Ocean City Reaches State Final in Boys Soccer
When you've got John Fogarty in goal, it gives your team a significant edge. And Caleb Garza delivered under fire as the Raiders slipped into the state final again.
The Ocean City High School boys soccer team reached the NJSIAA Group 3 State Final tonight by defeating West Windsor-Plainsboro North on penalty kicks, 4-3, after 100 minutes of action ended in a 1-1 tie at Toms River East. The Raiders will face Ramapo, a 5-0 winner in the other semifinal, at 8pm Friday night at The College of New Jersey in Ewing. In the most recent statewide ranking, OCHS was No. 2 and Ramapo No. 5.
Fogarty, who has 13 shutouts this season, made a diving stop of WWP North's first shot in the penalty kick shootout. The teams then exchanged goals - Kevin Curran, Justin Heckler and Nick Lombardi scoring for OC - and it was 3-3 with one shot left for each side. The North player missed his shot high and Garza scored for Ocean City to clinch the win.
Curran had scored Ocean City's only goal during regulation, opening a 1-0 lead with 25 minutes left with an assist from Cody Letsinger. The Knights tied the game with around 7:30 remaining in regulation.
WWP North (15-8-1) was a surprise team in the tournament. The Knights were only the No. 12 seed in Central Jersey but defeated No. 5 Hamilton West, No. 4 Monroe, No. 8 Neptune and No. 3 Red Bank - all on the road - to capture the Central Jersey title.
This will be Ocean City's fifth appearance in the state final in the last nine years. The Raiders won state championships in 2005 and 2003, also sharing state titles in 2000, 1999 and 1995.
The win improved the OCHS record to 23-0-1 with one game left to become only the second undefeated team in Ocean City boys soccer history. If there is no winner after any necessary overtime periods on Friday night, the game would remain a tie and the two teams declared co-champions. There is no NJSIAA Tournament of Champions for soccer yet.
Matt Ulmer was on the scene with his video equipment and we expect his highlights to be available online very soon. Check back here for your link to those highlights.
The Ocean City High School boys soccer team reached the NJSIAA Group 3 State Final tonight by defeating West Windsor-Plainsboro North on penalty kicks, 4-3, after 100 minutes of action ended in a 1-1 tie at Toms River East. The Raiders will face Ramapo, a 5-0 winner in the other semifinal, at 8pm Friday night at The College of New Jersey in Ewing. In the most recent statewide ranking, OCHS was No. 2 and Ramapo No. 5.
Fogarty, who has 13 shutouts this season, made a diving stop of WWP North's first shot in the penalty kick shootout. The teams then exchanged goals - Kevin Curran, Justin Heckler and Nick Lombardi scoring for OC - and it was 3-3 with one shot left for each side. The North player missed his shot high and Garza scored for Ocean City to clinch the win.
Curran had scored Ocean City's only goal during regulation, opening a 1-0 lead with 25 minutes left with an assist from Cody Letsinger. The Knights tied the game with around 7:30 remaining in regulation.
WWP North (15-8-1) was a surprise team in the tournament. The Knights were only the No. 12 seed in Central Jersey but defeated No. 5 Hamilton West, No. 4 Monroe, No. 8 Neptune and No. 3 Red Bank - all on the road - to capture the Central Jersey title.
This will be Ocean City's fifth appearance in the state final in the last nine years. The Raiders won state championships in 2005 and 2003, also sharing state titles in 2000, 1999 and 1995.
The win improved the OCHS record to 23-0-1 with one game left to become only the second undefeated team in Ocean City boys soccer history. If there is no winner after any necessary overtime periods on Friday night, the game would remain a tie and the two teams declared co-champions. There is no NJSIAA Tournament of Champions for soccer yet.
Matt Ulmer was on the scene with his video equipment and we expect his highlights to be available online very soon. Check back here for your link to those highlights.
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