PHOTO GALLERY: LCM continues to prove its mettle with convincing win over Tech

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

ERMA — The Lower Cape May Regional High School soccer team’s win-loss record doesn’t exactly stand out.

But the Caper Tigers have proven to be a difficult foe each time they take the field.

Lower enjoyed a rare lopsided victory Friday, rolling to a 7-1 victory over Cape May Tech behind four goals from T.J. Shoffler. Jordan Pierce, Taj Turner and Troy Genaro also each scored for Lower.

Scotty Whiltshire scored Tech’s lone goal off a corner-kick chance just before the stroke of halftime.

Lower goalkeeper Mark Ryan, one of the best at his position in the CAL, was otherwise not too busy, needing to make just two saves.

The win improved Lower to 5-10. But that record belies how competitive Lower has been.

The Caper Tigers have been forced to compete in an ultra-tough Cape-Atlantic National Conference alongside excellent teams such as Oakcrest, Mainland, Middle Township and Ocean City.

But while victoires have been hard to come by, Lower has continued to battle most of its opponents to close games, particularly since the calendar turned to October.

The high-water mark was a 3-2 victory over Middle Township on Oct. 2, Lower’s first over its biggest rival in a decade.

Also in recent weeks, Lower lost by just 3-1 to eventual Cape-Atlantic League playoff tournament champion Oakcrest, suffered a tough 3-2 overtime defeat to Millville and fell to Ocean City and Cedar Creek by just three goals combined. The team also has wins over Absegami and Bridgeton this month.

Lower finishes its regular season with two games against county opponents — Wednesday at home against Wildwood Catholic and Friday away to Ocean City. Both contests are evening start times.