Shore Conference Girls Soccer 2026 Preseason Top 10

Here is a look at Shore Sports Insider’s first rankings for the 2026 girls soccer season. This season looks wide open as the teams battle for a Shore Conference Tournament Title. Last year, Manalapan ran the table from the preseason to the final rankings as the best team. Can Toms River South follow in Manalapan’s footsteps from last year, or should we expect shake-ups week in and week out throughout the season?

 

Preseason Top 10

 

1. Toms River South

Toms River South finished the 2025 season with a 12-6-2 record, with all six defeats coming to teams inside the top 10. Their sixth loss was a 1-0 defeat against Shawnee in the South Jersey Group 3 semifinal. Shawnee was ranked 14th in New Jersey and reached the Group 3 Final. The Indians return all but one player from last year’s squad, including two All-Shore players in senior Ava Knight and junior Daniella Gordon. Gordon led the team with 15 goals and tied Knight, who can control the midfield box-to-box, with six assists. Junior Reese Lindemann posted 10 shutouts in her first season as a starter in goal. TRS showed their depth last season, with eight players scoring two or more goals. With the experience returning this season, the Indians will be one of the favorites not only in Class A South and the Shore Conference but also in SJG3. They will be tested right out of the gate with a home game against No. 6 Freehold Township on Tuesday night. These two teams opened up against each other last season and battled to a 1-1 draw. TRS will travel to Southern on Thursday in a divisional game. Southern was moved up to Class A South this season. The Indians end the week hosting Steinert in a non-conference game. Steinert finished last season with a 12-9 record.

2. Howell

Howell has achieved something you do not see anymore in the Shore Conference, given how competitive girls soccer has become. The Rebels reached their fourth straight SCT semifinal last season and finished with a 16-5 record, one game behind Manalapan for the Class A North title. Every season, Howell graduates key pieces of their success, but always finds players to step into those roles and perform. The Rebels have a good core returning this season led by senior Makenzie Memmolo. Memmolo set all-time career-highs for the Rebels in goals, assists, and points last season, finishing with 21 goals and 15 assists. Junior Isabella Farinick returned from injury her freshman season and provided another option on the offensive side of the field with 15 goals and 10 assists. The biggest hole Howell has to fill is in goal. Junior Quinn Merkel has big shoes to fill with 4-year starter Leila Shaw graduating. Junior Kylie Keating emerged as one of the top defenders in the Shore Conference last season and will become one of the leaders of the backline this season. Howell opens the season at home on Monday against Monmouth in a non-divisional game. The Rebels travel to No. 3 Red Bank Catholic on Thursday in their first Class A North game.

3. Red Bank Catholic 

The Caseys return one of the deepest teams in the Shore Conference. RBC went 14-5 last season with all five losses coming to ranked teams. The biggest piece RBC needs to replace is leading scorer Paige Foye. Foye led the team the last two seasons with 27 goals scored. The Caseys were handed a blow in the spring when junior Grace Pauwels suffered an ACL injury, which will cause her to miss this season. Pauwels had a big season in the midfield last year, scoring seven goals. RBC’s depth will help Coach Brian Blue move some players around. All-Shore midfielder Lexi Sinatra had a great season marking opposing teams’ best weapons and providing options with her offensive and defensive abilities. Senior Samantha Mierzwiak has been one of the top defenders since she stepped on the field for the Caseys as a freshman and will provide the leadership on the field. Senior Heidi Wierman will enter her third season as the starting goalkeeper and has plenty of big game experience. RBC opens its season at home on Thursday against No. 2 Howell. The winner will set the tone in Class A North for the season.

4.Central

Central had one of New Jersey’s best defenses in 2025, only allowing four goals to finish the season 18-2-1 and a Class A South title. The Golden Eagles reached the South Jersey Group 4 final for the third straight season, but fell to Cherokee 1-0. Central lost three players from last season’s defense with Emma Christensen and Nicole Kangas graduating and Katie Ytreboe to injury. They do get back Logan Lisewski, who was injured for the majority of the season, to go with Emma Boturla. Junior Addison Frulio returns in goal for the third straight year and has gained plenty of experience the last two seasons. Senior Leah DiCillo is one of the best playmakers in the Shore Conference and finished with 9 goals and 11 assists last year. Senior Brianna Daly (6 G, 7 A) provides experience at forward and provides Central with another weapon on offense. Central travels to Wall on Tuesday in a non-divisonal game and will host rival No. 7 Point Boro on Thursday in a Class A South game. 

