LINWOOD — Sometimes all it takes is one moment of brilliance to win a soccer game, when the ball is delivered perfectly into the box at head-height for the onrushing forward and she slams it home for the goal.
Such was the case Oct. 11 in Linwood, where the Ocean City Red Raiders topped the Mainland Regional Mustangs 1-0 in a Cape-Atlantic League American Division matchup.
Ocean City junior Maeve Geary had a throw-in deep in Mainland’s territory, tossing it down toward the endline where senior Coryn McDonnell beat her defender and struck a cross into the center of the 6-yard box. Senior Naomi Nnewihe was in the right place at the right time to put it past goalkeeper Riley Townsend for the game-winner with 12:43 remaining in the first half.
“Getting it off the cross to Naomi, that was big,” Ocean City coach Sean Matteo said, noting the star forward was under the weather.
“Coryn did a good job saving the ball and she played a beautiful cross. I was just thinking get a piece of my body on it, that I was right in front of the goal. The ball was played with perfect placement and so much pace that all I had to do was get a touch and I knew that it was going into the back of the net,” Nnewihe said.
The Raiders (13-3, 11-1) had much of the possession in the opening stanza but Mainland weathered an early onslaught — in which the first shot of the game pinged off the upright — to settle into the match.
However, it was in the second half, when Ocean City controlled the ball for extended periods, that the Mustangs had their best chances, including their only shot on goal of the game.
A cross into the box met the head of the Mainland forward, who headed it on frame but unfortunately right into the hands of Raider goalkeeper Kaia Ray to preserve the shutout and secure the win.
“We had a lot of possession. We were having a lot of shots but unfortunately couldn’t finish them. We ended up with the win and that’s all that matters,” Ray said.
It was the team’s seventh shutout of the season and Ray’s fifth, with two coming against the Mustangs.
“I just keep working hard at practice and keeping good communication with the team to make sure everyone is in their place,” Ray said.
The Mustangs (7-4, 6-4) played much better than in the season’s previous matchup, when the Raiders beat them 5-0 on their turf.
“I give a ton of credit; they played us and EHT tough this year. That was a different Mainland team than we saw earlier in the year. They came out with something to prove. They made us earn it today,” Matteo said.
Townsend was forced to make numerous saves, including a high shot from distance that she was able to knock over the bar.
“Their keeper played outstanding. She came up big for them and kept them in the game,” Matteo said.
Townsend and the defense also had to defend multiple corner kicks in the second half.
“I told them at halftime that we did not get a ton of set pieces because we have been dangerous on them, so our emphasis was to really try to get those corners in the second half and I think we had opportunities. We snuck out the win and that’s what matters,” Matteo said.
Mainland coach Bill Horner said it was more of a team effort this time around against the Raiders.
“The first time we played them we didn’t know what to expect,” the first-year head coach said of the young team. “This time around I think we were up to their game.”
Townsend, a sophomore who was hurt the first time the teams played, is a first-year goaltender.
“She’s really growing as a goalie, as a starter,” Horner said.
Townsend said she relies on her defense a lot.
“I trust them,” she said.
Raiders beat EHT
Ocean City’s only CAL loss his season was to Egg Harbor Township, 4-2, Sept. 23. On Monday, the Raiders shut out EHT 3-0 to pull even atop the American Division.
Brooke Liebrand scored in the first period and Nnewihe added two second-half goals.
EHT goalie Abigail Lyon made nine saves. Raider goalie Ray made five saves to earn her sixth shutout of the season.
– STORY by CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
– PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
