PHOTOS: Two early goals stand up as Wildwood gets past Lower Cape May

Posted: October 12th 2026

Lower Cape May's Chris Duley rises above all challengers to head the ball toward Wildwood's goal during Monday's boys soccer game.

WILDWOOD – Perhaps practice is overrated?

Due to a number of school Homecoming festivities on Friday and Saturday and a drenching rain on Sunday, the Wildwood High School boys soccer team went three days without a practice prior to the team’s important rivalry game with Lower Cape May Regional Monday.

The time away from the field certainly didn’t affect the Warriors.

Wildwood scored twice in the opening 20 minutes of the match and did well to win many of the midfield battles from there in getting past the Caper Tigers, 2-0, at Maxwell Field.

Michael Blanda got behind the Lower Cape May defense to chase down Angel Rosario’s long ball and scored the opener less than 10 minutes into the game. Angel DeJesus doubled Wildwood’s advantage with a terrific turn and strike from the top of the penalty area after accepting a crossing pass from Miguel Arredondo Trinidad 19 minutes into the game.

The Warrior defense took over from there, with the back line of Andrew Collinson, Oscar DeJesus and Louis Sewell dealing with nearly all of Lower Cape May’s drives toward goal while also winning a majority of the balls in the air. Wildwood’s Michael McWade was never truly tested in the contest, but made six saves for his sixth shutout of the season.

Chris Duley earned the best chances for Lower Cape May (9-2-2) but shot just wide on one in the first half and over the crossbar on another in the second half.

Wildwood (7-3-2), which has lost just once in its last 10 games, nearly made it 3-0 late in the contest when Blanda struck the post before DeJesus sent the rebound over the crossbar. Shortly thereafter, Sean Cunniff had a chance from the right side of the penalty area that just missed the crossbar.

As it turned out, however, Wildwood never needed another insurance goal.

Wildwood’s victory puts St. Joseph in control of first place in the Cape-Atlantic United Conference. The Wildcats are 11-0-2 in conference games. Lower Cape May is currently in second place at 9-2-2 in the conference, while Wildwood sits third at 7-2-2.

Wildwood is at St. Joe on Wednesday, while Lower Cape May has a non-conference contest at Cedar Creek the same day.