By LESLEY GRAHAM
The Ocean City High School Girls Soccer team kicked off the South Jersey Group 3 state playoff in style, defeating visiting Timber Creek 8-0.
The win improves the Red Raiders to 19-1-1, while Timber Creek ends its season with a record of 2-14-2.
Ocean City, the No. 1 seed in the tournament, got on the scoreboard early, with Faith Slimmer putting one past the Timber Creek goalkeeper with less than four minutes off the game clock.
Her sister, Hope Slimmer, had the assist.
The opening goal set the tone for the afternoon’s game with Ocean City dominating the visiting Timber Creek Chargers all over the field with precise passing, intricate footwork and heads-up play.
Over the course of a 10-minute span in the first half, the Red Raiders put three more goals up on the scoreboard — one by Faith Slimmer, her second for the afternoon, and two by Summer Reimet.
Once again, Hope Slimmer assisted on a goal for the Red Raiders, this time for teammate Reimet.
As Ocean City sat on a comfortable 4-0 lead, the Red Raiders were not about to rest on their laurels.
With under 10 minutes to play in the opening half, Ocean City once again used a run of goals in a span of five minutes to extend its lead to 7-0.
Faith Slimmer had her third goal of the game unassisted, following that up with an assist to Paige Panico, who tallied Ocean City’s sixth goal.
Reimet rounded out her hat trick on the day, being assisted by teammate Hannah Keane.
The Red Raiders would take a dominating lead into halftime 7-0.
As the second half got underway, Ocean City utilized its depth off the bench to continue pushing the pace of play on the Chargers.
Once again, their teamwork and ball control helped the Red Raiders to keep the game steadily in their hands.
With 14 minutes ticked off the second half clock, Katie Mazzitelli fired one past Timber Creek’s goalkeeper to notch the final goal on the afternoon, giving Ocean City the game 8-0.
Ocean City Head Coach Kelly Halliday was excited that the team came out eager and ready to play.
“It was great to get on the scoreboard right away. We aren’t taking anything for granted,” she said.
As the Red Raiders look ahead to their next game, Halliday reminded them to take it one day at a time.
“We are excited playoffs are here. Our spirits are high, and we feel great, but we will be back to work tomorrow to prepare for Cherry Hill West on Thursday,” said Halliday.
Ocean City will play host once again, 2 p.m. Thursday, on the turf against the visiting No. 8 seed Cherry Hill West Lions.
