By LESLEY GRAHAM
The fall sports programs at Ocean City have done it again.
A day after Ocean City’s field hockey team captured its regional championship, the girls soccer program carried on the tradition, defeating Absegami, 9-1, on Sunday and hoisting the trophy for the South East B championship.
The win continues Ocean City’s unbeaten streak to 34 games dating back to the 2019 season. The Red Raiders finished with an 11-0-1 record this year, while Absegami ended the 2020 campaign at 8-4-2.
Leading all scorers was senior Faith Slimmer, who recorded four goals on the afternoon, including the 100th of her career and final goal in a Red Raiders uniform.
Summer Reimet added two, while Paige Panico, Emily Benson and Kamryn Chisholm each tallied a goal. Benson also contributed an assist. Hope Slimmer had four assists on the afternoon, with teammates Kelsey White and Suzy Dietrich each adding an assist.
In what was a dominant performance from start to finish by Ocean City, and true to fashion all season long, the Red Raiders exploded on offense for nine goals on the afternoon, controlling all aspects of the game.
Ocean City Head Coach Lisa Cuneo said the game plan Sunday was no different than any other game this season.
“We have two of the best forwards in the state in Faith Slimmer and Summer Reimet. It’s going to take a whole lot of effort to stop them,” Cuneo said after the game.
It took less than three minutes to get on the scoreboard, with Slimmer scoring her first of the game. The Red Raiders would keep their foot on the gas with a strike from Summer Reimet, making it 2-0.
Once the first two goals were scored, Ocean City settled into its game plan and set the tone for the rest of the way.
Twenty minutes would pass before Ocean City would find the back of the net again, this time off the foot of Paige Panico, upping the lead to 3-0. Less than three minutes later, Reimet would score again, her second for the game, giving the Red Raiders a 4-0 cushion going into halftime.
In a span of five minutes, the Red Raiders tacked on five goals in the second half starting and ending with goals by Slimmer – fifth and ninth for Ocean City. Kamryn Chisholm scored the sixth, Slimmer the seventh and Emily Benson the eighth.
Absegami scored its lone goal of the game and the last of the contest with under 22 minutes to go, ending in a final score of 9-1.
“I’m thrilled we got to end the season on our home field, to give our seniors one last home game. They deserved this season and all the success,” Cuneo said.
