VIDEO, PHOTOS: Panther teams sweep rival Lower Cape May

Posted: October 21st 2026

Lower Cape May's Yahred Catana plays the ball away from Middle Township's Aiden Webster during Tuesday afternoon's boys soccer game.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – The Middle Township High School boys and girls soccer teams each defeated local rival Lower Cape May Regional Tuesday as the Panther teams hosted a boy-girl doubleheader at the Boyd Street Field.

Middle scored goals early in each half in the boys game to post a 2-0 victory in the afternoon tilt. In the girls game under the lights, Middle jumped to a 2-0 lead at halftime before a third goal midway through the second half put the game out of reach in a 3-0 win.

GOALS BY ALARCON, HERRERA FUEL PANTHER BOYS

Anthony Alarcon and Carlos Herrera accounted for the scoring as Middle scored a 2-0 win over Lower in the boys game. The goals came early in each half. Giuseppe Tenaglia was credited with an assist.

Dante Duca made four saves for the shutout in goal, his third of the season. 

“This was probably the best 80 minutes we’ve played as a team,” Middle coach Sott Kurkowski said. “We’ve come close to playing well for a full 80 but this was definitely a full 80 of good soccer from us.”

Middle, which has just four seniors on its roster, improved to 9-7.

“I think we’re sitting right around where I expected,” Kurkowski said. “We’re very young, and we don’t have a schedule with any gimmies on it, really. I think it’s really good experience for our guys. In four or five of our losses, we’re probably a goal away from the result going the other way. So I’m with the boys and their effort and the experience they’re getting for us moving forward.”

Lower fell to 9-4-3 with the loss.

PANTHER GIRLS ENJOY SENIOR NIGHT VICTORY

Middle held its Senior Night festivities at halftime of the girls game. It was only fitting, then, that seniors had a hand in all of the scoring in the team’s 3-0 win.

Gabby Oliver opened the scoring midway through the first half by converting a penalty kick after teammate Gwyn Stiefel was taken down in the box a moment after Oliver had hit the post with a shot.

Shortly thereafter, Ainsley Frederick’s outstanding chip pass sliced open the Lower Cape May defense and allowed Izzy Miller to run free on a breakaway to double Middle’s lead.

Middle sealed the result with 21 minutes remaining when Miller was first to reach Oliver’s dangerous corner kick and knocked the ball into goal.

Middle (5-9) won its second straight and for the fourth time in six games. Lower, which entered the contest having won five of its last six, dropped to 7-9.