PHOTO, VIDEOS: Azile, Gibson lead LCM past Wildwood in Crest Savings Bank Game of the Week

Posted: September 14th 2023

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

ERMA – A few moments of magic from the most talented player on the field, some highlight-reel stops by its goalkeeper and a failure to finish chances by its opponent led the Lower Cape May Regional High School boys soccer team to a needed victory Thursday.

Deron Azile tallied four goals and an assist and Ryan Gibson made several key saves as Lower Cape May posted its first victory of the season with a 7-3 decision over Wildwood in a game played under the lights at Steven Steger Memorial Field.

“Overall, our guys came out to play,” first-year Lower coach Cristian Valencia said. “We had to turn this season around somehow. When we scrimmaged them, they had the better of it. I told the guys before the game, it started against this team (in the preseason) and this is the team we have to change it with.”

But while Lower’s offensive output was a large part of the storyline, Wildwood’s glaring failure to finish numerous golden chances was certainly a major factor in the result.

Lower jumped out to a 3-1 lead before Ryan Cruz pulled one back for Wildwood late in the half. But the Warriors would have had a lead at the interval if not for a missed chance from five yards early in the half, a wonderful leaping save from Gibson on a mini breakaway and another crucial stop by Gibson on a penalty kick.

“Ryan is a big part of our team, and not just in this game,” Valencia said. “In the previous games we lost, there could have been a lot of goals scored against us if not for him. His performance in this game was phenomenal, especially that PK save. That could have changed the game right there.”

The second half began much in the way the first ended. Wildwood missed the goal on one scoring chance and Gibson made yet another fine stop, before Chris Duley scored twice in quick succession to extend Lower’s lead to 5-2. From there, Lower was able to slice open the Warrior defense two more times through Azile as Wildwood was left exposed in the back while trying to send extra players forward in an attempt to rally.

Wildwood’s Buddy Morey scored in the final two minutes to set the final score.

In addition to Azile’s two goals, Matt Reiss also scored for Lower in the first half.

Yovani Barrios-Morales also scored in the first half for Wildwood.

Azile, who played for the U17 national team for his parents’ native Dominica in the summer of 2022, finally broke out for the Tigers in the win.

“Deron had a good performance,” Valencia said. “We’ve been waiting for him to do that for a few games now. He had some chances in some other games and wasn’t able to put them in but he was finally able to finish today.”

Lower improved to 1-4 with the win. Wildwood dropped to 3-2.