By LESLEY GRAHAM
The Ocean City High School field hockey team battled against Millville on Friday afternoon, coming up just short in a 2-1 loss in league play.
Chloe Prettyman scored the lone goal for the Red Raiders, who dropped to 10-4 overall (9-1 in league play). Millville improved to 10-1 on the season and 9-1 in league play as well.
The loss was Ocean City’s first Cape-Atlantic League defeat this season, while Millville’s only CAL loss came at the hands of the Red Raiders earlier this season, 3-1.
The Thunderbolts are on an eight-game win streak, with Millville Head Coach Claudia McCarthy recording her South Jersey-leading 597th career win.
Halfway through the first half, both teams were scoreless with a lot of back and forth action. The Red Raiders and the Thunderbolts were both awarded penalty corners, but were unable to convert them into goals.
With the clock reading just under 14 minutes, Millville was finally able to break through the defense of Ocean City, finding the back of the net off a penalty corner to go up 1-0. Ocean City quickly called a timeout to assess the situation and make adjustments.
With under five minutes to play in the half, Ocean City was awarded two corners, and once again was unable to score. The frustration could be felt through the Ocean City cheering section as Millville took its slim lead into halftime.
As the Red Raiders gathered their thoughts at halftime, they came out with a renewed fire to get the game back in their favor.
With less than three minutes ticked off the clock, Ocean City found the back of the net on a corner play, with senior captain Chloe Prettyman connecting on a pass from another senior captain, Meredith Moon. The goal tied the score at 1-1.
As the second half progressed, there was continued fight from both teams. Play got aggressive with each team battling to break the tie.
Unfortunately for Ocean City, Millville was the team to do just that on a breakaway goal with 15 minutes remaining in the game. The goal would prove to be the game winner as Ocean City was unable to get past a staunch Millville defense, but not for a lack of trying.
Ocean City fought until the end but didn’t have the gusto to come from behind for the victory.
The Red Raiders are back in action at Bridgeton on Oct. 7.
