PHOTO GALLERY: Ocean City hands LCM first loss

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

ERMA — The Lower Cape May Regional High School boys soccer team’s unbeaten streak to start the 2020 season has come to an end.

The Caper Tigers, facing another unbeaten team in Ocean City, were on the short end of a 3-0 result Thursday afternoon in front of a rather large crowd on their home field.

John Lindsay’s goal off a direct kick from 20 yards late in the first half gave the Raiders (6-0) all the offense they would need.

Lower Cape May (4-1) responded with a few half chances over the rest of the half but couldn’t break through.

“I thought in the first half we played very well,” Lower coach Dennis Elia said. “We moved the ball to feet, we got it wide and we hustled at both ends.”

Reed Lindsay and John Lindsay each scored within 10 minutes of one another on similar plays, each making runs from the midfield area and receiving passes in the top of the penalty area before finishing past Lower’s Anderson Ryan.

“The second half they took it to us,” Elia said. “We ran out of gas a little bit and they put the pedal to the floor on us.

“I felt like two of the goals were avoidable. The first on in the first half, they got it around a wall and you tip your hat to a great shot. But the second and third goals, we didn’t follow runners and that led to the goals.”

Ryan made seven saves in the contest, a few of which were of real quality.

“Our keeper played very well,” Elia said. “He made a couple good saves.”

Kyle Plenn needed to make just three saves for the shutout for Ocean City.

Lower is next in action Tuesday against Wildwood Catholic.

“This is something we can build on,” Elia said. “We see where we’re at and where we need to be. I still don’t feel like we’ve played as well as we can yet for a full 80 minutes. We’ve played hard and we’ve fought in games but I think we’re capable of playing better. I’ve seen it in practice. If we put it together for a full 80 minutes and I think we can be dangerous against just about anybody. We’re working toward that and hopefully we can fulfill that.”