Lower moves into pole position in CAL United after holding off WCA in Crest Savings Bank Game of the Week

Posted: September 27th 2023

Wildwood Catholic's Maggie Davenport tries to prevent Lower Cape May's Katelyn Walker from racing down the touchline during Wednesday's game.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

ERMA – The seniors on the Lower Cape May Regional High School girls soccer team endured some difficult times at the start of their careers.

As freshmen, they dealt with a COVID-shortened season that saw them win just two games. As sophomores, they won just four games.

The group broke through with a winning season a year ago. And now, they’re on the cusp of winning a championship.

The Lady Tigers scored twice in the first half before holding off a strong Crusader charge after the break to post a 2-1 victory under rare glorious skies Wednesday. The win gives Lower a two-game lead in the race for the Cape-Atlantic United Conference championship.

“We saw that Wildwood Catholic beat a good Bridgeton team, 1-0. That didn’t go unnoticed. We knew what we had to do here,” Lower coach Darren Rutherford said. “Last year, Holy Spirit won this division at 10-0 (in conference games), so we told the girls that we needed 10 out of 10. It was taking it one game at a time. Last week it was the fifth out of 10, today it was the sixth out of 10. No matter who we’re getting it, we just want to try to win all the division games.”

Sianna King netted both goals for Lower (7-1 overall, 6-0 CAL United) to continue her recent torrid scoring pace. The senior forward now has 16 tallies through eight games, with nine of them coming over the last three games.

“She’s been really finding her form when it comes to making the right runs and more dynamic runs,” Rutherford said. “We talked to her about that and she’s been taking advantage of it. She’s had more time on the ball and she’s getting better looks at goal. She’s really taken it and run with it.”

King is one of six seniors on Lower’s team. The others include Tessa Hueber, Kaitlyn McGuigan, Doaa Mohamed, Isabelle Hristov and Braelyn Brant.

“These seniors have been doing a good job,” Rutherford said. “They’ve been through the program for a few years now and they’ve seen both sides of it. They’ve been so mentally tough. They understood the expectations of this season and they’re taking advantage of it. We still have half our season left but I think they’re going to keep pushing forward and show that same resiliency they’ve shown the last three years.”

Lower Cape May dominated possession and the flow of the game in the first half. But Wildwood Catholic (3-4, 3-2), after moving some players to different positions for the second half, grew into the game over the final 40 minutes and created a number of chances. Destiny Wallace’s goal midway through the half gave the Crusaders hope, but Lower saw the game out and held on for the victory.

“Lower is a great team and we give them so much respect and it showed,” Wildwood Catholic coach Kara Saunders said. “It looked like we were scared. Yes, we know their record and we know they’ve been on a roll. But our halftime discussion wasn’t technically speaking. It was that we have good players, too, and we deserve to be on the field with them. I was super proud of how we ended the game. I just wish we played like that for the full 80 (minutes) instead of just the last 40.”

Wildwood Catholic's Megan Feketics takes on the Lower Cape May defense.

Lower Cape May's Tessa Hueber tries to make a move around Wildwood Catholic's Olive Cray.

Lower Cape May's Julia Deignan steps into the path of Wildwood Catholic's Olive Cray.

Wildwood Catholic's Maggie Davenport tries to prevent Lower Cape May's Katelyn Walker from racing down the touchline during Wednesday's game.

Wildwood Catholic's Reagan Flickinger shields the ball away from Lower Cape May's Sianna King.

Lower Cape May's Tessa Hueber and Wildwood Catholic's Maggie Davenport battle for the ball in the midfield.

Wildwood Catholic's Reese Manni prevents Lower Cape May's Katelyn Bailey from getting into the penalty area.

Wildwood Catholic's Lily King clears the ball away to prevent a Lower Cape May scoring chance.

Lower Cape May's Julia Deignan looks to distribute.

Wildwood Catholic's Destiny Wallace tries to keep her balance after colliding with Lower Cape May's Riley Deignan.

Wildwood Catholic's Grace Deegler does well to keep the ball in play.

Wildwood Catholic's Nola Quinn brings the ball out of the air.

Lower Cape May's Kaitlyn McGuigan rises to win a ball in the air as Wildwood Catholic's Grace Clark battles for position.

Wildwood Catholic's Reagan Flickinger fires a shot as Lower's Kaitlyn McGuigan closes.

Wildwood Catholic's Lauren Davenport closes as Lower's Riley Deignan tries to clear.