VIDEO, PHOTO GALLERY: Crusaders saved by the post in win over CMT

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE — The Wildwood Catholic High School boys soccer team came back from a one-goal halftime deficit to beat Cape May Tech Tuesday, but not before some late-game drama.

The Crusaders didn’t secure the 2-1 victory until after the Hawks’ Joel Sheptock struck the left post and Roman Voinea narrowly missed the right post on the rebound during a wild sequence in the game’s final 15 seconds.

“It’s unfortunate,” Cape May Tech coach Jon Harris said. “Just the way the game goes sometimes.”

Sheptock rang the post with his shot from right at the top of the 18-yard box. Voinea tracked down the rebound on the left side of the penalty area and threaded a low shot that found its way through a maze of players but went about a yard wide.

“That’s definitely not how we want to play defense there, when you’re relying on the woodwork to bail you out,” Wildwood Catholic coach Jim Lushok said. “But it’s a crazy game of bounces sometimes.”

Danny Martin’s goal in the first half gave Cape May Tech (0-7-1) the lead at the interval.

Nate Zeigler equalized for Wildwood Catholic midway through the second half on a penalty kick after a Tech player was judged to have deliberately played the ball with his arm on a clearing attempt while inside the penalty area.

Jimmy Kane then gave the Crusaders (2-5) the lead with a little more than five minutes remaining by heading down Matt Moretti’s high crossing pass at the right post.

“I think our kids figured out a way to raise their game because we weren’t playing up to Tech’s level,” Lushok said. “For them to respond and raise their game the way they did was nice to see.

“I’m starting to see some better passing where we’re stringing some together, and we’re challenging better on 50-50 balls. It’s important to see growth and I think we’ve seen that the last couple weeks.”

The late-game chances aside, Cape May Tech had other numerous opportunities to score at least one more goal in the second half but couldn’t convert. The Hawks out-shot Wildwood Catholic, 18-7, for the game.

“I think this was one of the best games we played all season,” Harris said. “We moved the ball around well. I thought we were the better team today but it just didn’t work out for us.”