Staff report
Two years ago, Cherry Hill West took Ocean City into a penalty kick shootout before the Red Raiders were able to prevail and win the South Jersey Group 3 championship, so Ocean City coach Kelly Halliday knew today’s sectional quarterfinal matchup against the Lions would most likely come down to the wire. She just didn’t realize how close to the wire the Red Raiders would get.
Summer Reimet took a pass from Faith Slimmer and deposited a shot into the back of the net with just 14 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the top-seeded Red Raiders to a 1-0 win over No. 8 Cherry Hill East. Ocean City advances to face No. 5 Toms River South, which beat fourth-seeded Toms River East in a PK shootout, on Monday at 2 p.m. at Carey Stadium.
“We played so well in the first half but we couldn’t squeak one in. We knew going into the game that Cherry Hill West’s goalie is probably their best player, and they rely on her. She lived up to it, but we played well and I knew (a goal) was coming, I just didn’t expect it to be that late in the game,” Halladay said. “It was a very similar (to 2017), they play a very defensive style but they are a great team, they are very well organized, their shape was fantastic throughout and it was hard to break down. We did have a few chances, it was just that final pass we were struggling with. They are a very tough team.
“Summer and Faith really battled today and I was happy they put the team on their back and were able to score. They are two special players and everybody knows who they are. It was an amazing win. I was talking to our field hockey coaches and they are in the South Jersey final tomorrow, and I was like, ‘yeah, that was our second-round game and I feel like I’m having a heart attack,” Halliday joked.
SECTIONAL ROUNDUP: In SJG3, No. 3 Mainland Regional also advanced as Camryn Dirkes scored a golden goal with five minutes left in double overtime to lift the Mustangs to a 3-2 victory over No. 11 Lacey Township. Mainland advances to the semifinals on Monday, when they’ll travel to No. 2 GCIT at 2 p.m. In SJG1, Buena Regional, the No. 6 seed, upset No. 3 Schalick, 1-0, to punch its ticket into the semifinals, where the Chiefs will meet the winner of Friday’s matchup between No. 2 Woodstown and No. 7 Clayton. The other side of the bracket features No. 1 Audubon vs. No. 4 Haddon Township. In SJG2, top-seeded Haddonfield — a 4-0 winner over No. 8 Cedar Creek — will meet No. 5 Pinelands, while No. 3 Delsea awaits Friday’s winner between No. 2 Cinnaminson and No. 7 West Deptford. In SJG4 Eastern, the No. 1 seed and top-ranked team in the nation, slipped past Lenape and into the semis, where the Vikings will face No. 4 Shawnee, a 2-0 winner over Millville. The bottom half of the bracket features Rancocas Valley vs. Toms River North. In Non-Public B South, OLMA’s season came to an end as the third-seeded Villagers were upset 3-2 by No. 6 Wardlaw-Hartridge.
Note: The Ocean City field hockey team travels to No. 1 Clearview on Friday afternoon to play for the South Jersey Group 3 championship.