OCEAN CITY – The Ocean City girls lacrosse team dominated the Cape-Atlantic League this season and made it to the semifinals of the South Jersey Group III sectionals, where they ran into perennial powerhouse Moorestown High School.
The high-flying Raider offense was brought back to Earth as the Raiders lost to the Quakers 12-2 on May 31.
It was the Raiders’ lowest-scoring game this season with goals by Gracie Pierce and Kelsea Cooke.
Moorestown jumped on Ocean City from the first minute and dominated the time of possession. Each player seemed to be dangerous as five different girls had at least two goals for Moorestown. Ocean City (17-6, 9-0 in the CAL) never had a chance to get into a rhythm on offense and challenge goalie Danika Demas.
Ocean City faced a three-goal deficit after the first quarter that expanded into an eight-goal deficit by halftime. Moorestown seemed to have an answer for anything the Raiders tried.
It is the second straight season Ocean City was eliminated by Moorestown in the semifinals. Even though both teams have been great, they have not met in the championship round due to the strength of Group III.
Along with Moorestown the Raiders share a group with defending South Jersey champion Shawnee High School and top three seed Cherry Hill West High School.
Ocean City reached the semifinals against Moorestown after an intense game versus Clearview High School in the quarterfinals.
The Raiders put on a defensive showcase in the second half in an 11-7 victory May 29.
Clearview scored two goals in the final minute of the first quarter to tie the game at 4-4. Ocean City clamped down on Clearview for the remainder of the game and only allowed three goals in three quarters.
Goalie Presley Green and the rest of the Raider defense had several possessions last for 2-3 minutes and successfully turned away the opposing offense.
“We all go off of each other in those moments,” Green said. “If they are doing good that means I’m doing good. My teammates staying in it kept me in it.”
Asked about the defensive effort after the Clearview game, Ocean City head coach Lesley Graham described it as “excellent team defense.”
Delainey Sutley led all scorers with five goals which pushed her past 70 for the season. The senior is one of the best players in program history with over 200 career goals for the Raiders.
Sutley is part of a long list of seniors who have finished their high school careers. Cooke was a big part of the Raiders’ draws along with Sutley and scored 42 goals this season.
Freshman Marley Ostrander picked up valuable playing time this season and solidified a starting role for next year. Ostrander had the second most assists on the team and scored 27 goals.
– STORY by WILLIAM TRUITT/For the Sentinel
– PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff