OCEAN CITY — The Ocean City High School girls soccer team continues its drive toward a championship Nov. 7 when they play host to Toms River South in the quarterfinal round of the NJSIAA South Jersey Group III playoffs.
The Red Raiders (18-4 overall, 11-1 Cape-Atlantic League American Division) and first-year head coach Sean Matteo won their opening four games before dropping a pair to out-of-conference Cherokee and Eastern high schools. The girls won the next three, scoring 16 goals and giving up just 1, before falling to Egg Harbor Township 4-2 on Sept. 23, a loss they would avenge not once but twice.
Ocean City, the tournament’s third seed, then won 10 in a row (six shutouts), including the Cape-Atlantic League Tournament championship over EHT, until going up against Paul VI on the road in the quarterfinal round of the South Jersey Coaches Association Tournament Oct. 28, falling 1-0 to the Eagles.
The Raiders followed that up with a 7-0 shellacking of Winslow Township on Nov. 4 in the opening round of the Group III playoffs to set up the matchup with Toms River South.
Goaltender Kaia Ray has been a bright spot for the Red Raiders all season, wracking up 43 saves in 15 games played this season, including seven shutouts.
The Red Raiders won at least their prior three games against the Indians dating to 2016, including a shootout the last time they met in October 2022, also in the quarterfinal round.
Ocean City has a high-powered offense led by senior Naomi Nnewihe with 31 goals and 12 assists, followed by senior Brooke Liebrand (15, 8) and sophomore Emma Vince (14, 10). Senior Coryn McDonnell, who has the fourth-most goals on the team (7, 10), is tied with the Indians’ top scorer. The team has 89 goals and 64 assists.
Toms River South (13-5-1, 2-4 Shore Conference A South), led by head coach Kacey Woram, has scored just 41 goals this season.
While the sixth-seeded team is led by freshman Daniella Gordon with 7 goals and 4 assists, senior Keira Mulvihill (6, 4) and sophomore Alexia Cecere (5, 2) aren’t far behind. It appears the Indians have no single threat.
Goaltender senior Hannah Puglisi has made 76 saves in 18 games.
Game time is 2 p.m. at Ocean City High School’s beachfront Carey Stadium.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff