Lacrosse Season Kickoff: Ocean City Red Raiders Dominate With 19-3 Victory

Following a rain delay, the Ocean City Red Raiders’ 2024 lacrosse season has finally begun. On April 4, the Raiders defeated Cedar Creek High School 19-3 in the season opener, with eleven different players scoring goals. After an early pause, Ocean City scored nine straight goals, blowing the game wide open against the Pirates.

“It was good to get back out on the field,” Ocean City head coach Joe LaTorre stated. “This group has demonstrated remarkable resilience and hard work. I can’t say enough about the intensity of practice.”

Senior Charlie Schutta applied the pressure early, scoring three goals in the opening quarter alone. He added to his hat trick in the second quarter, completing the game with four goals. “We are just trying to put the ball in the back of the net,” he remarked. “We’ve got a young defense and we value possessing the ball.”

Schutta picked up where he left off the previous season, having scored over 35 goals in his junior year. He is one of several prominent offensive players who have returned to Ocean City this season.

Senior Pat Grimley is also a returning star. Against the Pirates, he scored five goals and assisted three times.

As a junior, he led the Raiders in every offensive category and scored nearly 60 goals. Grimley’s ability to set up plays for his teammates was a key component of his game. He got everyone involved and led the Raiders in assists, as well.

“We are very fortunate this year to return a decent number of offensive starters, so we are ahead of schedule than we were last year offensively,” LaTorre went on to say, “but we are still getting better each day.”

There are many new faces on the Raider defense, including new goaltender Henry Vaules. Vaules got his first start as a goaltender in the season opener after both Ocean City goalies from the previous season graduated. The sophomore did not see many shots from Cedar Creek due to the Raiders’ offensive pressure.

Following the season-opening, Ocean City’s schedule becomes considerably more difficult, as they face some of the best teams in the state.

On April 6, the Raiders hosted Ridge High School and lost 12-5, their season’s first setback. Ocean City was behind 5-1 at halftime and maintained a four-goal margin for the remainder of the game. Grimley scored three goals, while Schutta added the remaining two.

Ocean City’s next game is at home against Lower Cape May at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. The Raiders’ first road game of the season will be against Lenape on April 13. Game time is 1 p.m.

After their trip to Lenape, the Raiders will return home and meet the rival Mainland Mustangs on April 15. This will be the first of two meetings between the teams this season. The Raiders swept the season series last year. The game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Carey Stadium.

The season-opening highlighted the potential of this year’s Ocean City squad. Cedar Creek had only four shots on goal in the first half, yet many different Raiders scored. Grimley scored the game’s first goal in 30 seconds, but Cedar Creek immediately tied the game at 1-1.

Following an Ocean City timeout, freshman Otter Donohue broke the deadlock and began a long scoring streak. Zio Wright intercepted a pass, leading to another Grimley score. The Raiders took complete control of the game as Wright scored in between Schutta’s three goals.

Chase Labarr scored at the end of the first quarter, giving his team an 8-1 advantage. Ocean City did not let up, with Dominic Vallese scoring with Grimley to push the advantage to 10-1 before Cedar Creek responded.

Ryan Hendricks made the game’s standout play immediately after scoring for the Pirates. He received the ball near the Ocean City goal and ran the entire length of the field on the left side. The sophomore outran the defenders and shot past the goaltender to score.

Schutta scored his fourth goal just before halftime on a fantastic feed from Grimley, giving him a 12-2 lead.

Ocean City closed out the game in the third quarter. Grimley scored first for the third quarter in a row. Senior Jon Moyer added a goal and an assist, while Bryce Hanin scored the first of two goals to conclude the quarter.

The continual scoring alleviated the strain on the young defensive guys. Ocean City controlled the ball throughout most of the game, allowing Cedar Creek minimal opportunities to challenge.

Hanin scored his second goal in the fourth quarter as the club eased up on the throttle. Ryan Southard and Luke Passarella each scored a goal, and the game ended 19-3.