By Lesley Graham
Ocean City High School’s field hockey team looks to return, once again, to the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 3 final with a win versus Absegami on Tuesday. The game is slated for a 2 p.m. start at Ocean City’s Carey Stadium.
Absegami (8-9-2) is a familiar foe for the Red Raiders, a conference opponent in the Cape Atlantic League, American Division.
Both teams received a bye in the first round of the playoffs. The Absegami Braves are on a two-game win streak with a victory over Bridgeton to end their regular season, earning them the No. 4 seed in the Group 3 South Jersey bracket. Last week, they defeated Gloucester Tech 2-1 in overtime to advance.
Victoria Clarke leads all scorers for Absegami with nine goals on the season. She had a goal and an assist in the team’s last victory.
In Ocean City’s first playoff game last Thursday, the team defeated ninth-seeded Cherry Hill West 10-0. The Red Raiders saw seven different goal scorers, with five of their 10 goals assisted. Ocean City is the No. 1 seed in South Jersey Group 3.
Ocean City (17-3-1) has faced Absegami twice this season and been victorious in both matchups. The first time they played, Ocean City won 4-0. Less than two weeks ago, the Red Raiders came out on top 9-0.
Reese Bloomstead leads all goal scorers for Ocean City with 26 goals on the season, while teammates Jaclyn Charbonneau and Molly Reardon both have 20. All three players scored last time out for the Red Raiders.
The winner of the Ocean City-Absegami game will face the winner of Clearview-Mainland on Nov. 1.
