By BRIAN CUNNIFF
ERMA — The Lower Cape May Regional High School girls lacrosse team found itself in a 5-5 tie with Barnegat in a second-round South Jersey Group II playoff game Friday.
The Tigers made sure the tie didn’t last long.
Lower netted four of the final five goals of a high-scoring first half to take control of the contest and then grinded its way through a slower-paced second half en route to a 12-8 victory.
The win places Lower, the fourth seed in the tournament, in the sectional semifinal round at top-seeded Haddonfield on Tuesday.
Lower used good scoring balance and a strong performance by its goalkeeper in the victory. Three players scored five points as Maddie Schiffbauer tallied four goals and an assist, Sabrina Faulkner posted three goals and two assists and Marissa Giancola contributed two goals and three assists. Julia Gibson also had two goals.
Melani Amador, a stalwart in goal all season, continued her stellar play by making an eye-popping 18 saves on 26 shots for an impressive .692 save percentage.
Meanwhile, Julianna McClain recorded four draw controls and Leah Jones scooped up eight ground balls for Lower (16-4).