2025 Shore Conference Boys Soccer Preview: Class A Central

The teams remaining in the 2025 version of the Shore Conference Class A Central division can breathe a collective sigh of relief that Colts Neck and Manalapan moved to Class A North for this season.

They won’t be able to relax for long, though. While the two juggernaut rosters are out of the division, Class A Central remains as deep as any in the conference, with three teams (No. 5 Ocean, No. 7 Manasquan and No. 10 St. John Vianney) that finished the season in the final Shore Sports Insider Top 10, plus two other programs (Middletown North and Middletown South) that are two years removed from doing the same, and another team (Shore) that won a state championship in 2023. When the only team not on the list of accolades over the last two years is Wall – one of the Shore’s most consistent programs of the last half-century – it’s a loaded division. This year, it also happens to be a wide-open division.

In predicted order of finish

1. Middletown South

It was not easy to score on Middletown South last season, when the Eagles allowed 26 goals in 21 games, including just 13 in the first 15 matches. Two factors contributed to Middletown South coming up short of its postseason goals: a lack of goal-scoring and conceding too many goals late in games. Middletown South gave up equalizers in the final minutes of regulation in overtime losses to both Lacey and Christian Brothers Academy and gave up three goals in the final 14 minutes of a state-tournament loss to Long Branch.

Cleaning up the defense in the late stages of games will be an issue to monitor, but the Eagles are set up to dramatically improve on their 28 goals scored in 21 games. The return of Luke Strada from MLS Next will provide a major boost to the midfield, with the senior two years removed from a strong sophomore season with the Eagles. Middletown South also brings back five additional players on the attack, with Gian Luca Zito, Mason Petke and Connor Saul playing at the head of the attack and Jack Cohen and Matteo Gallina joining Strada in the midfield.

As the goals-allowed numbers indicate, defense should be a strength again for Middletown South. The Eagles bring back two accomplished senior backs in Brett Denery and Ryan Kapler, while junior Brody Illingworth steps into a full-time role on the back line. With that trio and two capable goalkeepers Carson Perry and Liam McGrath returning, coach Dan Riverso can round out the formation with either a fourth defender or an extra midfielder, and he will have the depth of talent to switch up his tactics.

Middletown South at a Glance

Head Coach: Dan Riverso, fifth season
2024 Record: 10-8-3 (2-3-1, tied fourth in Class A Central)
SCT Group: 1 (Howell, Lacey, Red Bank, Neptune)
Key Losses: Matteo Niglio (Midfield), Brendan Millevoi (Midfield), Tyler Levander (Defense), Mike Malvica (Defense)

Potential Starters (2024 Stats)

Returning Starters in Bold

Gian Luca Zito, Sr., Forward (4 goals)

Connor Saul, Jr., Forward

Mason Petke, Sr., Forward

Jack Cohen, Sr., Midfield (3 goals, 4 assists)

Luke Strada, Sr., Midfield (2023 Stats: 3 goals, 8 assists)

Matteo Gallina, Sr., Midfield (1 goal, 1 assist)

Liam DeStefano, So., Defense; Luke Struszkiewicz, So., Midfield

Ryan Kapler, Sr., Defense

Brett Denery, Sr., Defense (2 goals, 2 assists)

Brody Illingworth, Jr., Defense

Carson Perry, Sr., Goalkeeper (6 shutouts); Liam McGrath, Jr., Goalkeeper

 

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2. St. John Vianney

Three teams in the Shore Conference enter 2025 as two-time defending division champions: CBA, Toms River North and St. John Vianney. The Lancers assembled a talented group of players from the classes of 2025 and 2026 and rode them to back-to-back titles – one in Class B Central and again last year in B North. This year, the remaining group of 14 seniors will take on a deep, unforgiving Class A Central field that will represent the toughest task yet for this SJV group.

Senior striker Mason Boles is coming off an All-Shore season during which he scored some of the biggest goals of the season for the Lancers on the way to 16 total. He lost running mates Anthony Marano and Kyle DiMarco to graduation, but will have a strong midfield at his back thanks to the return of seniors Ethan Bellone, Alex Siniscalchi and Alex Cardenas.

SJV also brings back three-fourths of its back line, led by All-Monmouth County pick Isaiah Boone. Luke Noble and Alex Buckley further solidify the defense in front of classmate Liam Steiner in goal, while new starter Dominick Fuoco makes it an all-senior defense. Sophomore forward Ethan Eddleston is the lone underclassman in line to start, giving SJV a senior-loaded group to chase a third straight division championship.

St. John Vianney at a Glance

Head Coach: Jay Murphy, first season
2024 Record: 12-6 (5-1, first in Class B North)
SCT Group: 7 (Toms River North, Marlboro, Toms River South, Asbury Park)
Key Losses: Anthony Marano (Forward), Kyle DiMarco (Forward), Jack Scheuing (Midfield), Dylan Smith (Defense), Shayan Katiraei (Midfield/Forward)

Potential Starters (2024 Stats)

Returning Starters in Bold

Mason Boles, Sr., Forward (16 goals, 4 assists)

Ethan Eddleston, So., Forward

Ethan Bellone, Sr., Midfield (1 goal, 1 assist)

Alex Siniscalchi, Sr., Midfield (1 goal, 5 assists)

Alex Cardenas, Sr., Midfield (1 goal, 2 assists)

Cyril Azer, Sr., Midfield

Alex Buckley, Sr., Defense

Luke Noble, Sr., Defense (1 goal, 1 assist)

Isaiah Boone, Sr., Defense

Dominick Fuoco, Sr., Defense

Liam Steiner, Sr., Goalkeeper (2 shutouts)

 

Other Players

Chris Pohl, Sr., Defense

Ryan Kearney, Sr., Defense

Gavin Dorfer, Sr., Defense

Joe Mullen, Jr., Midfield

Lorenzo Scaranni, Sr., Goalkeeper

Drew Daccodine, Jr., Midfield

Greg Azer, So., Midfield

Orion Shubert-Pinto, Fr., Midfield

 

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3. Ocean

Although Ocean came up short of a Class B North championship, the Spartans made up for it by reaching the semifinals of the Shore Conference Tournament and the quarterfinals of the loaded Central Jersey Group II playoffs, where they lost to a pair of dominant teams (Colts Neck and Delran).

The Spartans will have to replace three standout players from 2024 in Ryan Fernandez, Jacob Gomez and Noor Eraky, but will also have some major impact coming back, as well as joining, the program. Junior Connor Shaw already has an All-Shore selection to his credit and will lead the attack with senior Lucas Renvoize, who played multiple spots in the formation a season ago.

The addition of Brandon Cosentino to the midfield from the academy ranks will help boost Ocean’s offense, while juniors Luciano Ibarra, Brandon Johnson and goalkeeper Matt Makower hold down what should be a solid defensive group. Nic Critelli, Edgar Escobar Gonzalez and Vernon Taylor are also key juniors moving into the lineup as Ocean primes itself for another run at a top-five finish in the Shore.

Ocean at a Glance

Head Coach: John Terlecsky, ninth season
2024 Record: 14-5-1 (4-1-1, second in Class B North)
SCT Group: 5 (Holmdel, Jackson, Raritan, Ranney)
Key Losses: Noor Eraky (Forward), Ryan Fernandez (Defense), Jacob Gomez (Midfield), Zach Sutton (Midfield), Niall Tantrum (Midfield), Leon Leon (Defense), Duke D’Erasmo (Midfield/Forward), Damon Powell (Midfield)

Potential Starters (2024 Stats)

Returning Starters in Bold

Connor Shaw, Jr., Forward (14 goals, 2 assists)

Lucas Renvoize, Sr., Forward (4 goals, 5 assists)

Brandon Cosentino, Sr., Midfield

Nic Critelli, Jr., Midfield

Edgar Escobar Gonzalez, Jr., Midfield

Julian Hurtado, Sr., Defense/Forward

Brandon Johnson, Jr., Defense

Luciano Ibarra, Jr., Defense (1 goal, 3 assists)

Louis Vitale, Jr., Defense

Vernon Taylor, Sr., Defense

Matt Makower, Jr., Goalkeeper (10 shutouts)

 

Other Players

Jonathan Williams, Sr., Midfield

Connor Turchyn, So., Midfield

 

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4. Shore

Coming off an overall Group I championship in 2023, the Blue Devils retained a good amount of talent from that historic team, which meant expectations that were as high as they had ever been at Shore. The Blue Devils, however, hit a late-season funk that included missing out on the Shore Conference Tournament and dropping a home NJSIAA sectional quarterfinal game to David Brearley in a rematch of the 2023 Group I final.

With six starters back – five of whom contributed to the 2023 championship team – this year’s Shore squad will be taking nothing for granted as they try to make the climb back to the top of Group I while also looking to make noise in a talented Class A Central field. Cooper Attaway heads into his fourth year as a starter and will form a dangerous attack with sophomores Bryan Barbosa and Bryan Silveira. There is more youth woven into the midfield, with freshman Gavin Cavanaugh joining juniors Silvio Pessoa and Shane Sullivan, as well as senior Joe Mariani.

The defensive trio consists of all returning starters: senior Madden DeRosa and juniors Jackson Motzenbecker and Michael Ilvento. Henry Azzolini is a new starter in goal, but is ready for his shot as a senior for a Shore team that looks like it will remain competitive for the foreseeable future.

Shore at a Glance

Head Coach: Christian Pontier, 16th season
2024 Record: 14-9 (4-2, third in Class B North)
SCT Group: 2 (Colts Neck, Freehold Township, Brick, Monmouth)
Key Losses: Jadyn DeRosa (Forward), Stephen Molnar (Midfield), Joey Ilvento (Midfield), Grant Hess (Defense), Riley Murphy (Midfield), Thomas Werner (Goalkeeper), Joao Domingos-Viera (Midfield), Santino Scarponi (Midfield), Andreas Barrett (Jr., Forward)

Potential Starters (2024 Stats)

Returning Starters in Bold

Cooper Attaway, Sr., Forward (10 goals, 5 assists)

Bryan Barbosa, So., Forward (9 goals, 1 assist)

Bryan Silveira, So., Forward

Shane Sullivan, Jr., Midfield

Silvio Pessoa, Jr., Midfield (7 goals, 11 assists)

Gavin Cavanaugh, Fr., Midfield

Joseph Mariani, Sr., Midfield

Madden DeRosa, Sr., Defense

Jackson Motzenbecker, Jr., Defense

Michael Ilvento, Jr., Defense (1 goal, 1 assist)

Henry Azzolini, Sr., Goalkeeper

 

Other Players

Declan Drucker, Sr., Midfield

Bobby Gifford, Sr., Defense

Finn Murray, Sr., Midfield

Kaua Souza, Sr., Forward

Joseph Longo, Jr., Midfield

Kostantinos Vasiloupoulos, Jr., Midfield

Nick Bruno, So., Defense

Justin Cregle, So., Midfield

Ryan Cregle, So., Midfield

Rocco Bufano, Fr., Defense

Gavin Cavanaugh, Fr., Midfield

Hayden DeRosa, Fr., Midfield

Jonah Eichenbaum, Fr., Midfield

Juan Sanchez, Fr., Goalkeeper

 

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5. Manasquan

A mass exodus of seniors on the 2024 team leaves this year’s Manasquan squad with a ton to replace in the starting lineup, plus a new head coach in Zach Savacool. The Warriors lost nine starters and several more key bench contributors from last year’s No. 7 team in the final Shore Sports Insider Top 10, but among the few returning players is top scorer Cruz Farkas at the top of the formation.

Farkas projects as one of only three seniors in Manasquan’s 2025 starting XI, joining midfielders Landon Herbert and Quinn Juska – the last of whom is pushing up from his starting outside back position. The rest of the team will consist mostly of juniors, with Kai Lomas, Luke Byrne, Myles Carstens and Adam Rodricks rounding out the attack.

First-Team All-Shore basketball player Rey Weinseimer moves into the starting defense along with fellow junior John Visceglia and sophomore Travis Levy. Junior Quinn Petrulla will have a lot on his plate as the new starting goalkeeper, but if Farkas can turn in another All-Shore season, Manasquan will have a chance to overcome some of the early growing pains.

Manasquan at a Glance

Head Coach: Zach Savacool, first season
2024 Record: 13-7-1 (fifth in Class A North)
SCT Group: 6 (Manalapan, Point Pleasant Boro, Lakewood, Freehold Boro)
Key Losses: Griffin Linstra (Defense), Cristian Gonzalez (Midfield), Brandon Kunz (Forward), Braeden DeAngelis (Defense), Tristan Davalos-Guillen (Midfield), Shayne Byrne (Midfield), Jorge Cruz Cruz (Forward), Dylan Morris (Goalkeeper), Griffin Mack (Defense), T.J. Walther (Defense/Midfield), Cooper Daly (Midfield)

Potential Starters (2024 Stats)

Returning Starters in Bold

Cruz Farkas, Sr., Forward (14 goals, 7 assists)

Kai Lomas, Jr., Forward

Landon Herbert, Sr., Midfield (1 goal, 1 assist)

Luke Byrne, Jr., Midfield

Myles Carstens, Jr., Midfield

Adam Rodricks, Jr., Midfield

Quinn Juska, Sr., Midfield

Travis Levy, So., Defense

John Visceglia, Jr., Defense

Rey Weinseimer, Jr., Defense

Quinn Petrulla, Jr., Goalkeeper

 

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6. Middletown North

The postseason was Middletown North’s time to shine in the two seasons prior to 2024, so when the Lions entered the Shore Conference Tournament after an up-and-down regular season, they did so as a team to fear. The good postseason fortune, however, did not carry over and Middletown North lost first-round heartbreakers to both Wall (SCT) and Chatham (NJSIAA Tournament).

The graduation of top striker Josiah Stepney and fellow All-Shore standout Ryan Barnao in the back leaves massive voids, and the loss of six additional starters only raises the degree of difficulty on the reload. In Paul Que, Cam DelGrosso and Christos Dounis, however, Middletown North has a proven varsity standout at each level of the formation – Que at striker, DelGrosso in the midfield and Dounis at center fullback.

The rest of the starters will be out to prove themselves while pushing Middletown North back toward the postseason. Louis Romeo stepped up to score five goals a season ago, and Julian Crampton leads a promising freshman class as a potential day-one starter in the midfield. A healthy core will keep the Lions competitive in a loaded division, and a shot at the SCT should still be in the cards for a team that figures to be at its best by October.

Middletown North at a Glance

Head Coach: Eric Morley, sixth season
2024 Record: 9-9 (2-4, sixth in Class A Central)
SCT Group: 4 (Central, Rumson-Fair Haven, St. Rose, Donovan Catholic)
Key Losses: Josiah Stepney (Forward), Ryan Barnao (Defense), Nick Dinella (Midfield), Ethan Kinch (Midfield), Dylan Croce (Defense), Connor Marinelli (Goalkeeper), Declan Chenoweth (Defense), Giovanni Reyes (So., Midfield)

Potential Starters (2024 Stats)

Returning Starters in Bold

Paul Que, Sr., Forward (6 goals, 12 assists)

Louis Romeo, Sr., Forward (5 goals)

Cam DelGrosso, Sr., Midfield (7 goals, 11 assists)

Ryan Otero, Jr., Midfield

Dolan Dunigan, Jr., Midfield

Julian Crampton, Fr., Midfield

Andrew Polanco, Jr., Midfield

Christos Dounis, Sr., Defense

Matt Ruchaevsky, Jr., Defense

Alex Watts, Sr., Defense

Niko Kamnitsis, Jr., Goalkeeper

 

Other Players

Sam Gluck, So., Midfield

Nick DiGiovanni, Fr., Forward

Lucas Baron, Sr., Goalkeeper

Nick Erfani, So.

Nate Devino, Jr.

Kevin Burdzy, Sr.

Connor Weston, Sr.

Ray Ardolina, Sr.

Joey Velona, Sr.

Christian McDonald, Sr.

 

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7. Wall

A sub-.500 record is an anomaly for Wall, and even in finishing 10-11-1 in 2024, the record does not tell the entire story. Of Wall’s 11 losses, all but two of them came against teams from A divisions in the Shore Conference: North Brunswick and Class B Central champion Red Bank. North Brunswick was the only team with a losing record to beat Wall last year.

The Class A Central schedule will remain a challenge for the Crimson Knights, who have a lot of key pieces to replace. In addition to losing top scorer Robert Keegan, top defender Ryan Anderson and goalkeeper Tom Ekburg to graduation, talented junior Kevin Anderson has opted for academy soccer this season.

Christian Garduza and Tanner Griffin will lead the midfield as returning starters, with junior Shane Womack elevating into a greater role along with them. Daniel Mendes and Paul Fury are set to lead an all-senior back line to open the season in front of senior goalkeeper Harrison Novick. Throw in senior Evan Ker up top, and the seniors will get a shot to keep Wall in the mix in Class A Central as a young core of underclassmen works its way into the picture.

Wall at a Glance

Head Coach: Garry Linstra, 24th season
2024 Record: 10-11-1 (2-3-1, tied fourth in Class A Central)
SCT Group: 8 (Southern, Long Branch, Brick Memorial, Pinelands, Red Bank Catholic)
Key Losses: Robert Keegan (Forward), Ryan Anderson (Defense), Michael Southwell (Midfield), Tom Ekburg (Goalkeeper), Griffin Lecorchick (Midfield), Jesus Chaves-Fernandez (Midfield/Forward), Brody Burns (Midfield), Kevin Anderson (Jr., Midfield)

Potential Starters (2024 Stats)

Returning Starters in Bold

Evan Ker, Sr., Forward

Christian Garduza, Sr., Midfield (2 assists)

Tanner Griffin, Sr., Midfield (1 goal, 1 assist)

Matt Appel, Sr., Midfield (2 assists)

Shane Womack, Jr., Midfield (3 goals, 2 assists)

Nick Herrera, Jr., Midfield (1 goal, 4 assists)

Daniel Mendes, Sr., Defense (1 goal, 1 assist)

Paul Fury, Sr., Defense

Brendan Grober, Sr., Defense

Luca Rulli, Sr., Defense

Harrison Novick, Sr., Goalkeeper

 

Other Players

Rafael Martinez, Sr., Midfield

Chris Knight, So., Forward

Rudra Patel, Sr., Midfield

Andrew Ngamsittivorapong, Sr., Defense

Tyler Gordon, Sr., Midfield

Myles West, Jr., Midfield

Connor O’Halloran, Jr., Forward

Luke Harmon, So., Midfield

Jackson Napolitano, So., Defense

Kellen Clauburg, So., Goalkeeper

Donaven Kline, Jr., Midfield

Rhoades Oliver, Fr., Forward

 

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Class A Central Starting XI

Cruz Farkas, Manasquan

Mason Boles, St. John Vianney

Connor Shaw, Ocean

Paul Que, Middletown North

Cooper Attaway, Shore

Silvio Pessoa, Shore

Cam DelGrosso, Middletown North

Luke Strada, Middletown South

Brett Denery, Middletown South

Isaiah Boone, St. John Vianney

Matt Makower, Ocean (Goalkeeper)