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2025 SSI Boys Soccer All-Shore Team: 2nd and 3rd Teams

Matt Manley|December 4, 2025|Last Updated December 5, 2025

2025 Shore Sports Insider All-Shore Team

Click Here for the SSI All-Shore First Team

 

Second Team

Aiden Reis, Sr., Forward, Toms River East

2025 Stats: 15 goals, 11 assists

With a young defense and a lack of proven scoring returning from an accomplished 2024 team, Toms River East needed a handful of its seniors to lead the way in front of an emerging group of juniors and sophomores. Reis delivered on that assignment and then some, posting the 13th-highest scoring total in the Shore Conference while playing against a challenging Class A South schedule. Reis’s exploits in 2025 included recording a goal or an assist in 18 of Toms River East’s 24 games and notching both his braces during the season in tournament play – a first-round Shore Conference Tournament win over Barnegat and later a first-round win over Winslow in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group III first round.

 

Mason Boles, Sr., Forward, St. John Vianney

2025 Stats: 20 goals, 13 assists

St. John Vianney senior Mason Boles. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com) - SJV Mason Boles

St. John Vianney senior Mason Boles. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)

The final year of Boles’s four-year varsity career was his best yet. St. John Vianney’s all-time leading scorer posted career-highs in both goals and assists to finish fifth in the Shore Conference in total scoring. During Boles’s career, St. John Vianney won two Shore Conference division championships and in his three years as a starter, the Lancers won 36 games, capped by back-to-back 12-win seasons.

 

Tanner Grozinski, Sr., Forward, Lacey

2025 Stats: 17 goals, 12 assists

Lacey senior Tanner Grozinski. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com) - Lacey Tanner Grozinski

Lacey senior Tanner Grozinski. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)

Coming off a First-Team All-Shore selection as a junior, Gronzinski and Lacey entered the season with monster expectations before injuries got the better of both team and player. Despite missing the tail-end of the season, Gronzinski finished 10th at the Shore in total scoring and seventh in assists, which included two goals in a loss to Shore Conference Tournament champion Middletown South and a goal and an assist in a win over South Jersey Group IV champion Southern.

 

Nate Stryker, Jr., Forward, Brick Memorial

2025 Stats: 27 goals, 6 assists

Only two players in the Shore Conference scored more goals than Stryker did in 2025, with the junior scoring a goal in 15 of the 16 Brick Memorial wins. Stryker fired out of the gate in 2025 by scoring a goal each in wins over Toms River North and Toms River South, with the second of those wins helping Brick Memorial clinch the Class B South championship. After posting seven multi-goal games and three hat tricks as a junior, Stryker is set to return with a chance to lead the Shore in scoring in the fall of 2026.

 

Ethan Lustig, Sr., Forward/Midfield, Manalapan

2025 Stats: 15 goals, 6 assists

Lustig followed up a First-Team season that included 20 goals and 13 assists with a hard-earned 15 goals while playing up top, on the wing, in the middle – basically anywhere Manalapan needed him on the attack. The Braves did not live up to the preseason No. 1 ranking from Shore Sports Insider, but came through with several memorable moments, including an overtime win over Manasquan in which Lustig posted two goals and an assist, including the golden goal.

 

Will Drechsler, Sr., Midfield, Christian Brothers Academy

2025 Stats: 9 goals, 5 assists

A stabilizing presence in the center of the field for the No. 2 team in the final SSI rankings, Drechsler controlled the run of play in the middle of the field and inflicted chaos upon opponents with his ability to serve up dangerous set pieces. He was the Colts’ second-leading scorer and five of his nine goals came in games that CBA either won by a single goal or finished in a draw.

 

Gino Castaneda, Sr., Midfield, Freehold Township

2025 Stats: 11 goals, 6 assists

In a resurgent season for Freehold Township, Castaneda was the team’s leading scorer and thrust himself into the middle of some of the Patriots’ biggest moments. He scored directly off corner kicks in wins over Long Branch and Toms River South, the latter of which was a golden goal in a 1-0, Shore Conference Tournament round-of-16 win over Toms River South. The senior midfielder also scored in losses to Monroe, Toms River East and CBA and served up a pristine corner-kick assist to Bobby Lockard for the first goal of the SCT semifinals vs. Colts Neck.

 

Carl Loffredo, Sr., Forward/Midfield, Brick

2025 Stats: 14 goals, 10 assists

Brick senior Carl Loffredo. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com) - Brick Carl Loffredo

Brick senior Carl Loffredo. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)

During Brick’s best season in 17 years, Loffredo was the top scorer, spark plug and leader for the Green Dragons as a third-year starter. Brick scored wins over Freehold Township, Brick Memorial, Toms River East and Long Branch and Loffredo scored in three of those four wins. He capped his season with a goal in Brick’s first-round win over Burlington Township for the Green Dragons’ first NJSIAA Tournament win in nine years.

