Offense Explodes to Propel O.C. Past Absegami

By LESLEY GRAHAM Multiple players had multiple points in Ocean City field hockey’s dominant 12-1 win over conference foe Absegami Monday afternoon. The Red Raiders improved to 7-2 on the season, while the Absegami Braves dropped to 3-5. Coming off a huge overtime win on Saturday versus Haddonfield, the Red Raiders scored early and often to rout the Braves at Carey Stadium. Senior captain Molly Reardon had a hat trick on the afternoon within the opening half of play and finished the afternoon with four points. Nya Gilchrist (4) scores one of her three goals on the afternoon. Junior Nya Gilchrist also tallied four points with three goals and one assist, while Tara McNally added three goals and two assists for five points. Chloe Prettyman had a goal and an assist and Bridget O’Kane each chipped in a goal for the Red Raiders. Gilchrist said after the game that she couldn’t have had a great afternoon without the support of her teammates. “We played a really connected game, making passes, making sure we were there for one another and helping each other out,” Gilchrist said. Ocean City dominated possession time with the majority of the game being played in the Red Raiders' offensive end. Katie Bowman (foreground) makes a defensive stop on the ball. Reardon opened up the scoring less than two minutes into the game, then quickly making it 2-0 within the first 10 minutes. Absegami called a time out to try to change the tides, but the Red Raiders were unwavering in their offensive onslaught. Ocean City took a 6-0 lead into halftime. Less than two minutes into the second half, Ocean City was back on the scoreboard with a strike by McNally. Absegami found the back of the net early in the second half off a penalty corner to make the score 7-1, but that would be the end of the scoring for the Braves. Ocean City, on the other hand, would continue to finish five more times in the game. Absegami had a corner with two minutes remaining, but a great heads-up play from junior Katie Bowman kept the Braves off the scoreboard again. The Red Raiders will be back in action on Wednesday as they take on conference rival Mainland for the first time this season. Molly Reardon scores for the Red Raiders.