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VIDEO, PHOTO GALLERY: Late first-half surge helps LCM to playoff win

  • Defenders Eden Brojakowski (left) and Reese Bracken (right) and goalekeeper Melani Amador guard the Lower Cape May net.
  • Lower Cape May's Maggie Boyle moves the ball in transition.
  • Lower Cape May's Maddie Schiffbauer battles a Barnegat player for possession following a draw.
  • Lower Cape May's Maggie Boyle tries to get off a shot against tight Barnegat defense.
  • Emma Golden of Lower Cape May flips a pass to a teammate.
  • Lower Cape May's Julia Cook fights through the midfield.
  • Lower's Jenna O'Neil passes through the Barnegat defense.
  • Lower Cape May's Jenna O'Neil beats a Barnegatp layer to a ground ball.
  • Lower Cape May's Marissa Giancola prepares to fire at goal. She scored one of her two goals on the play.
  • Sabrina Faulkner of Lower Cape May passes ahead.

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).