VIDEO, PHOTO GALLERY: LCM continues hot streak with win over ‘Gami

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

ERMA — Those associated with the girls lacrosse program at Lower Cape May Regional High School got a quick lesson in just how precarious playing sports during a health crisis can be.

The Lady Tigers had their program shut down during the preseason due to issues with COVID-19.

“We saw how quickly it can be taken away from us,” Lower coach JoAnn McLaughlin said. “We went to our first scrimmage and we’re about to get off the bus and then all of a sudden we were contacted and told to turn around and come back home.”

That led to a two-week shutdown of the program, leading to missed practices and scrimmages. The team finally took the field on April 26 — a week later than most — and promptly lost to Egg Harbor Township, 18-6.

“EHT is a very tough team this season, but we also played them the first day out of quarantine without any games or scrimmages before that. And we have five or six freshmen out there and our goalkeeper is a sophomore. Those are kids that haven’t played a game since rec lacrosse as seventh- and eighth-graders.”

The quarantine, subsequent late start and opening-game loss now behind them, the Lady Tigers have been rolling since.

On Wednesday, Lower rolled past Absegami, 19-9, turning an early 3-1 deficit into a lead that grew as large as 13 goals at 18-5. The win was the team’s fourth straight.

“I think the season’s been going amazing,” McLaughlin said. “The girls are showing up every day working hard despite our obstacles with COVID and they’re focused on getting better each and every day.”

Sabrina Faullner and Maggie Boyle each scored five goals for Lower in the win over the Braves, with Faulkner also providing three assists. Julia Gibson added four goals, Sianna King scored twice and Jenna O’Neill, Maddie Schiffbauer and Tessa Hueber each added single tallies. Allyson Walsh made 16 saves in goal.

Lower (4-1) has already earned a signature victory this season, edging rival Middle Township on Monday, 13-12, after trailing by as many as six goals in the contest. It was Lower’s first win over Middle in girls lacrosse in nearly a decade.

“Our seniors haven’t beaten them before so it was a really awesome win, especially after being down by six goals,” McLaughlin said. “They were focused on one goal at a time to come back and really worked hard as a team as a whole to do it.”

Lower faces a major test on Friday against Ocean City, which is unbeaten in CAL play. The players and coaches are looking forward to the opportunity, however, especially after missing all of last season due to the pandemic.

“I’m excited for our seniors, I’m excited for everyone just to be able to get back out here,” McLaughlin said. “We’re not taking any day for granted.”