OCHS Teams of the Century


Lauren McHale Raider Girls Soccer Player of the Century!

By TOM WILLIAMS
Gazette Staff Writer

There were only seven Ocean City High School girls soccer teams in the 20th Century but they were all winners.

In only the second year of the program, coached by Leo Chase, the Raiders reached the 1995 South Jersey Group 3 final before losing to Holy Cross. Two years later, in 1997, they were the overall Cape-Atlantic League champions. They repeated that fete in 1998. Then, in 2000, under first-year coach Tom Miller, Ocean City won the South Jersey Group 3 championship.

The best of a talented bunch of players was Lauren McHale, our Girls Soccer Player of the Century, who was a three-time all star in the CAL's American Conference. When McHale graduated in 1998, she had school records for goals (66) and assists (37).

Joining McHale on our all-decade front line are Chrissy Jack, who broke many of McHale's scoring records. And Chris Corrigan, who scored 30 goals in her career.

The all-decade midfielders are led by Christine Mayne, a two-time all-conference performer. Joining Mayne are Melissa Roberts, Christine Giberson, Katie Mullan and Abby Davis.

At the defensive end, three-time all star Megan Dietz is the leader. She is joined by Tara Cellini, Lindsey Knupp and Erin McNulty, who has another season to play.

The goalie is Brittany Cates, who registered 46 career victories and 31 shutouts.

Coaching the all-century team is Leo Chase, now coaching girls cross country in the fall. He averaged more than 12 wins a season in the first four years of the program.

There were three teams that accomplished a great deal, but the Single Team of the Century was the 1997 overall Cape-Atlantic League champs. They were the sport's first champions, opening the door for those that followed. And the lineup that year nearly brought together the entire all-century team.

Girls soccer may not be very old at Ocean City High School but these girls have helped make it a very successful sport very quickly.

The All-Century Raider Girls Soccer Team
F....Lauren McHale (1997)
F....Chris Corrigan (1998)
F....Chrissy Jack (2000)
MF..Christine Mayne (1999)
MF..Melissa Roberts (1997)
MF..Christine Giberson (1997)
MF..Katie Mullan (1999)
MF..Abby Davis (2000)
FB..Megan Dietz (1997)
FB..Tara Cellini (1999)
FB..Lindsay Knupp (2000)
FB..Erin McNulty (2001)
G....Brittany Cates (1997)
Coach Leo Chase (1994-99)

The 1997 Team - Best of the Century
F....Lauren McHale
F....Chris Corrigan
F....Chrissy Jack
MF..Christine Mayne
MF..Christine Giberson
MF..Katie Mullan
MF..Abby Davis
FB..Megan Dietz
FB..Tara Cellini
FB..Diana Roberts
G....Brittany Cates
Coach Leo Chase


Championship Teams
South Jersey champions: 2000
Overall CAL title: 1998, 1997
CAL-American title: 1998, 1997
Division titles: 1998, 1997

20th Century Coaches Records
Tom Miller (1 year)......15-4-2 [.789]
Leo Chase (6).............73-30-11 [.709]