Highlights from the Fall 2017 season in Cape May County high school sports:
O.C. Girls Soccer Wins Group Title; Boys Make Appearance
The Ocean City girls soccer team won the coveted South Jersey Group III Sectional Title in penalty kicks at Carey Stadium on Nov. 9.
After finishing regulation and two overtimes still tied at 0-0, the title was decided in a shootout. Suzy Dietrich and Delaney Lappin each scored in penalty kicks while goal keeper Abbey Fenton had a big save to give Ocean City the 2-1 win.
With the win, Ocean City made it to the state semifinal game where they fell against the Central Group III champion. They finished their season at 19-4-1 overall.
The Red Raider boys soccer team had a great season as well, where they landed a spot in the S.J. Group III final game against rival Mainland Regional. They fell 2-1 in that game, but finished the season at 18-3-1.
L.C.M. Football Wins Anchor Bowl
The Lower Cape May Regional High School football team earned the biggest win of the season against rival Middle Township in dramatic fashion on Thanksgiving Day. The Caper Tigers won 21-20 to bring the coveted Anchor Bowl title back to the school for the first time since 2011.
Middle had a 20-14 lead until the final minutes of the game when Lower quarterback Brennan Ray scored the tying touchdown with 13.8 seconds remaining. Freshman Matt Hays then kicked the game-winning point after to secure the victory for the Caper Tigers.
The Panthers lead the series, 13-7, since the start of the annual Anchor Bowl in 1996 and have a 59-37-5 overall record with the Caper Tigers.
Lower Cape May finished off the season with a 2-8 record while Middle Township finished 4-6 overall.
O.C. Football Keeps Memorial Trophy, Makes States
The Ocean City High School football team hosted Pleasantville for their annual Thanksgiving Day rivalry game and won, 34-32, to keep the Mike Slaveski-Bob Thomas Memorial Trophy.
Red Raiders’ quarterback Harry Pfeiffle scored two touchdowns while Bobby Shallcross added one in the first half to tie the game 20-20 at halftime.
Issac Robertson and Liam Bergman scored in the second half to put the hosts ahead, but then the Greyhounds came back in the fourth quarter with two more touchdowns to put them within tying position.
The Greyhounds looked to force overtime with a two-point conversion attempt on the last play of the game, which the Red Raiders were able to block to seal the victory.
The Red Raiders lead the series 50-41-6 against the Greyhounds. Both teams ended their tremendous seasons with overall records of 7-3.
With the winning record this past season, Ocean City earned a spot in the S.J. Group III playoffs for the first time since 2008, ranking fifth in the group.
Wildwood Catholic Boys Soccer
For the second straight year, the Wildwood Catholic boys soccer team went undefeated in the Cape-Atlantic League United division, clinching the title. The team also made it to the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs.
Former player and head coach Mike Saioni earned his 100th career win mid-way through the season. Saioni has since stepped down as head coach of the Crusaders to take on the role of athletic director of the school.
L.C.M.’s Will Berger Runs to States
Lower Cape May cross-country runner Will Berger had another tremendous fall season by setting a course record and winning the Cape May County meet, winning the C.A.L. meet and earning a top five spot in the Group II meet. He was the only county athlete to compete in the state’s Meet of Champions at the end of the season.
Berger was also a standout athlete during the winter and spring track seasons. He won the gold medal in the spring C.A.L. 1600-meter run.
*This is Part 1 of 3 for the 2017-18 school year in review.
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