Mainland scores first, Raiders tie it up then win in overtime over rivals
OCEAN CITY – The Ocean City Red Raiders and Mainland Mustangs girls soccer teams had another battle for the ages at Carey Stadium Monday afternoon.
With a Cape-Atlantic League title on the line, yet again 80 minutes wasn’t enough to decide a winner between the rivals.
Midway through the extra session, it was Ocean City sophomore Coryn McDonnell who came out the hero in overtime.
The sophomore finished off a corner kick down low in traffic to bring the home crowd to a frenzy and claim the trophy for the Raiders.
“It’s a good feeling,” head coach Lisa Cuneo said. “Mainland brings it. They bring it every time and it’s lively, so it’s that much more special. One word that came to mind (about the Red Raiders) is resilient and they really showed it; they showed their work. I can’t say enough about them. I’m so proud of them.”
Play remained in the middle third of the field in the early going before the Raiders turned up the pressure.
As the first half approached the midway point the Ocean City offense began to buzz and looked poised to break through.
Mustangs keeper Genevieve Morrison kept the score sheet clean with a diving save to her right, followed moments later with a point-blank stop. She had 9 saves through the game.
“It’s really aggravating, she’s always been a great goalie,” McDonnell said, “but we know if we keep shooting one has to go in eventually.”
Another Raider blast rang off the crossbar.
“We have some history with that,” Cuneo said, “watching film, watching our first game with them – two crossbars, some really elite saves from that goalie. I knew we would get our chances, you just hope it goes in … so all good.”
“We just keep pushing each other, giving helpful criticism, where to go,” sophomore attacker Naomi Nnewihe said. “Eventually we got one and the rest follows.”
Following the flurry of Ocean City near-misses, Mainland took advantage of one of the few chances they saw.
On a long free kick in the 27th minute, Mainland created confusion by having two players line up on either side of the ball.
The perfectly placed ball landed in traffic down low, where Ocean City couldn’t clear before Emily Paytas put it home.
“We have to talk about certain things like that,” Cuneo said. “Good thing we have practice tomorrow. We’ll talk through some things, some sloppy mistakes. You can’t let that happen, that’s a big momentum swing on their end, but it shows again the resiliency of this team. We regrouped at halftime, our talk was a little tough, emotions running super high, but they found a way and that’s what matters.”
The 1-0 Mustang lead would hold through halftime.
“We just keep calm, play our game, and don’t let them control,” McDonnell sad. “Even if they do get chances we know we have time left and it’s our game.”
The Raiders responded out of the gate in the second half.
On a long ball toward the Mainland net from Katie Maxwell, Morrison got caughtbetween charging out for the ball and sitting back for the save as Nnewihe closed in.
The two met at the ball, Nnewihe jumping up to nudge it past the goalie as Morrison went to the turf. Nnewihe followed the ball, outracing another defender to finish the tying goal.
“You just keep going,” Nnewihe said, “because you know she’s going to make some great saves. Everyone makes mistakes, all the pros make mistakes, so you just keep going and keep going. She made a little mistake and we capitalized.”
From there the Raiders continued to own the possession battle but neither defense would break.
“Coryn McDonnell, Brooke (Liebrand), Natalie (Hope), and Riley Fortna – one of the best backs in the state of New Jersey – just unbelievable,” Cuneo said. “We say, ‘In Riley we trust,’ but the whole back four has been consistent. I don’t sub a lot and I definitely don’t sub them out. We had Zoey Lappin back there a little today and they just held it down.”
Raider goalie Tori Vliet made four saves, attesting to how the defense limited Mainland’s chances.
It was the second time this year the two teams showed how evenly-matched they are, having played to a scoreless tie a month prior, and both coming in with 9-0-1 records in the division.
The Mustangs had won eight straight since the teams’ previous meeting.
“We definitely made some adjustments on where to play, how to play the ball, and our movements,” Nnewihe said.
The game just felt destined for overtime.
“We just said, ‘We’re almost there,’” McDonnell said. “Obviously we had a lot of chances and anybody could have scored that goal.”
In the 85th minute the Raiders came through with the title-winning goal off a corner kick.
“I was told to go up, which isn’t normal,” McDonnell said, “but I knew we needed to get a goal. I saw the ball come in low which isn’t typical for Emily Benson, who takes our corner kicks. Then I saw Naomi step over the ball so I knew I had to get something on there. I just felt straight joy through my body. It’s just amazing, truly amazing.”
“It feels amazing to do it again,” Nnewihe said.
“Mainland battled, which is to be expected,” Cuneo said. “A little sloppy soccer to start, but it doesn’t have to be pretty. I told them that from the start. I’m super proud of them.”
South Jersey sectional next for both teams
The Raiders and Mustangs have a chance to meet again if both make it through the South Jersey Group III sectional brackets in the tournament that begins this week.
Ocean City (13-0-2) is the No. 4 seed and is scheduled to host No. 13 Moorestown Wednesday, Oct. 26. No. 1 seed Shawnee is on Ocean City’s side of the bracket.
Mainland (10-4-1) is the No. 7 seed and is on the other side of the bracket. The Mustangs host No. 10 seed Pemberton Wednesday. No. 2 seed Cherry Hill West is on Mainland’s side of the bracket.
Both teams would have to make it to the finals to meet for a third time this season.
PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN, STORY By KYLE McCRANE/Sentinel Sports