By Lesley Graham
Ocean City High School’s field hockey team defeated Middle Township, 4-0, under the lights on Wednesday night at Carey Stadium.
After a sluggish start, the team stepped up its offensive firepower, rattling off three goals in the second half.
With the win, the Red Raiders improved to 7-1 overall (6-0 conference), while the Panthers of Middle Township dropped to 4-4.
Ocean City’s Reese Bloomstead had a hat trick on the evening and teammate Tara McNally scored once. All four of Ocean City’s goals were assisted, with Bloomstead and Sophia Gresham each tallying one, while Chloe Prettyman dished out two assists.
Red Raiders Head Coach Kelsey Mitchell said the team got it done, while also giving credit to an athletic Middle Township team.
The majority of the game was spent in Ocean City’s offensive end, with all goals coming from penalty corners. About halfway through the first half, Ocean City called a timeout to make some adjustments to the game plan.
Five minutes later in the second half, Ocean City had its first goal of the night and then never looked back.
“We are a second-half team, which can be a good thing and a bad thing,” Mitchell said.
Athletic play could be seen all over the field, especially from junior left back Morgan Pizagno and goal scorer Reese Bloomstead.
Pizagno is one of those players whose name doesn’t appear often on the stat line, but her confidence when she steps up to the ball is something Mitchell counts on.
Bloomstead, who now has 16 goals on the season, matching her total from last year, is an offensive threat whenever she is near the ball.
“Putting the ball in the back of the cage is the expectation we have of her,” Mitchell said.
The team is off to a great start this season, but Mitchell isn’t letting the players get too far ahead of themselves, taking it one game at a time.
“That day, that focus is the only thing in our sights,” Mitchell said.
The Red Raiders field hockey team is back in action Friday afternoon against Mainland High School. The game is slated for a 3:30 p.m. start at Carey Stadium.
