OCHS boys soccer advances in Group 3

By TOM WILLIAMS

It went down to the wire but the Ocean City High School boys soccer team won a shootout today in Moorestown and advanced to the semifinals of the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 3 Tournament.

Aaron Bogushefsky’s Raiders (8-7-1) will now travel to Toms River South (9-5-2) on Tuesday. The winner will advance to the South Jersey final next Friday against the winner of the other semifinal between Triton (15-5) and Mainland (13-5).

“Backs against the walls much of the game,” said Bogushefsky, “but in this up and down season we have learned to take a punch. We took multiple punches today. And responded well.”

Sophomore Ori Levy-Smith gave Ocean City a 1-0 lead with a goal in the first half but Moorestown, the tournament’s No. 1 seed, scored in the second half to tie the game.

After scoreless overtime periods, senior Fisher Hudak, junior Kyle Harper and sophomore John Lindsay scored in the shootout and junior Sergio Miller sealed the upset win with a fourth score and a 4-2 win.

“Kyle Plenn in goal was phenomenal,” Bogushefsky said, “best I’ve ever seen him. And he did his part in the shootout by saving their first shot. We buried four and they sailed their fourth. Great underdog win for us. Credit to Moorestown, they are quality.”

Moorestown (14-6-2) came into the game ranked No. 18 in the state by NJ.com after winning the South Jersey Coaches Invitational with wins over St. Augustine, Kingsway and Clearview.

In the other Group 3 quarterfinals, Toms River South defeated Cherry Hill West, 1-0; Mainland defeated Seneca, 5-0; and Triton topped Cumberland, 1-0.