2026 Shore Conference Boys Soccer Preseason Top 10
In each of the last two seasons, a team from outside the Class A North division of the Shore Conference finished No. 1 in the final Shore Sports Insider Boys Soccer Top 10, and in 2024, none of the top three teams in the rankings were in Class A North. The Shore Conference’s power division has still flexed its muscle for most of the last two years, but other teams from around the conference have added some balance to the landscape.
With that qualifier out of the way, get ready for a heavy dose of Class A North to kick off the first Shore Sports Insider Boys Soccer Top 10. It stands to reason that would be the case considering the top power-point teams from Monmouth County are slotted in Class A North every year, and a team from Monmouth County has won each of the last 20 Shore Conference Tournament championships.
Of course, no Top 10 is less relevant than the preseason Top 10, and the rest of the Shore will have a chance to make their case over the next 12 weeks. But we have to start somewhere, so here is that somewhere.
1. Christian Brothers Academy
With little starting experience, CBA will have some wrinkles to iron out, but the Colts also have the talent to be the Shore’s best team over the full course of 2026. On a given day, they can be beat, and in the Class A North division, it is likely they will be beat or at least settle for a draw. Once the Shore Conference Tournament rolls around, CBA will be seeking an eighth straight semifinal appearance, and it would not be the first with a roster low on varsity experience.
2. Marlboro
There are at least four serious challengers to CBA’s perch atop the Class A North division, and all four of those teams are also a bounce of the ball from landing in the No. 1 spot in the Shore-wide rankings. Up first is Marlboro, which lost two top scorers in Vinny Pollifrone and Dean Allegreta, plus an All-Shore outside back in Jake Ferraro, but returns a deep roster with a group of players that figure to take the next step. Marlboro has never won a sectional title, nor have the Mustangs been in a tournament championship game since losing in two of them in 2016. This year could be the year Marlboro ends that drought.
3. Manalapan
With major firepower back from a 17-win team in 2024, Manalapan fell short of expectations while finishing No. 10 in the final SSI rankings with 10 wins. Much of that scoring is gone, but the Braves return three defenders in front of dynamic senior goalkeeper Chase Lee, plus have a promising group of midfielders that will welcome back Gavin Halcomb into the ranks after he chose to play academy soccer last season. With a full offseason under second-year coach Brandon Downey and a more defense-and-possession-minded team this year, Manalapan could be poised to fulfill its potential this time around.
4. Colts Neck
Colts Neck’s Sean Moore. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
With Sean Moore – the Shore’s best scorer over the past two years and, perhaps, the best scorer in Shore Conference history by year’s end – Colts Neck has the best offensive weapon in the conference. That immediately lends the Cougars credibility as a championship contender, mostly because they have already been one with Moore leading the way. For Colts Neck to win Class A North, a second SCT title in three years or its first NJSIAA sectional title in 26 years, it will need a supporting cast full of novices when it comes to starting varsity games. The return of Pedro Navroski from the academy ranks will help take some pressure off Moore.
5. Middletown South
The reigning Shore Conference Tournament and Central Jersey Group III champions assembled a playoff-ready team last year, and All-Shore star Luke Strada, returning from the MLS Next program, was the finishing touch. With Strada and six other starters gone via graduation, there could be some growing pains early on. Still, top scorer Connor Saul is back up top, defenders Brody Illingworth and Jack Welsh will keep the back line strong, and a talented group of sophomores and juniors will help keep the machine churning.
6. Toms River East
The Class A North run ends at No. 6, and the spot goes to the defending Class A South champions. Toms River East won its first outright division title in 14 years and brings back most of its starting group, albeit without top scorer Aiden Reis and All-Shore defender Aiden Corapi. Evan Cappetta, Sam Los, Brennen Hutton, Brady Gillen and Ayden Salazar are among the core players returning and are part of a wave of talent that should keep the Raiders relevant at the top of the Shore for the next several years.
7. Freehold Township
The headline of Freehold Township’s 2025 season was its red-card disqualification from the NJSIAA Tournament, but for a team that did not play a state playoff match, the Patriots sure had a good season. They won a share of the Class B North championship and reached the semifinals of the Shore Conference Tournament, which they lost in overtime. An impact group of seniors moved on, but the underclassmen showed their stuff throughout the year and are ready to take the reins this season.
8. Toms River North
Scoring on Toms River North last season was not an easy assignment. Still, the Mariners had nearly as much trouble putting the ball in the other team’s net, hence the .500 record and the failure to qualify for the Shore Conference Tournament. This year, Toms River North is not messing around: senior Chris Ruggiero will move to the top of the attack after playing both defensive center midfield and center back during his first three high-school seasons. With more of a focus on finishing and trust in senior goalkeeper Gavyn Striker and his defense, the Mariners are hoping to get back to the top of Class A South and South Jersey Group IV.
9. Manasquan
Cruz Farkas was the best of three very good senior starters to graduate after last season, but Manasquan will have strength in numbers. The current group of juniors and seniors stepped in and played their roles at a high level around Farkas as the Warriors beat Middletown South and Ocean to win the Class A Central division championship. It took penalty kicks on a frigid afternoon in Manasquan for Wall to upend the Warriors in the NJSIAA Tournament, which leaves Manasquan still searching for its first-ever tournament championship heading into the 2026 season.
10. Ocean
Ocean’s Connor Shaw (right) chased by by St. John Vianney senior Dominick Fuoco. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
Brandon Costentino was a force for the Spartans in 2025 after returning from academy soccer to earn an All-Shore First Team nod in his only high-school season. He was part of a three-headed scoring monster, and the other two heads – Connor Shaw and Nic Critelli – are back for 2026. The midfield has some unknowns, but with the two forwards and goalkeeper Matt Makower back in net, the Spartans will make a bid for the top spot in Class A Central and possibly some postseason hardware.
The Next 10
Wall – The first non-A-division team is a Crimson Knights side coming off a run to the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II final and adding standout center back Kevin Anderson back into the fold this season to mitigate some key losses to graduation.
Shore – The Blue Devils are exceedingly deep for a Group I team, which will give them a chance to compete for a division title in A Central, their first Shore Conference Tournament appearance since 2021 and a second Group I title in four years.
Holmdel – Long-term injuries to top returning scorer Lucas Nobrega and top defender Antonio Zambito are major losses, but the Hornets still have a competent group that should battle in Class A North and win some games outside of it.
Southern – The two-time defending South Jersey Group IV champions will look much different than they did last year and unrecognizable compared to the 2024 Group IV championship team. Still, the Rams are now a proven program and by season’s end, they have the pieces to be a tournament factor.
Point Pleasant Boro – A 1-6-1 start to 2025 put Point Boro’s season on the brink, but the Panthers closed with a 12-2-1 finish. A fair amount of seniors contributed to that season-ending run, but the current junior class also made its mark and should keep Point Boro competitive as it continues to acclimate to life in Class A South.
Howell – After taking their lumps during a rebuilding year in Class A North, the Rebels bring back eight starters for their move to Class B North, which gives Howell an opportunity to win its first outright division championship since 2007.
Brick Memorial – Graduation losses will leave the Mustangs looking to replace significant depth from last year’s Class B South championship team, but they also bring back three top scorers in Nate Stryker (27 goals), Sebastian Millan (nine) and Matt Heptig, plus lead defender Nick Stryker.
Jackson – Combining players from two different programs was as much of a challenge as it was an advantage for coaches throughout Jackson Township’s athletic program in the school’s first year since the merger of Memorial and Liberty. In year two, the expectations are set and the depth is still there for Jackson to bid for a Top 10 finish.
Long Branch – The Green Wave will have its least experience team in several years, but that has not stopped Long Branch in the past. A first-place finish in a loaded Class A Central division might be a big ask, but Long Branch will be a tough game and making noise in the tournaments is on the table.
Barnegat – The return of Nate Scisco from a year playing in Spain gives the Bengals an instant jolt as they attempt to win their first ever Shore Conference division championship while qualifying for the Shore Conference Tournament.
