Ocean City Drops Double-OT Heartbreaker in Girls Soccer

By LESLEY GRAHAMThe Ocean City High School girls soccer team suffered a heartbreaking, double-overtime 1-0 loss to conference rival Mainland on Tuesday afternoon at Carey Stadium.Ocean City drops to 11-1, while Mainland improves to 9-2-1.It was the first loss Ocean City has suffered since September of 2019, breaking its 45-game unbeaten streak.Mainland scored the game-winning goal with no time left on the clock on a free kick, erupting in elation for Mainland and heartbreak for Ocean City.For 100 minutes of play, both Ocean City and Mainland put everything they had onto the field, matching each other's scoring opportunities, stellar defense and goalkeeper saves. Ocean City's Summer Reimet moves the ball against a Mainland defender. acheter levitraBoth teams had numerous scoring opportunities throughout regulation, but defensive stands kept the score knotted at zero as time ran out.As the first 10-minute overtime period expired, the score remained 0-0, so a second overtime was needed.It appeared the game would end in a tie as the second 10-minute overtime was quickly ticking away.But Mainland was awarded a penalty and quickly moved to set up the free kick as the clock wound below seven seconds.As the horn sounded, the kick was in the air and Mainland was able to soar the shot above the head of Ocean City goalkeeper Tori Vliet. Ocean City's Zoey Lappin gains control of the ball in the midfield.Ocean City Head Coach Lisa Cuneo gave credit where credit was due."Mainland played great defense.We had our chances and didn't capitalize," Cuneo said.But Cuneo was quick to add the importance of these moments, as difficult as they may seem."We need to have hard moments because smooth seas never made a skillful sailor.So we will need to regroup and plan to hit the restart button on the season," she said."It is better to have those moments now than in November when a loss would end our season," she added.Ocean City will face Absegami on Thursday as the Red Raiders continue on their quest for post-season success. McKenna Chisholm gets one past the Mainland goalkeeper, but the shot hits the post.