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Red-hot Raiders play for CAL girls soccer title Monday

By TOM WILLIAMS

The Ocean City High School girls soccer team has been putting together a record-setting season. Starting this week, things will really get interesting.

Kelly Halliday’s Raiders are 14-1, are undefeated in the Cape-Atlantic League and have won 11 straight since a 2-1 loss to Rancocas Valley on Sept. 16. The Raiders are currently at the top in the NJSIAA’s South Jersey Group 3 Power Points, nearly 100 points ahead of second place Gloucester Tech. They are seeded No. 3 in the South Jersey Coaches Invitational Tournamewnt, set to host Egg Harbor Township next weekend in the first round.

And, on Monday afternoon at EHT, the Raiders will take on undefeated Millville for the CAL Tournament championship.

Ocean City got to Monday’s final by defeating Egg Harbor Township, 6-0, on Saturday in the semifinals at Carey Stadium. In that game, junior Faith Slimmer, a Rutgers recruit since her freshman year, scored three times to set a new school record for goals in a season (25) with her fourth hat trick of the year, including a four-goal game against Middle Township.

Slimmer broke the school record of 23 set by Christine Jack in 2000. She also became the third OCHS girls soccer player to score 60 career goals. Jack holds the school record with 69 and Lauren McHale, who will be inducted into the Ocean City Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday, scored 66.

But that is not all.

Sophomore Summer Reimet, who scored twice against EHT on Saturday, has tied the old school record with 23 goals this season making Slimmer and Reimet the greatest one-two scoring punch at OCHS in school history.

There is more.

Both Slimmer and Carly Reighard have 15 assists, breaking the school record of 13 set by Kim Treen in 2000. Reighard got two assists in Saturday’s win.

And Abbey Fenton, the senior goalie who became the first Ocean City athlete to play in three South Jersey championship games in one school year in 2017-18, already holds the school record for career shutouts and shutouts in a season. She has 12 shutouts this season, one short of the school mark she shares with Brittany Cates (1995).

In Monday’s championship game with Millville, the Raiders will face an undefeated team (14-0) that has dominated the American Conference the way OCHS has dominated in the National.

“Millville is a strong opponent,” said Ocean City coach Kelly Halliday (94-34-6 in her seventh season). “They have some players to watch. They obviously are at the top of their conference but also beat Kingsway earlier in the season. They are undefeated and we are looking to play our best against them and hope for the best.”

The Thunderbolts have outscored their 14 opponents, 70-9, including a 3-1 win over EHT. They defeated Our Lady of Mercy, 6-1, in Saturday’s CAL semifinal. That 2-0 win over Kingsway was their only game against a non-CAL team.

Millville sophomore Olivia Giordano has stepped up this year with 23 goals, including a trio of hat tricks, and seven assists. Only Kingsway was ableto shut her out this year. Senior Kelsey Andres has 17 goals and 15 assists, scoring in every game except Egg Harbor Township. Senior Kylie Giordano has scored 10 goals. The defense is led by senior Jordan Bard, an all star last year. Senior Kira Parsons has made 20 saves in goal and has eight shutouts.

It’s Ocean City against Millville Monday (4pm) at Egg Harbor Township for the Cape-Atlantic League Tournament championship. St. Augustine Prep and Oakcrest will follow for the boys title. Brian Cunniff will be there with coverage, including a photo gallery on Coast Sports Today.

It will be the biggest game of this impressive season for Halliday’s team with probably more big games still to come.