By LESLEY GRAHAM
The Ocean City field hockey team ended the season with a 2-0 loss to Moorestown in the Group 3 South playoff final.
The Red Raiders, who were the No. 1 seed, had home field advantage against a strong Moorestown team, the second seed.
Ocean City opened up the first two quarters of play with dominant possession, but was unable to find the back of the cage.
The Red Raiders battled hard to keep the game a scoreless tie, giving themselves a chance in the second half of play.
The Red Raiders' defense charges out on a penalty corner.
After the halftime intermission, both teams came back out with renewed energy to finish the game.
Moorestown was able to find the cage on one of only six penalty corners Ocean City gave up, lifting them to a 1-0 advantage midway through the third quarter.
Less than five minutes later, Moorestown would score again on a breakaway, giving them a 2-0 lead that clinched the win.
Ocean City Head Coach Kelsey Burke was proud of her team’s effort.
“We dominated the first half and executed the game plan. Unfortunately, we just needed to punch one in and couldn’t do that,” Burke said post game.
“Sophomore Breanna Fabi played solid on her man mark assignment, and the team as a whole never quit and played tough,” Burke added.
Ocean City junior captain Andi Helphenstine looks to power the ball in on a penalty corner.
Burke noted that before the season even began, many wrote off the young and somewhat inexperienced Red Raiders.
“Having lost such a loaded senior class last year, many people didn’t think much of us. But I am very proud of all the girls who stepped up this year and steered us to accomplish what we did,” she said.
The Red Raiders ended the 2021 campaign with an impressive 20-2 record and as co-champions of the Cape Atlantic League.
Seniors Nicole Carey (14) and Camryn Flynn (22) work to get the ball out of Ocean City's defensive circle.
