Caper Tigers scoring goals, even against tough competition, but need defense to step up
OCEAN CITY — In the tough American Conference, the Caper Tiger girls lacrosse team has had to face some of the Cape-Atlantic League’s best teams, but they’ve also been able to pull off some strong wins.
Although they got hammered last week by defending CAL champ Ocean City, which did most of its scoring in the first half of the 18-8 win, the Lower Cape May Regional High School team has taken out other conference teams in Our Lady of Mercy Academy and Egg Harbor Township. They also beat Oakcrest and Williamstown, a team outside the CAL.
Those wins were dominating — 18-6 over Oakcrest, 15-7 over Williamstown, 20-10 versus OLMA and 16-4 against EHT. Other losses came to Mainland (19-9) and West Deptford (15-12).
Seniors Ainsley Reed and Nora Schoffler have accounted for the bulk of the scoring on coach JoAnn McLaughlin’s team. Ainsley had 31 goals and 13 assists through the Ocean City game April 22 and Shoffler wasn’t far behind with 26 goals and seven assists. Greta Shepanski has contributed 15 goals and 10 assists and fellow junior Brooke Robinson had 13 goals and nine assists.
McLaughlin said the attack is not the issue on her team with Reed up front and Shoffler coming from the midfield. Helping on the attack are Mia Gilbert and Maddie Sharp with middies Shepanski and Liz McHugh, who was moved up.
“Our strengths are definitely on the attack side,” she said. “If we win the draw, we’ve been doing a much better job of holding possession and having some great offensive sets.”
The issue for her team is defense, which caused a subtraction from her attack. The coach moved attacker Reilly Satt as far back as she could go.
“We did not have a goalie, so Reilly Satt, who was an attacker, is now in the cage. It has been a very big transition for us,” McLaughlin said. “I’ve been really proud of her for just stepping in and taking that role and trying to get better. She has that personality to do anything the team needs, so she was like, ‘I’ll do it.’”
Rounding out the defense are Violet Vitelli, Georgi Raymond, Holly O’Neill and Mia Mogavero. The team also has Taylor Stiteler in goal as well. They combined for 23 saves through the first seven games.
“On defense, we’re working hard, but it is hard with a new goalie,” McLaughlin said. “Losing Sophie Vitelli has been tough.”
The 2025 graduate made 24 saves alone in the team’s 2025 sectional tournament loss to Woodstown last season; Vitelli is playing Division I lacrosse in college. The team also lost Maddie Groetsch, a defender, now playing at Eastern, and midfield Liv Lewis, now playing at Kutztown University.
“It’s been a very big transition for us but our other defenders have been really stepping up and really trying to work with both of our new goalies,” she said.
Stiteler came out for lacrosse after playing softball last season.
“We have a nice group of seniors and every day their goal has been just to improve, to get 1 percent better every day,” McLaughlin said. “Everyone has been stepping up, even our freshmen, kids new to the game, and doing what they can for them. I’m super impressed, from the weight room to the field to off-season things — they’ve been working really hard.”
The coach said the team wants to compete in the division in the CAL. “We definitely want to make a run and the Group I playoffs as well.”
The Caper Tiger girls are home next at 4 p.m. Thursday, hosting Millville.
By DAVID NAHAN/Cape May Star and Wave
