LINWOOD — The final game of the regular season will decide the winner of the Cape-Atlantic League American Division, with both host Mainland Regional High School and cross-bay rival Ocean City High School entering the contest 9-0-1 in division play.
Head coach Chris Meade has the Mustangs at 9-3-1 overall, with the tie coming Sept. 19 at Carey Stadium.
Mainland lost its first two games of the season and three of its first four, with a 3-0 defeat of Hammonton in the third game of the season their only victory in that span.
Following the scoreless tie against the Red Raiders, the Mustangs have won eight straight by shutout, scoring 27 goals in the process.
They were scheduled to play Middle Township High School Thursday in the semifinal round of the CAL Tournament.
Junior Ava Tenaglia leads the Mustangs with 8 goals and 2 assists, followed by freshman Savannah Jones with 5/3. Junior Lani Ford has 1 goal and 7 assists, while senior Jane Meade has 2 goals and 5 assists.
Junior goalkeeper Genevieve Morrison has made 78 saves in net.
Last season, the Mustangs went on a playoff run, not stopping until being knocked out by Lacey Township in the South Jersey Group III final after a 1-1 contest ended in a penalty kick shootout.
Mainland had upended the Red Raiders in the semifinal round four days prior in similar circumstances.
Coached by Lisa Cuneo, the Red Raiders are an undefeated scoring machine, going 11-0-2 overall.
Ocean City has given up just one goal all season, Sept. 15 to Juliana Dogostino of Hammonton. Meanwhile, the Red Raiders have scored 47 goals. Senior goalkeeper Tory Vliet and the defense have 11 shutouts
They were scheduled to take on Cedar Creek on Thursday in the semifinal round of the CAL Tournament in a game that could set them on another collision course with the Mustangs.
Sophomore Naomi Nnewihe leads the team with 11 goals and 7 assists, followed by junior Ashley Rhodes with 10/3. Junior McKenna Chisholm has 7 goals and 7 assists, and freshman Gabby Cupit 7/3.
The defense is led by Vliet, who has 74 saves this season, and fellow senior Riley Fortna, the lone remaining Red Raider who played in the Group III state championship victory in 2019.
–By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff