OCEAN CITY – As always, Ocean City High School girls soccer coach Lisa Cuneo is setting the bar high for the season. For the first time, she will be coaching a senior class that has been with her from the start.
That will keep the learning curve low.
The Red Raiders are the defending Cape-Atlantic League champions, having beaten rival Mainland Regional in the tournament finals last fall. They finished with a 15-0-4 record, with the final tie a shootout loss to Shawnee in the Group III South Jersey sectional semifinals.
“This senior group is the first freshman group that I’ve had control over since taking over from Kelly (Halliday) so they know the routine, the know what to expect,” Cuneo said Friday before a scrimmage against Cherry Hill East.
“Right now we’re in the middle of trying to figure out the pieces of the puzzle and the starting lineup. There are still some holes to fill and still some battles going on, which is fantastic,” she said. “Within the next few days, the next few scrimmages, that’s all going to work its way out.
“We have a big group that I’m still trying to evaluate,” Cuneo said. “It’s coming together and coming together at the right time and looks good so far.”
The coach’s senior leaders are three-year starters Zoey Lappin, McKenna Chisholm and Ashley Rhodes, who are the team’s captains. “They’re going to make an impact right off the bat.”
Rhodes and Chisholm will be the center midfielders. Lappin will take over for Riley Fortna in the back, “but can also play anywhere and everywhere,” Cuneo said. “I may even throw her in up top once in a while.”
Junior starters include Coryn McDonnell, who was the starting center back last year, and Brooke Leibrand, who was the starting outside back for the last two years. “And of course,” Cuneo said, “Naomi Nnewihe.” She is a speedy attacker.
“We have a strong upperclassmen group to really just set the foundation that we need, which allows us the freedom to kind of play around with the outside middies and some of our missing pieces of the puzzle,” Cuneo said.
There is a battle going on for the starting goalie position.
“We have Anna McCabe, who was the backup goalie under Tori Vliet. She didn’t see a lot of minutes because of Tori playing and starting for so many years, but has been with the program and knows our expectations and what it takes to be our starting goalkeeper,” the coach said. “And we have the pleasure of welcoming Kaia Ray, who has transferred from Lower Cape May Regional. She is a junior and is now in a battle for the position so we will be splitting time for the time being until one of them proves to be the starter.”
Cuneo expects her girls to achieve.
“My expectations are high. The girls know where the bar is set. Especially this year with the group we have there is no other way to do it,” she said. “Our schedule is strong. We have some decent out-of-conference games. We picked up Rancocas Valley, we have Deptford, we have Williamstown. These out-of-conference games make up for some of the holes in our schedule.
“The girls are ready. They’re confident, which is great,” she said. “I think today is going to be a great test going against East. We’ll get this Olympic Conference game going. I think it’s going to be a moment for them to push in the preseason.”
The coach knows there will be stiff competition in the Cape-Atlantic League as well.
“All the teams are returning a lot,” Cuneo said. “I know Egg Harbor Township didn’t lose that many. Obviously, Mainland is always strong with Genevieve (Morrison) in goal and Ava Tenaglia. They’re always going to be the team to beat. We always bring that competitiveness when we play against them.”
“It should be a fun, competitive division, which is what we want. We don’t want to go into games just beating up on anybody. We want to go out, we want to compete and we want to play. That’s how teams like the Olympic Conference and other leagues get good, get better come playoff time. We need to do the same.
“That is the expectation we have with our division this year,” Cuneo said. “We’re excited. The girls are excited.”
Noting Friday’s game against Cherry Hill East was only the second scrimmage the team has had, Cuneo said, “Hopefully they settle in and we have a good year. We have some trophies to win.”
The girls open their varsity season at 4 p.m. Thursday at Millville and then host their biggest rival, Mainland Regional, at 11 a.m. Saturday on the turf at Carey Stadium. They are at Egg Harbor Township at 4 p.m. Tuesday and back home at noon Saturday against Deptford Township, this time at the Tennessee Avenue sports complex.
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff