Girls Soccer Shore Conference Tournament Second Round Preview and Predictions
We had championship-caliber games, defensive battles, shootouts and upsets in the first round of the Shore Conference Tournament. What will we see in round 2? Round one had some lopsided matchups, but every game in round two can go down to the final minutes.
No. 2 Middletown South at Brick Memorial, 3:30 p.m.
Middletown South got past one of the biggest hurdles in the Shore Conference Tournament, defeating No. 1 Wall 1-0 in the first round. Freshman Riley Kapler stepped up to score the game-winner with Bea Tinoco out with an injury. Tinoco is still questionable as we move to the second round, but Middletown South showed it can still beat the Shore Conference’s best teams until she returns. Seniors Maria DeGregorio and Riley Bent anchored the Eagles’ defense as one of the best combos on the defensive line in the Shore.
Brick Memorial received a first-round bye by defeating Red Bank Catholic in the last game of the group stage to win Group A. The Mustangs have not had the season they expected but have shown they can still beat the best teams. Senior Giselle Lizardi is one of the Shore’s best in net and will need to have her A-game ready, as she did against Middletown South in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 3 final last year.
Prediction: Middletown South, 3-1
Middletown South junior Bea Tinoco. (Photo by Eric Braun)
No. 7 Freehold Township at Toms River South, 2:30 p.m.
Freehold Township walked through its first-round game against Matawan with a 9-0 victory. Even though they did not have a typical Patriots season, they have enough experienced players to make a run to the finals. Senior Gaby Parker is one of the most dangerous scorers in the Shore Conference and Danielle Howard can create for her forwards and also put it in the back of the net. Senior Ashley Moore has been in goal since her freshman season and no goalie in the state has been in and won more big games than her.
Toms River South defeated Shore 4-0 in the opening round, scoring three second-half goals to put the game away. The Indians’ biggest win came against in a 4-2 victory over Middletown South to finish first in their group. Toms River South can cause problems for opposing defenses because they are a very balanced team with several players capable of providing offense.
Prediction: Freehold Township, 4-2
Freehold Township’s Danielle Howard. (Photo by Tom Smith)
No. 6 Central at No. 4 Lacey, 3 p.m.
This could be the best matchup of the second round. Central defeated Lacey 2-1 during the regular season with the game-winning goal scored with 1:05 left. These two teams always put on a show when they play. Central defeated Trinity Hall 4-2 in a shootout after playing to a scoreless tie through 100 minutes. Freshman goalie Addison Fruilio came up with two saves in the shootout and has played with the confidence of an upperclassman.
Lacey earned a bye in the first round. They have three players who can score at any time, which causes problems for defenses. The combination of Reece Paget, Natalie McGovern and Mackenzie Brotherston has provided 45 goals and 29 assists this season.
Prediction: Lacey, 2-1
Lacey senior Natalie McGovern. (Photo by Eric Braun)
Manalapan at St. John Vianney, 6:30 p.m.
These two teams faced off on Oct. 5 with St. John Vianney getting the victory and earning a bye in the first round. Manalapan can be a dangerous team but has been inconsistent. The majority of the players are playing bigger roles this season than last year. Juniors Callie and Daniella Butash have been two of the leaders this season with Daniella leading the team with 11 goals and Callie being one of the leaders on the backline.
The Lancers have a lot of experience led by a veteran senior class. They are also a team that is hard to score on with senior Milani Thompson anchoring the backline. Senior Madison Pieloch and freshman Kennedy Wallace have been two of their primary playmakers all season with Pieloch having 7 goals and 6 assists and Wallace with 8 goals and 6 assists.
Prediction: St. John Vianney, 2-1 in overtime
No. 10 Howell at No. 6 Rumson-Fair Haven, 3 p.m.
Howell got past Middletown North with a 1-0 victory on a penalty kick by senior Allie Nase in the 74th minute. This is the time of the year the Rebels find a way to win and have the players who have been there in the past. Howell will need to rely on the senior leadership of Nase and Ashley Smith to help get them into the quarterfinals.
Rumson earned a bye in the first round after it defeated Central in the final game of the SCT group stage. The Bulldogs have a strong senior class led by Aubrey Scoble and Stella Saad on the offensive end. Scoble is one of the top playmakers in the Shore Conference. Junior Ella Curran has played great in her first season as the Bulldogs’ starting goalie.
Prediction: Howell, 4-3 in penalty kicks after 0-0 draw
Howell senior Allison Nase clearing the ball against Red Bank Catholic. (Photo by Tom Smith)
Marlboro at Ocean, 3:30 pm
Marlboro advanced into the second round by winning a shootout against Manasquan ,5-4 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw. Sophomore Jordyn Bauer held the Warriors to one goal in 100 minutes, making several difficult saves. Bauer has emerged as one of the best goalies in the Shore Conference. If Marlboro can get an early goal from Samantha Arntz or Brooke Gordon, they can switch to a defensive strategy and advance into the quarterfinals.
Ocean advanced into the second round with a goal by Mia Fiorentino with 15 seconds left against Toms River East. The combination of her and Isabella Santucci gives Ocean a dangerous one-two punch on the offensive end. Senior Alex Foley is the backbone of the defense and communicates everything she wants done on the backline.
Prediction: Ocean, 3-2
No. 9 Red Bank Catholic at No. 3 Point Boro, 4 p.m.
The Caseys won their first-round game, 3-0 against Red Bank. Red Bank Catholic is a young team that does not have a lot of experience in postseason games. RBC has a strong defense led by two veterans, Tess Beams and Isabelle Melilli. Junior Paige Foye can cause problems for opposing defenders with her size, speed and ball-control ability.
Point Boro is one of the hardest teams to score on, posting nine straight shutouts during one stretch this season. Senior Ava Bjorndahl has been starting in goal since her freshman season and the combination of her and the Panthers’ defense can make any game a first-team-to-score-wins nailbiter. Senior Abby Hannemann can create scoring chances for her forwards, leading the team with 14 assists.
Prediction: RBC, 1-0 in overtime
Red Bank Catholic senior Tess Beams takes a free kick against Howell. (Photo by Tom Smith)
Toms River North at Jackson Memorial, 3:00 p.m.
Toms River North defeated Jackson Memorial during the regular season in convincing fashion, 3-0. Since then, Mariners head coach Tom Miller has moved Jordyn Brown from center back to midfield to try to get more offense. Sophomore Olivia Forlenza has stepped up as the leader of the backline for the Mariners.
Jackson Memorial has been battling injuries late in the season but earned a bye in the first round, so the Jaguars hope the rest will benefit them in the postseason. Jackson Memorial’s issue this season is inconsistent scoring with two players leading the team with three goals each. Senior Gianna Berkley has experience in important games, which will be an advantage for the Jaguars in goal.
Prediction: Toms River North, 2-0
