Ocean City Girls Lacrosse Captures Fourth Straight Cape-Atlantic League Title with a Hard Fought Win Over Holy Spirit

On a chilly spring evening with championship energy in the air, the Ocean City Red Raiders girls lacrosse team stood tall once again, battling through four quarters of intense, back-and-forth action to earn a hard-fought 8-6 victory over the Holy Spirit Spartans and claim their fourth consecutive Cape-Atlantic League title.

For those of us who’ve followed this team closely, it was a performance that embodied everything we’ve come to expect from Coach Lesley Graham’s squad: resilience, trust in one another, and the ability to rise to the moment when it matters most.

From the opening whistle, it was clear this game wasn’t going to be a runaway. Ocean City drew first blood with Marley Ostrander capitalizing on a shooting space penalty, and fellow standout Marley Dwyer followed with a gritty second-chance goal to make it 2-0. But the Spartans, playing their third game this season against the Red Raiders, weren’t about to go quietly. Goals from Grace Marczyk and Savanah Cooke quickly evened the score.

Ostrander, who delivered a masterclass in leadership and scoring touch, struck again with 3 minutes left in the first, only to have Marczyk answer once more. But as time ticked down, Ostrander capped her first-quarter hat trick with a go-ahead goal that gave OC a 4-3 edge heading into the second.

The second quarter was a chess match. Taylor Lyons tied it for Spirit, and Brielle Soltys gave them their first lead of the night with a perfectly placed shot. OC junior Ryan Cook evened the score at five apiece with just under three minutes left, and that’s how it stood at halftime — all knotted up, both sidelines locked in, and a packed sideline of fans knowing we were in for a classic.

Holy Spirit came out of the break determined, controlling possession for the better part of the third quarter. But possession doesn’t always win games — execution does. And when OC finally got their chance, it was Ostrander once again who broke the stalemate with a composed finish to reclaim the lead, 6-5.

With under a minute left in the third, Spirit’s Riley McNulty punched in the equalizer to make it 6-6. Heading into the fourth, the tension on the field and in the stands was running high.

But champions respond — and Ocean City responded like champions.

The Red Raiders won the opening draw of the fourth, and Dwyer made it count, cleaning up a rebound to give OC a 7-6 edge. Then came the most pivotal stretch of the game. Rather than sit back, Ocean City showed poise, holding the ball for nearly three minutes before executing a flawless set play — Ostrander finished it with her fifth goal of the night, pushing the lead to two.

From there, it was a masterclass in composure. OC controlled possession for the final three minutes, never letting the Spartans get a sniff of a comeback. The final horn sounded, and the celebration began — not just for another title, but for a team that continues to set the standard for excellence in Cape-Atlantic League lacrosse.

After the game, Coach Lesley Graham praised her team’s unity and mentality. “The key to our victory tonight was a total team effort,” she said. “We have such competitors on our team that are passionate about the game and most importantly care about one another. We also had a mindset shift in the fourth quarter to play to win rather than play not to lose—and that confidence helped fuel our momentum.”

She was quick to highlight the culture that has propelled OC’s sustained success. “This team is special for how they care about one another. The upperclassmen set an expectation of what it means to play OC lax, but in a welcoming way that gives the younger players a boost of confidence as they grow in maturity and experience.”

And on facing Holy Spirit for the third time this season, Graham was honest: “Playing the same team a third time is always hard, and Spirit is one of those teams that always brings their A-game. They pushed us to adapt, grow, and be better.”

In the end, Ocean City did just that — adapted, grew, and proved once again that they are the gold standard in CAL girls lacrosse.

Four straight titles. A legacy that keeps building. And a hometown team that continues to make this community proud.