HAMMONTON—A pair of second-half goals helped spark Millville to a 3-0 win at Hammonton last week, denying the Blue Devils a key Cape Atlantic League American Conference victory.
The visiting Thunderbolts took the lead less than three minutes into the game, then added a contested goal midway through the second half.
“I thought the [Millville] player was offsides, but the official saw it differently,” Hammonton coach Ashley Koester said.
Later in the second half, Millville sealed the win with another goal on a free kick.
“Again, I disagreed with the call there, but give Millville credit, they scored when they had chances,” Koester said.
Hammonton’s coach was disappointed with the loss but felt the Blue Devils played well against one of the top teams in the conference.
“I thought we played a good game. We defended well and moved the ball. We have nothing to hang our heads over,” Koester said.
While the Blue Devils failed to score a goal in the game, goalie Emma Peretti recorded 26 saves.
Scoring wasn’t an issue when Hammonton followed the loss to Millville with a 7-0 win at Bridgeton.
The Blue Devils scored five goals in the first half to easily put the game out of reach.
Reagan Mull scored two goals in the win, while Marissa DeCicco, Juliana Dogostino, Sydney Sorrentino, Sophia Booker and Reilyn Carr each added scores. Peretti made three saves to earn the shutout.
The week ended with a rematch at Millville, where the host Thunderbolts repeated their performance from earlier in the week, again defeating Hammonton 3-0. Also like the first game between the two teams, Millville grabbed a 1-0 lead at halftime then pulled away with a pair of second-half scores.
Peretti recorded 17 saves for Hammonton.
Hammonton entered play this week with a 2-4 record.
“I think we’re playing well and showing a lot of enthusiasm,” Koester said.
“We have some things we need to work on, but overall, I’m happy with how we’re playing,” she said.
Earlier this week, Hammonton played at Egg Harbor Twp., but that game ended too late for this edition. On October 6, the Blue Devils travel to Vineland for a 4 p.m. game.