 

Chris Ruggiero, Jr., Defense/Midfield, Toms River North

2025 Stats: 6 goals, 3 assists

The standard set at Toms River North over the past six seasons is as high as any public-school program in the Shore Conference and at 8-8-5 overall, this year’s team struggled to meet those standards due to a lack of reliable scoring. The defense, on the other hand, was stellar and Ruggiero was not only the leader of a unit that allowed 19 goals in 21 games, but he also led the team in scoring in an effort to make the outstanding defensive work pay off.

 

Ryan Spencer, Sr., Defense, Colts Neck

2025 Stats: 3 assists

Colts Neck senior Tyler Spencer and CBA sophomore Joe Guastella battle for the ball. (Photo: Doug Phillips) - CBA at Colts Neck

Colts Neck senior Tyler Spencer and CBA sophomore Joe Guastella battle for the ball. (Photo: Doug Phillips)

Statistically, Colts Neck made a case as the No. 1 team in the Shore Conference by winning more games than any team (19), boasting the leading goal-scorer (Sean Moore; 30) in the Shore Conference along with the conference’s leader in assists (Ben Kazani; 21). Scoring was the headliner in racking up those 19 wins, but Colts Neck’s defense was equally impressive. Spencer was the back line’s leader, at center back setting the day-in, day-out tone for a unit that allowed just 14 goals in 22 games.

 

Luke Noble, Sr., Defense, St. John Vianney

2025 Stats: 1 goal, 2 assists

St. John Vianey senior Luke Noble. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com) - SJV Luke Noble

St. John Vianey senior Luke Noble. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)

On a talented St. John Vianney roster that featured the program’s all-time leading scorer (Mason Boles) and a 6-foot-4, 220-pound beast in the midfield (Isaiah Boone), Noble was as integral as any player on a Lancers team that went toe-to-toe with every team on its schedule. Noble stepped up as a scorer by finishing the decisive goal in a key early-season win over Toms River North and led a shutout effort against No. 1 Middletown South.

 

Jake Ferraro, Sr., Defense, Marlboro

2025 Stats: 2 assists

Marlboro senior Jack Ferraro knocks the ball past Middletown South senior Joey Fielding. (Photo Credit: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com) - Marlboro Jake Ferraro

Marlboro senior Jack Ferraro knocks the ball past Middletown South senior Joey Fielding. (Photo Credit: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)

Ferraro epitomized Marlboro’s workmanlike mentality that helped the Mustangs elevate to the No. 7 ranking in the Shore Conference by the end of the season. He was a shutdown defender who owned 50-50 balls and drew the toughest assignments on Marlboro’s schedule. Top scorers from Holmdel (Dom Poli) and Manalapan (Lustig) twice went scoreless vs. Ferraro, who also shutout Boles (St. John Vianney), Shore Conference leading scorer Eddie Magherini (Ranney), Shane Gambarony (Toms River South) and First-Teamer Luke Strada (Middletown South).

 

Jack Del Priore, Sr., Goalkeeper, Rumson-Fair Haven

2025 Stats: 8 shutouts, 22 goals allowed (21 games)

Few goalkeepers in the Shore Conference could produce a single-game highlight reel like Del Priore did on several occasions during the 2025 season, which included shutout performances in scoreless draws against Manalapan, Marlboro and Long Branch. Del Priore traded highlight-reel saves vs. Toms River East goalkeeper Mike Moore in the SCT round of 16 and turned in a similar performance vs. Allentown in the first round of the NJSIAA Tournament, which ended with Rumson losing on penalty kicks after a 0-0 tie.

 

Gerardo Rodas Maldonado, Sr., Goalkeeper, Long Branch

2025 Stats: 10 shutouts, 18 goals allowed (21 games)

Long Branch senior Goalkeeper Gerardo Rodas grabs the free kick as Brick Memorial sophomore Matt Heptig crashes into him. (Photo Credit: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com) - Long Branch Gerardo Rodas

Long Branch senior Goalkeeper Gerardo Rodas grabs the free kick as Brick Memorial sophomore Matt Heptig crashes into him. (Photo Credit: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)

Speaking of highlights, Rodas was as reliable as any keeper in the conference when it came to making a dynamic save. The Green Wave lost experience and size in its defense from last year’s NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III championship team, but Rodas was on his game throughout the season, while helped Long branch remain one of the toughest teams to score upon in the Shore Conference.

 

 

Third Team

Shane Gambarony, Sr., Forward, Toms River South

2025 Stats: 16 goals, 10 assists

Toms River South senior Shane Gambarony. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com) - TR South Shane Gambarony

Toms River South senior Shane Gambarony. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)

Midway through the 2024 season, Gambarony made the move from outside back to forward and has become one of the Shore’s most relentless scorers. During his senior season, Gambarony finished 12th in the Shore Conference in total scoring, came through with a goal and an assist in a big win over No. 5 Toms River East and buried a career-high four goals in a state playoff win over Hammonton.

 

Eddie Magherini, Sr., Forward, Ranney

2025 Stats: 29 goals, 11 assists

Magherini led the entire Shore in scoring and graduates as the all-time leading scorer in Ranney soccer history with 51 goals and 21 assists, but his greatest accomplishment was leading Ranney to two firsts: an outright Class B Central division championship followed by an NJSIAA South Jersey Non-Public B title. Magherini led the Shore with 10 multi-goal games, including a hat trick and a brace in the final two rounds of the South Non-Public B bracket.

 

Brody Powers, Jr., Forward, Point Pleasant Beach

2025 Stats: 27 goals, 10 assists

The Shore’s third-leading scorer behind only Magherini and Sean Moore of Colts Neck, Powers scored more than one goal in a game eight times this season, including a hat trick in a 3-2 win over South Non-Public B champion Ranney. Powers also scored two goals each in a back-and-forth divisional win over Jackson and a 3-2 win over a Middlesex side that eliminated Shore Regional in the NJSIAA Central Group I Playoffs. In those playoffs, Point Beach lasted only two rounds, but Powers still managed four goals and two assists in those two matches.

 

Dom Poli, Sr., Forward, Holmdel

2025 Stats: 12 goals, 3 assists

In the wake of graduating a Shore Conference Player of the Year in Stepan Kapranov, Holmdel set out to return to the Shore’s Top 10 rankings through a collective effort. The No. 9 Hornets were successful in that quest, but they also had a top scorer to help fuel the effort. Poli was fourth among all Class A North players in goals and one of his two braces on the season came in a convincing Holmdel win over No. 10 Manalapan.

 

Alex Salvo, Sr., Forward/Midfield, Red Bank

2025 Stats: 22 goals, 5 assists

As a junior in 2024, Salvo led Red Bank to its most decorated season in more than a decade and earned an All-Shore spot for his efforts. Without as much experience around him, Salvo could not lead the Bucs to the same heights, but he did manage to increase his own goal total from 19 as a junior to 22 as a senior – good for fifth in the entire Shore Conference in 2025. One of his multi-goal games was a brace vs. St. John Vianney and he also slipped one by Rumson senior and second-team goalkeeper Jack Del Priore.

 

Brandon Mendoza, Sr., Midfield, Long Branch

2025 Stats: 8 goals, 13 assists

Long Branch senior Brandon Mendoza. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com) - Long Branch Brandon Mendoza

Long Branch senior Brandon Mendoza. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)

It took Long Branch until October to hit its stride in 2024 and after a Cinderella run to a sectional championship last year, the Green Wave were a more consistent team from start-to-finish this year. Mendoza’s play in the midfield had a lot to do with that, as the senior got off to a strong start, headlined by a dominant two-goal, one-assist performance in an SCT group stage win over Brick Memorial. Mendoza went on to finish tied for fourth in the Shore Conference in assists.

 

Vinny Pollifrone, Sr., Midfield, Marlboro

2025 Stats: 7 goals, 5 assists

A fire-starter for the Shore’s No. 7 team, Pollifrone was in the middle of some of Marlboro’s biggest moments of 2025. He scored two goals in three NJSIAA Tournament games to go with another goal in the Shore Conference Tournament. Pollifrone also kick-started one of the season’s great comeback wins when he scored in the 68th minute against Manalapan – the first of three straight goals by the Mustangs to erase a 2-0 deficit and beat the Braves in overtime.

 

Chris De Oliveira Santos, Sr., Midfield, Long Branch

2025 Stats: 15 goals, 4 assists

Long Branch senior Chris De Oliveira Santos handles the bal under the watch of teammate Thomas Silva (right), Brick Memorial senior Elin Torres (13) and Brick Memorial sophomore Matt Heptig. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com) - Long Branch Christopher De Oliveira Santos

Long Branch senior Chris De Oliveira Santos handles the bal under the watch of teammate Thomas Silva (right), Brick Memorial senior Elin Torres (13) and Brick Memorial sophomore Matt Heptig. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)

At times, Long Branch was as impressive an outfit to watch as there was in the Shore Conference and De Oliveira Santos was as fun to watch as any player in the conference. His 15 goals this season included several jaw-dropping finishes, including a pair of goals in an SCT group-stage win over Wall. Although it came in a loss, De Oliveira Santos scored against No. 4 Southern when the Rams were operating at their peak in 2025.

