Seniors shine as Red Raiders roll over Holy Spirit Spartans
OCEAN CITY — The upperclassmen for the Ocean City Red Raiders showed out in their Senior Day game versus the Holy Spirit Spartans, winning 6-0.
Raider seniors scored or assisted on each goal during the game, led by Julia Neff with a goal and three assists.
Before the game, the nine seniors were recognized on the field along with their families.
“They have put so much work into our program for the last four years, so it is exciting to be able to recognize them and see them have a fun game,” Ocean City head coach Kelsey Burke said.
The Raiders have won their past two games to bring their record to 4-3 on the season.
In the first two minutes of the game, senior Taylor Amstutz got the party started with a quick goal thanks to a great pass from Neff.
Ocean City took more than 20 shots on goal throughout the game and junior Carlee Hiddemen helped by constantly stealing the ball away from the Spartans.
She had two early steals in the game, with the second turning into a pass to Neff in front of the net for the Raiders’ second goal in seven minutes.
Up 2-0 early in the first quarter, the Raiders kept up their offensive pressure, but the Spartan defense put up a fight. Throughout the rest of the first quarter and most of the second, the Raiders took six shots, and they were all turned away by the Spartan goalie.
The Raiders finally broke through the defense late in the first half as Amstutz centered the ball to an open Ella Jefferson for a goal. The junior scored her first of the season to put her team up 3-0 to end the half.
Amstutz opened the second half almost exactly how she opened the first half, as she scored another goal within the first two minutes. After a shot by Neff, senior Mia Pancoast quickly passed the ball to Amstutz and she sent the ball flying toward the back of the net.
“We really focused on second and third shots in practice and keeping the ball in play on rebounds. I feel the girls did a good job on that today,” Burke said.
Later in the third quarter, another steal by the Raider defense set up their leading goal scorer with an opportunity. Neff passed the ball to center field where fellow Pancoast was waiting. She fired a fastball past the goalie for her sixth goal of the season.
“It was so fun,” Pancoast said after the game. “Everyone was working together, which made it a very positive and fun game to play.”
Ocean City played a complete game in which five players scored a goal, and each goal had an assist.
Defensively, the Raiders and junior goaltender Taryn Dolka locked down the Spartans, giving up only one shot on goal.
Before the game was over, Neff had to let the next generation of Raiders in on the fun. With seven minutes left in the game, she ran the ball up field and passed to freshman Stevie Wright, who was ready in front of the goal. She scored shortly after for her second goal of the season.
Wright’s goal put the Raiders up 6-0 in the fourth quarter and ended the scoring.
“We had great energy today and we were able to maintain it better throughout the game,” Burke said.
Two days after the game, the Raiders won 4-0 over St. Joseph thanks to Neff scoring a hat trick. That win moved their record to 5-3 on the year.
The Raiders next game was set for Oct. 3 on the road against Egg Harbor Township. They are set to play another road game Oct. 5 against Hammonton. Both games start at 4 p.m.
By WILLIAM TRUITT/For the Sentinel
