The Ocean City high school field hockey team defeated the visiting Absegami Braves 9-0 Saturday morning in the second round of the South Jersey Group three playoffs. The Red Raiders, seeded number two, shut out the seventh seeded Braves, for it’s seventh shutout this season.
Ocean City scored early and often with nine different players notching a point in the scorebook. Junior captain Tara McNally led all scorers with a hat trick and added an assist. Chloe Prettyman followed suit with two goals and one assist and Molly Reardon had one goal and one assist. Olivia Vanesko, Bridget O’Kane and Alexis Smallwood each contributed one goal. Sophia Ruh, Nya Gilchrist and Morgan DeCosta all added an assist.
Tara McNally dribbles through the Absegami defenders.
Ocean City got out to a quick 3-0 lead within the first 15 minutes of the first half. Absegami battled to take some control back and allow their team some offensive opportunities but Ocean City wasn’t about to give up their momentum. Tara McNally helped the Red Raiders keep that momentum single-handedly with all three of her goals being scored within the span of six minutes. This extended the Red Raiders lead to 6 heading into halftime.
Sophia Ruh moves the ball through an Absegami player.
As the second half got underway, Ocean City continued its dominance all over the field. The majority of the minutes were spent in Ocean City’s offensive end allowing the Red Raiders continued opportunities on goal. With twenty minutes remaining in the game, Chloe Prettyman found the back of the goal after a penalty corner for the Red Raiders. Less than two minutes later, Bridget O’Kane tallied another one for Ocean City on a tip in in front of the goal.
Ocean City would continue to push the pace of play for the next 15 minutes. The Absegami goalkeeper came up with some big saves late in the game to thwart the efforts of the Red Raiders. As the clock ticked below a minute, Ocean City had one more goal left in their tanks to finish off the Braves 9-0.
Molly Reardon with her breakaway speed looks to goal.
Head Coach Kelsey Mitchell was happy with the offensive output her team exhibited today. “We played a good offensive game. The girls were ready for rebounds in the circle and we were getting quick shots off,” said Mitchell postgame.
As Ocean City looks ahead to it’s next game, Mitchell reminds them that being in the present is crucial for success. “We tell them to take nothing for granted, that every day matters and we need to be aware of that so we can continue on to the next step,” Mitchell said.
Morgan DeCosta passes the ball upfield to her teammate.
The Red Raiders will play home, Tuesday at 2 pm versus the winner of Mainland/Cherry Hill West.