 

Connor Paul, Sr., Defense, Holmdel

2025 Stats: 5 goals, 3 assists

Paul has been an impact defender for the Hornets since taking over as a starter during his sophomore year and he remained a key to the Hornets’ success this season. At 6-foot-4, Paul controlled the air inside the box – both his own and the opposition’s. He pushed forward to score five goals, which was the second-most of any true defender behind Ruggiero of Toms River North.

 

Ryan Kapler, Sr., Defense, Middletown South

2025 Stats: 1 goal, 1 assist

There were only a handful of defenses in the Shore Conference that boasted better goals-allowed numbers than Middletown South and no team was as solid in the back in big games. Kapler led the back line in the spine of the formation and delivered all of his scoring contributions in the same game. He scored a goal and assisted another in Middletown South’s huge SCT semifinal win over CBA, which was part of a 14-game unbeaten streak that carried the Eagles to SCT and Central Group III championships.

 

Nigel Graham, Sr., Defense, Toms River South

2025 Stats: 1 assist

A three-year starter in the back for Toms River South, Graham led an Indians defense that was, statistically, the best in the Shore Conference. Toms River South matched Colts Neck for the top mark in goals allowed with 14 in 22 matches and the Indians did it by allowing three goals just once – in a 3-2, overtime loss to Brick Memorial in early September. The 14 goals allowed broke a single-season program record previously held by the 2018 team, which gave up 15 goals in fewer games (17).

 

Zach Halpern, Sr., Defense, Rumson-Fair Haven

2025 Stats: 3 goals, 5 assists

No player on Rumson this season scored more than five goals, so the Bulldogs were a team built around keeping the ball out of its own net, which Halpern helped accomplish with his play at center back for a team that gave up 23 goals in 21 games. He also finished second on the team in total scoring thanks to his ability to play in the air around the goal, as well as his long throw-in that helped Halpern rack up five assists.

 

Carson Perry, Sr., Goalkeeper, Middletown South

2025 Stats: 11 shutouts, 19 goals allowed (22 games)

A stellar defense combined with Perry’s steadiness in goal helped Middletown South post 10 shutouts in its final 15 games and before running into a Ramapo juggernaut in the Group III final, Perry had allowed just three goals during a 12-game winning streak that the Eagles were riding heading into the state championship game. Middletown South twice shut out No. 3 Colts Neck and in the SCT final, Perry saved two penalty kicks to deliver his team the shootout win over the Cougars, giving the Eagles their first ever SCT title.

 

Liam Collura, Sr., Goalkeeper, Colts Neck

2025 Stats: 14 shutouts, 13 goals allowed (22 games)

At the individual level, no goalkeeper in the Shore Conference posted more shutouts or boasted a better goals-allowed average than Collura, who played every game for Colts Neck and surrendered 13 of the 14 goals the Cougars conceded. A quality collection of 10 players in front of him helped keep teams from reaching him all that often, but he was dependable when tested, which happened in a 1-0 win over Middletown South in September.

 

 

 

The First Five Off

To better honor the All-Shore selection process and the players that were an important part of it, here is a look at those candidates who were closest to cracking the All-Shore Third Team. The group includes:

 

  • The second-leading scorer on Colts Neck’s dynamic 19-win team
  • A well-rounded attacker for Ocean who took a step back as a goal-scorer to defer to his senior teammate.
  • A versatile, defensive-minded midfielder who scored Middletown South’s lone goal in the Group III championship game.
  • The top central defender on a CBA team that bounced back from a disappointing end to 2024.
  • An imposing goalkeeper who helped cover up Manalapan’s growing pains on defense.

 

C.J. Collins, Sr., Forward, Colts Neck

2025 Stats: 10 goals, 5 assists

 

Connor Shaw, Jr., Midfield/Forward, Ocean

2025 Stats: 11 goals, 7 assists

 

Jack Cohen, Sr., Midfield/Defense, Middletown South

2025 Stats: 3 goals, 3 assists

 

Finn McCarthy, Sr., Defense, Christian Brothers Academy

2025 Stats: 2 goals, 1 assist

 

Chase Lee, Jr., Goalkeeper, Manalapan

2025 Stats: 8 shutouts, 18 goals allowed (17 games)

 

 

All-Shore Final Vote

You can vote for the above five players, plus many more in the All-Shore Final Vote. Click the link above to get started!

 

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