By LESLEY GRAHAM
The Ocean City girls soccer team ended their season with a Group 3 South semifinal playoff loss to visiting Mainland by falling in penalty kicks 3-2.
The teams were tied 1-1 at the end of regulation, setting up another overtime game against the conference rival Mustangs.
This time, the game went into penalty kicks, which Mainland won with a 3-2 advantage.
Scoring in regulation was Ocean City senior Summer Reimet, who netted her record-breaking 62nd goal of the season. Reimet is headed to Monmouth University to continue her soccer career at the college level.
The opening half of play found both teams battling for advantage in a game that had the potential for being a nail biter.
With the fourth meeting between these two this season and both teams having been victorious, it really was anybody’s game.
As the clock ticked down in the first half, Ocean City was able to find the feet of Reimet off an assist from McKenna Chisholm to give the Red Raiders a 1-0 advantage heading into halftime.
Mainland would respond with the equalizer 12 minutes into the second half with a lofty outside goal grazing the top of the cage.
The remaining 28 minutes of play would be a continuous back-and-forth effort as both teams fought for the extra inch needed to take the game.
Ocean City Head Coach Lisa Cuneo, who guided her team to its first ever Coaches Cup championship this year, was proud of her team’s success, even if they came up short in the state playoffs.
“Some days, it’s just not your day. We had our chances, but someone else needed to step up today and find the goal and that just didn’t happen,” Cuneo said post game.
“This senior class has been such an awesome group to work with. They don’t all get the playing time, but they are hardworking and understand what it takes to maintain a strong program.”
Cuneo added, “Their work ethic on the field and in the classroom is a great example to our younger players. This group was first ever state champs (in 2019), and first ever Coaches Tournament champs throughout their career. That’s a good run for sure.”
The Red Raiders end the 2021 campaign with a record of 21-2, as CAL champions and title holders of the South Jersey Coaches Cup.
