EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP — The Red Raiders scored two first-half goals against Egg Harbor Township on Thursday, Oct. 15. That was all the scoring they needed to top the Eagles and with a standout performance in goal, earn the 2-0 shutout.
Just over nine minutes into the game, Ocean City sophomore Luke Terruso just missed netting the ball at the left corner of the goal, but he was able to collect the rebound and outrace the defender wide. From there he fired a crossing pass right in front of the goal where freshman Levi Martenz was waiting. Martenz got his foot on it and shot the ball past the Eagle keeper for the first goal.
The second goal came with just over 19 minutes remaining in the half. Sophomore Oliver Prajzner sent a free kick from about 40 yards out into a melee of players in the right side of the box, where junior Colin James leaped and got his head on it to send it into the back of the net.
The Red Raiders spent much of the game on the attack, but the Eagles had plenty of attempts on the Ocean City goal from point blank to distant shots. Freshman goalie Aiden McHale was up to the task, making 18 saves to preserve the shutout.
Head coach Kevin Nuss said it was key to score early.
“To be able to put pressure on early and score goals, make them chase the game, played into our favor,” he said, adding he prefers “getting goals and locking the game down, defending with the ball and playing a good defense.”
The Raiders improved to 6-5-2 on the season after starting with an uncharacteristic four-game losing streak. The Raiders avenged their opening loss, a 3-0 shutout by Egg Harbor Township. That was followed by an 8-0 loss to St. Augustine Prep and 2-1 losses to Mainland Regional and Vineland high schools.
A tie with Cedar Creek staunched the bleeding and the Raiders won two in a row before another lopsided loss to the Prep (5-0). Another tie, this time with Mainland, got things heading in the right direction.
Nuss said his team is very young, made up of a lot of freshmen and sophomores who went through a learning curve early in the season.
“The first four games were a little rough, but since Sept. 12 we’ve lost only one game and have five shutouts in that time,” Nuss said. “The team has definitely come around and started to grow into itself.”
Ocean City, which missed the Cape-Atlantic League tournament, was third in the American Division behind St. Augustine Prep (13-2) and Mainland (6-5-3) and now just ahead of Egg Harbor Township (5-6-2).
The Red Raiders are seventh in Power Points in South Jersey Group III. Power Points close Oct. 25 with seeding for the tournament Oct. 28. First-round play is Nov. 4.
– STORY by DAVID NAHAN and CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
– PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
