OCEAN CITY – The Red Raiders girls lacrosse team shook off a rocky start to run away with an 18-5 win over Mainland Regional High School’s team Wednesday, April 6.
On the Carey Stadium turf in the wind and rain, Ocean City fell behind in the first minute when Charlotte Walcoff scored on the Mustangs’ first possession.
Walcoff set up behind the net, waited for an opening, and worked to the front for the finish.
“We talk sometimes about how historically we’re a second-half team,” Raiders head coach Lesley Graham said. “So when that first goal went in I though, ‘Uh-oh, we’re going to have to mount a comeback.’ But they found that fire and they realized we can put a complete game together. We did what we needed to, put our foot on the gas, and didn’t let up.”
The Raiders responded quickly to the opening goal as Racheli Levy-Smith found Gracie Pierce right at the doorstep with an excellent feed.
About a minute later, Levy-Smith finished the play herself to put the Raiders ahead.
“They just dominated the draws,” Mainland coach Kelly Klever said. “That’s such a huge aspect in lacrosse and they are very strong and well-versed and skilled. So going up a goal early, we knew that wasn’t something to hang our hat on. We had to work for the whole 50 minutes, and we didn’t do that.”
Mainland’s Eva Blanco tied it with a great individual effort, weaving through a series of defenders and tucking a low shot past the keeper.
The Raiders kept the offense going as Olivia Vansko scored off a penalty shot and Kelsea Cooke on a counter-rush breakout to pull ahead 4-2.
Walcoff’s second goal drew the Mustangs within one.
Ocean City then exploded for eight unanswered goals to turn it into a 12-3 blowout before halftime.
The Raiders did much of their damage off Mustang fouls and in transition.
“Our ride is something we’ve been working on and take a lot of pride in,” Graham said. “We want to make sure that if we take a shot and it misses or gets saved or we turn it over, we ride over to the 30 and we’re trying to get second chances. Our attackers work hard for those extra chances.”
“They have a very strong re-defend,” Klever said. “We’ve practiced with extra men in to try and mirror that and replicate it, but today we didn’t show our best.”
The Mustangs’ defense was less disciplined than they’ve shown so far this season.
“We always try to preach feet-first defense,” said Klever, “not being too aggressive with our sticks, body positioning first. Maybe we were a little nervous in the beginning and not doing those things, the small things we really harp on in practice. Then we gave up some fouls and some free positions. Those are always tough. You just try to get a stick on it.”
The Raiders stretched their lead out of halftime to bring on a running clock the rest of the way.
“We always know Ocean City is going to be a big game,” Klever said, “but we didn’t do the little things we’ve been doing all season. So I feel like we were just a little bit off today and you can’t be off when you play a team like Ocean City.”
Walcoff completed her hat trick in the second half, while the Raiders had 10 different players score. Julianna Medina added the other goal for the Mustangs.
“One of the things we pride ourselves on here is that every seven kids is a threat at anytime,” Graham said. “We run a lot of motion sets on offense that allow for assisted goals and looks from different kids instead of just one or two who a defense can focus on. We try to share the ball and it’s apparent in games like this.”
Madison Wenner and Pierce scored three apiece for Ocean City. Brynn Culmone, Kelsea Cooke, Levy-Smith and Delainey Sutley had two each and Ryan Cooke, Vanesko, Grace McAfee and Breanna Fabi contributed one each. Vanesko led the team with three assists.
“One of the great things I love about this program is we have 20 kids on varsity and we can put them out there in any combination or lineup and it’s going to be a hard-fought battle from all of them,” Graham said. “There’s no drop-off in talent when we start subbing kids and it’s just fantastic.”
Raider goalie Presley Green made a few key saves early on while the game was still tight, bringing the crowd to its feet.
“I’ve got to give a shout-out to my goalie,” Graham said. “She played phenomenal tonight, only letting in five goals and having nine saves. Good for her, stepping up in a big game. She’s the only one we have on the varsity roster and it’s hard to be on an island like that. So I hope this was a big confidence booster for her.”
The 3-1 Raiders look to build some early season momentum off the big rivalry win.
“Nothing but good,” Graham said. “It gives us big momentum, especially coming off a tough loss against Moorestown and that’s what we talked about. How do you bounce back from a loss like that? The girls obviously answered back in dramatic fashion.”
Ocean City will travel to Millville to take on the Thunderbolts at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Also 3-1 and coming off a 21-0 shutout of Absegami, Mainland will host Egg Harbor Township the same day and time.
By KYLE McCRANE/Sentinel Sports