first goal, especially early in the game,” Leap said. “It helps build momentum for the rest of the game and it takes a lot of weight off your shoulders when you put one in early.”
“Seeing the ball go in the back of the net is really helpful,” Bogushefsky said. “We know we struggled in the last two games because we were playing some top-level teams. I think that early goal is exactly what we needed. It started going our way and I think our effort, energy and execution were all part of that.”
Ocean City kept the pressure on from there, while Oakcrest’s scoring chances were few but dangerous.
“I feel like we took advantage of our chances a lot more today,” Leap said, “and a few times we got lucky and our outside backs recovered. We just got in front, got a foot on it and got it out.”
“They have two kids up top who are like lightning,” Bogushefsky said, “and if you give those kids a chance with a little space they’ll make you pay. That’s what happened to us last time – one goof-up in the back and it ended it. So they had some chances and usually they’ll put those in. We got a little lucky here and there.”
The Raiders went into the break leading 1-0, then doubled their lead immediately to start the second half.
Colin Bowman made a deke at the top of the box off a feed from Wade Hudak then launched it home for the 2-0 lead.
Less than five minutes later the Raiders added another when Bowman put a tough-angle shot on net and Anthony Evans tapped home the rebound.
It was a much different game than the first time around with the Falcons, in which Oakcrest played the Raiders last month.
“First game we tied 1-1, went to overtime, and couldn’t put one past them,” Leap said. “So it feels good to not only hold them to zero goals, but to get three on them too.”
“They’re a good team,” Bogushefsky said. “Some of the kids on that team have fantastic talent. Their goalie made some incredible saves today. I think they’re a very good team, and especially when you play there they’re very, very good. Here we’re able to open the game up a little more. I think we were just desperate for a win today and that’s what we saw.”
Two more wins
Leap had two goals and an assist Saturday against Williamstown and Anthony Evans scored the third. Dan Leiser and Paul Tjoumakaris had the other assist.
On Monday, Wade Hudak had two goals against Lower Cape May Regional and Leap, Connor Smith and Tanner Bell each scored.
Coming together
The Raiders’ lineup is coming together after a slew of early-season injuries.
“As the season goes on we keep getting more and more pieces back,” Leap said. “We keep building more chemistry and getting better. We’re growing together into a team. There are obviously things we need to work on, but we have a week until playoffs. Hopefully we can sand out the edges and we’ll be good.”
“We have a couple new guys back who have been sitting with injuries for a long time,” Bogushefsky said. “We’re glad to have them back and we saw what that looked like. It’s nice to be healthy this time of year.”
Between getting their full roster together and embracing the system, the Raiders are peaking at the right time.
“Bogy is the perfect coach for us,” Leap said, “because a lot of times we try to go off the game plan when it’s not working. And what’s helped us develop as a team so much is just sticking to the game plan, working together as a team.”
“It’s always approaching, never arriving,” Bogushefsky said. “We’re always trying to get better. I think these guys are hitting a stride. Playing those tough teams this week really helped us and showed us the level we need to be playing at.”
Ocean City is the No. 4 seed in the South Jersey Group III sectional. The Red Raiders will host No. 13 Cumberland on Thursday.
By KYLE McCRANE/Sentinel Sports