Ocean City

The 49-foot Cape Hatteras, a marine rescue boat that went missing Tuesday morning with one crewman aboard, was found Thursday night submerged near the Great Egg Harbor marker channel off Ocean City. The Coast Guard called off the search Wednesday night for boat captain David McAuliffe, 34, of Egg Harbor Township. But his family and colleagues from Sea Tow, a firm that aids distressed boaters in nonemergency situations, continued looking. A diver indentified the boat, which was discovered using sonar detection, in about 20 feet of water, upside down and partially buried beneath the sand in the heavily traveled channel, the Coast Guard said.

The hottest high school boys' soccer team in South Jersey, Ocean City, has not lost a game this season. The Red Raiders would like to keep it that way in tonight's NJSIAA Group 3 state championship game at the College of New Jersey in Ewing. Ocean City, the South Jersey Group 3 champion, plays North 1 champ Ramapo at 8 p.m. Here is a look at the game: Matchup: Ocean City (23-0-1) vs. Ramapo (20-1). History: The Red Raiders last won a state title in 2005, beating Scotch Plains-Fanwood, 2-0. Ocean City last faced Ramapo in 2003 and beat the Raiders, 1-0, for the state crown.

Ocean City's "First Day at the Beach" celebration didn't get beached by the cold weather yesterday. The stout of heart turned out for the event, which gave recognition to the community and volunteerism with plenty of activities. The festival benefited Jersey Shore Big Brothers and Big Sisters, the Cape Atlantic Sunshine Foundation, and Community Action Now.

After 15 seasons, 101 wins, six league championships and three sectional crowns, Gary Degenhardt has resigned as Ocean City's football coach. During his tenure, Ocean City made 10 playoff appearances and won sectional titles in 1996, 1998 and 1999. His 1996 team went 11-0, won the South Jersey Group 4 crown, and finished the season ranked No. 1 in South Jersey by The Inquirer. "I gave it a lot of thought," Degenhardt, a Frankford graduate who served 15 years as an assistant and 15 years as head coach at Ocean City, said last night.

Ocean City's girls, who have beaten some high-quality basketball foes in the last few weeks, finally met their match. Playing against the top team in the state, Ocean City saw its 17-game winning streak snapped yesterday with an 81-68 loss to St. John Vianney in last night's Prime Events Shootout at Holy Spirit. Ranked No. 3 in South Jersey by The Inquirer, Ocean City (20-2) was coming off Saturday's impressive 55-52 win in the same event against New York power Christ the King.

In a tongue-in-cheek maneuver, Pennsylvania's old "You've Got a Friend . . . " slogan was announced as Ocean City's new motto by a chorus of costumed promoters yesterday. At a media event that featured city employees dressed as Winnie the Pooh, the Easter Bunny, Donald Duck, the Cookie Monster and Martin Z. Mollusk, officials announced that they planned to borrow the Keystone State's former catch-phrase and rework it as "You've Got a Friend in Ocean City. They also plan to send Gov. Ridge a bouquet of artificial forget-me-nots to remind him that a slogan this Jersey Shore resort had been using for three years has now been taken up by Pennsylvania, according to Mark Soifer, Ocean City's public relations director.

Say this for Ocean City senior Jen Cushinotto: She earned the school record for shutouts in a season. The Ocean City goalie was called upon to make only three saves yesterday in the NJSIAA Group 3 field hockey state championship game, but one of them was a splendid stop of a point-blank penalty shot in the first overtime period. Buoyed by Cushinotto's save, Ocean City broke through less than two minutes later when Cory Picketts scored off a penalty corner to give the Red Raiders a 1-0 win over plucky Mount Olive.

OCEAN CITY, N.J. - Officials in this Shore resort, where alcohol sales have been banned for decades, have voted against letting restaurant patrons bring their own wine or beer to have with a meal. Thursday's vote by the City Council sets up a ballot battle over the issue, which will be decided by a referendum in May. The ordinance that was rejected would have allowed BYOB drinking in restaurants, except on the boardwalk. BYOB supporters have gathered enough petition signatures to place the matter on the May 8 election ballot.

Julia Duggan scored 17 points and the Ocean City girls' basketball team knocked off Medina (Ohio), 37-35, Monday at the KSA Tournament in Orlando. "They were really hard-nosed," Ocean City coach Paul Baruffi said. "It was the kind of game you're coming down here to play. " Duggan finished with a double-double, grabbing 12 rebounds. Boys' Basketball Dan Haddon dropped 19 points for Cinnaminson, which won a consolation game against Calvary Christian (Fla.), 65-50, in the KSA Tournament in Orlando.

Trish LeFever, among the most successful field hockey coaches in South Jersey history, has resigned at Ocean City. In 28 years, LeFever had a 486-76-53 record, and guided the Red Raiders to seven state titles. She was The Inquirer's South Jersey Coach of the Year this past season after guiding the Red Raiders to the Group 3 state title. "It was just time," said LeFever, who is the only field hockey coach in school history. "We have good young coaches who will do well and deserve the chance.