Raider field hockey, boys soccer advance in NJSIAA

By TOM WILLIAMS

Two more Ocean City High School teams advanced today in NJSIAA Group 3 Tournament action. Field hockey defeated Mainland for the third time this year. And boys soccer was a first round winner at Lacey Township.

The field hockey team (16-5) used a four-goal outburst from junior Tara McNally and a three-goal hat trick from junior Nya Gilchrist to defeat Mainland, 8-3, at Carey Stadium.

McNally has now scored seven goals in the first two tournament games and has scored three or more goals in four games this season. It was the third hat trick this season for Gilchrist, who has scored 17 times. Senior Chloe Prettyman added the other goal, her 19th of the season.

The victory moved Coach Kelsey Burke’s team into the South Jersey championship game on Friday afternoon at Clearview High School in Mullica Hill. Clearview (18-2-1) defeated Gloucester Tech, 9-0, today.

Clearview lost to West Deptford and Kingsway, also tying Kingsway. The Raiders also lost to Kingsway, 3-1, in late September. In another common opponent, Clearview defeated Middle Township, 4-2, but Middle won, 2-1, over the Raiders. Clearview’s attack is led by junior midfielder Abby Vesey who has 31 goals and 14 assists this year, including eight goals in the first two tournament games.

This marks the 12th straight year OCHS has reached the South Jersey field hockey final and the 22nd time overall. The Raiders are the defending champions and lost to Clearview, 1-0, in the 2017 final. Ocean City has won 11 South Jersey field hockey titles in the last 14 years.

Up in Lanoka Harbor today, Aaron Bogushefsky’s boys soccer team (8-7) scored three first half goals and held on for a 3-1 win over Lacey. Sophomore John Lindsay scored his fifth goal of the season with senior Cameron MacDonald and junior Nick Chiccarine also scoring. Senior Fisher Hudak had two assists and goalie Kyle Plenn one. Plenn made three saves for the win.

The Raiders now move into the South Jersey quarterfinals Friday at Moorestown (13-5-2), the No. 1 seed. In games this year against CAL teams, Moorestown defeated St. Augustine but lost to Egg Harbor Township. The Quakers defeated Winslow Township today, 5-0.

There is lots more coming this week for OCHS teams.

The girls soccer team hosts Cherry Hill West on Thursday in a South Jersey quarterfinal at Carey Stadium. In addition to the field hockey and boys soccer games on Friday, Ocean City is at Mainland in a crucial football game. And, on Saturday, the two Raider cross country teams seek to defend their South Jersey championships.