VIDEO, PHOTOS: Nine games in, Crusaders have yet to be blemished

Posted: October 8th 2025

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

STONE HARBOR – The play of the Wildwood Catholic Academy girls soccer team has been one of the top storylines of the local high school sports fall season.

With the calendar steamrolling toward mid October, the Crusaders have yet to be blemished so far this season. The latest result, a 7-0 victory over Cape May Tech on Tuesday, moved the team to 9-0 on the season under second-year head coach Bob Mannino.

“We’re just trying to work hard every day,” Mannino said simply.

Wildwood Catholic has put itself in position to win the Cape-Atlantic United Conference.

The CAL United Conference consists of small schools and programs that have recently struggled. With solid numbers and some talented players in the mix, Wildwood Catholic has mostly dominated its conference competition. All but two of the team’s eight conference wins have come by six goals or more. The others were a 3-1 win over Bridgeton and a 3-2 road win in extra time over ACIT that has the Crusaders in pole position in the race for the conference championship. The team’s other victory came in a 4-3 result in a non-league game against local rival Wildwood.

Wildwood Catholic has been led by dynamic sophomore Dani Daley, who’s among the top scorers in the state with 25 goals and 19 assists. 

“She’s really been good,” Mannino said. “We’ve had a lot of kids playing well, but Dani really gives herself up a lot for the team. I always felt the best players have to have the ball at their feet. She’s a heck of a player. She’s been doing super for us.”

Freshman Madeline Burns has added six goals and eight assists, senior Maggie Farrell has chipped in five goals and four assists and senior Reese Manni has posted four goals.

Mannino has also cited the solid play of senior midfielder Olive Cray, senior midfielder Lily King, senior back Maggie Davenport and sophomore goalkeeper Sophia Lutz.

“I like that this group can’t wait to get to practice,” Mannino said. “They like working hard and they’re very supportive of one another. The team has meshed well.”

Wildwood Catholic has two big games next week, rematches with Bridgeton and ACIT. Both games are at home. Wins in those games would clinch the conference title.

As the top team in the conference, the Crusaders are also on track to qualify for the CAL playoff tournament.

“We’ll be playing more competitive games coming up,” Mannino said. “With the state tournament coming up and the CAL tournament coming up, if we qualify, I know we’re going to see some good teams.”

In Tuesday’s win over Cape May Tech (2-10), Daley posted two goals and two assists and Maddie Farrell, Brigid Peters, Sophia Sarri, Reese Manni and Alexa Regnier each added goals.The shutout by Lutz was her third in a row and sixth of the season.