VIDEO, PHOTOS: LCM shuts out WCA in early-season division showdown

Posted: September 7th 2023

Wildwood Catholic's Lily King tries to track down a ball in the air as Lower Cape May's Doaa Mohamed closes in from left.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

STONE HARBOR – When the girls soccer teams from Lower Cape May Regional High School and Wildwood Catholic Academy met last season, both games were decided by one goal in favor of the Lady Tigers.

Lower Cape May earned a more comprehensive victory when the teams met for the first time in 2023 in the season opener for both sides on Thursday.

In a game played in intense heat that was tempered somewhat by an ocean breeze, Lower Cape May scored three terrific goals on its way to a 3-0 victory.

While there is certainly a long way to go, Lower established itself as one of the teams to beat in the Cape-Atlantic United Conference with the result.

“To get one of our biggest rivals right out of the gate, I was ready for it and so were the girls,” Lower Cape May coach Darren Riutherford said.

Senior back Kaitlyn McGuigan opened the scoring with a perfectly placed 40-yard free kick, McGuigan using her strong leg and a favorable wind to tuck the ball under the crossbar.

Junior midfielder Bella Lund scored the second early in the second half, using two good touches to slice open the Crusader defense and slot inside the left post from 10 yards. Katelynn Bailey had the assist.

Lower senior Sianna King put the game out of reach by converting from the middle of the penalty area off an excellent through ball from Julia Deignan. 

Wildwood Catholic did not go without chances but failed to convert. In the first half, Destiny Wallace blasted a ball off the post on a shot from 15 yards and, shortly thereafter, Lower goalkeeper Meredith Lutjen made a wonderful leaping save on a shot from outside the penalty area.

Lutjen, a sophomore starting for the first time, earned her first career shutout.

“We changed it up a little bit with our formation and tactics this year and the girls are doing a good job embracing it,” Rutherford said. “We’re getting a little more offensive depth on the wings. I think we showed the quality we were looking for.

“These games are always tough. Wildwood Catholic always shows up tough to play against because they’re always physical and they play hard. Our girls did a good job matching their intensity and physicality to execute and finish.”