VIDEO, PHOTOS: Middle posts wind-blown shutout over Crusaders in Hall’s Carpet Care Game of the Week

Posted: September 10th 2025

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlantiLive.com

STONE HARBOR – A wind-blown afternoon and the meeting of two rivals helped produce an intense high school boys soccer game Tuesday afternoon.

In the end, goals on either side of halftime propelled Middle Township to a 2-0 win over Wildwood Catholic Academy.

“The weather wasn’t best for us and the game got a little sideways at times because of the wind, but for the most part, we played calm, we stayed together and we grinded out a win,” Middle coach Scott Kurkowski said. “Anytime you play a local team, it can go either way.”

With a stiff northeast breeze at its back in the opening 40 minutes, Middle spent much of the first half in Wildwood Catholic’s end. The Panthers continually sent balls forward but couldn’t find a goal, thanks to some good work by Wildwood Catholic goalkeeper Theo Margarites and backs Chris Papageorgeiou and Charlie Flickinger.

But Middle finally broke through a wonderful piece of skill by Guilherme Candido 13 minutes before the break when his curling effort from 20 yards nicked the bottom of the crossbar and fell into the back of the net after he dribbled into a dangerous area out of the midfield.

Wildwood Catholic nearly equalized shortly thereafter, but Middle goalkeeper Miles Stafford was alert to a tricky long-range shot by Jude Landis, Stafford getting his fingers on the attempt and tipping it over the crossbar.

Middle had to settle for just that one-goal at the half, giving Wildwood Catholic hope with the wind at the Crusaders’ backs for the second half.

Middle was stout defensively for nearly all of the final 40 minutes, though, and the Panthers essentially put the game away with 15 minutes remaining when Lucas Matthews finally buried the ball into goal after the Crusaders somehow blocked two previous attempts from close range during the build-up.

Angelo Panzini was credited with assists on both Panther goals.

“I think we actually played better in the second half despite the wind coming against us,” Kurkowski said. “I thought we settled in better instead of just jamming it forward and trying to take advantage of the wind like we did in the first half.”

Wildwood Catholic (1-2) thought it had pulled a goal back with about eight minutes to play, but a Crusader player was whistled for offside on the play. The Crusaders didn’t truly threaten again as Stafford picked up his second shutout in three games for a Middle side (2-1) that has conceded just one goal so far this season.

“We were very excited for this game,” Wildwood Catholic coach Tommy Bolle said. “It’s easy for us to get motivated for a game like this against a team like Middle. I think we definitely met expectations in terms of effort and we’re showing improvement and that’s what we want to see. Just keep improving and keep getting better.”