VIDEO, PHOTO GALLERY: Raider field hockey comes alive late to beat Millville

OCEAN CITY – The Ocean City High School field hockey team had trouble converting its many chances against Millville on Tuesday.

Then, a fortunate bounce finally allowed the Raiders to break through.

Shannon O’Reilly’s cross from the right wing deflected off a Millville defender in the circle and skipped past the Thunderbolt goalkeeper and helped send Ocean City to a 2-1 victory in a key Cape-Atlantic American Conference game.

Ocean City improved to 5-2 overall, 5-1 in CAL American play, while Millville fell to 8-1-1, 4-1-1.

O’Reilly’s goal came with only 10 minutes, 7 seconds to play. Haleigh Flukey then chipped Tara McNally’s cross into the cage only 2 ½ minutes later to up the Ocean City advantage to 2-0.

Millville did not go away quietly, however. Michelle Berrios, stationed alone at the left post, slipped a shot into the goal with 3:23 to play. But the Thunderbolts never truly threatened again and Ocean City milked the final minute off the clock by pressuring Millville in its defensive third of the field.

Ocean City goalkeeper Maddie Kahn was instrumental in the victory, making eight saves. One came on a penalty stroke early in the second half, Kahn lunging to her right and using her blocker to deny Millville’s Jorja Hibschman.

— Brian Cunniff