5.Trinity Hall

Trinity Hall made school history last season, reaching their first-ever Shore Conference Tournament final. The road to the final was not easy. The Monarchs beat Central 1-0 in PKS in the quarterfinal round and followed that with a 1-0 victory over Howell in the semis. Unfortunately, Manalapan was too much for Trinity Hall last season, beating them 3-1. The Monarchs also made it to the South Jersey Non-Public A final, but fell to nationally ranked Paul VI. Trinity Hall had a nice balance of upperclassmen and underclassmen last season, which will make them one of the top teams in 2026. One of their biggest holes this season is in goal with the graduation of Emily Venezia, who posted 16 shutouts last season. Trinity Hall also will need to replace Ryan Raynor, who led the team with nine assists. Senior Grace Greene will be a 4-year starter and one of the leaders on the field. She moved from defense to midfield during the season last year. The Monarchs return leading scorers senior Kailyn Fitzgerald (16 G, 7 A) and junior Kaylee Davis (10 G, 8 A). Trinity Hall started three freshmen on defense last year, but Ryann Russo transferred to RBC in the offseason. Trinity Hall opens the season against rival Rumson-Fair Haven on Thursday at home. On Friday, they have a non-conference game at home against Hightstown.

6. Freehold Township

A young Freehold Township team had an up-and-down regular season, finishing with a 10-11-2 record. In typical Patriot fashion, they were ready when it mattered the most and handed No. 1 Manalapan its only loss of the season to win the Central Jersey Group 4 title. Freehold Township graduated several seniors, mostly on the defensive side of the field. Sophomore Morgan Notaro emerged as one of the conference’s top forwards, scoring 14 goals in her rookie season. Notaro and classmate Adele Moy combined for 19 of the 31 goals scored last season. Senior Violet Matthews took her game to another level once the postseason started. She played a crucial part in both the Howell and Manalapan games during the sectional tournament, making big save after big save in the victories. The experience she gained will help lead the Patriot defense this season. Freehold Township starts the season off on the road against No. 1 Toms River South on Tuesday. Last season, they battled TRS to a 1-1 draw on opening day. The Patriots host Manasquan on Thursday in their home opener.

7. Point Boro 

After a strong graduating class in 2025 that won the Group 2 championship, some expected the Panthers to go into a brief rebuild last season. Point Boro proved those people wrong and made it back to the Central Jersey Group 2 final for the second straight season. Unfortunately, they fell to Allentown in overtime 2-1. The Panthers return the majority of their team from last year with only three seniors graduating. The biggest piece Point Boro has to replace is Elise Viggiano, who led the team in scoring the last two seasons with 31 goals scored. The young Panthers gained a lot of experience last season and will be one of the favorites in CJG2 in 2026. Junior Maddie Renna has done a great job controlling the midfield and finding her forwards since she arrived as a freshman two years ago. All-Shore defender Khloey Cilento was injured at the end of the season last year, but looks to be ready for her senior year to lead the Panther defense. Junior Megan Viggiano was second in scoring last year with eight goals and will look to improve on those numbers to make up for her sister graduating. The goalkeeper position can be a question to start the season with last year’s starter, Stella Stevenson, recovering from an injury. Sophomore Harper Harris has looked excellent in the summer leagues and is more than ready to handle the job if Stevenson is not ready. Point Boro opens their season on the road at No. 4 Central on Thursday in a Class A South matchup. Central edged out Point Boro last season for the division title, and Point Boro beat out Central the year prior for the title.

 

8. Middletown South

Middletown South had an up-and-down season last year, battling injuries to finish with an 11-8 record. Even after graduating a strong senior class, you can never count the Eagles out. The biggest obstacle they need to overcome is replacing Rutgers commit Bea Tinoco. Tinoco graduated as Middletown South’s all-time leading scorer with 83 goals over four seasons. Junior Riley Kapler’s playmaking ability in the midfield should help the forwards going on the offensive side of the field. Julianna Fiore missed a good portion of the season last year, but returns healthy for her junior season in goal. Sophomores Delany Finnegan and Abigail Plantamura both made an impact in their rookie season and will provide Middletown South with experience on the outside. Middletown South opens its season at home on Thursday against Manalapan in a Class A North matchup.

 

9. Rumson-Fair Haven 

Rumson finished with a 13-10 record last season, playing a very challenging schedule outside of Class A Central. The difficult regular season schedule paid off during the Shore Conference Tournament. The Bulldogs advanced into the semifinal round, where they fell to eventual champions Manalapan. Rumson became the first team in the season to take a lead over No. 1 Manalapan in that game, but could not hold on. Rumson will move into Class A North this season, which has six teams in the preseason rankings. For the third straight season, the Bulldogs graduate several starters, but return the reigning SSI Player of the Year Jordyn Sullivan. The Duke commit finished with 32 goals and five assists last season. Rumson will need someone to replace Chase Memmott, who finished with eight goals scored last season. Senior Lexi Brisman will replace 2-year starter Ella Curran in net. Brisman did see action in 10 games last season, making 31 saves. Rumson opens the season on Tuesday on the road in a non-conference game against Montclair. On Thursday, they play their first Class A North game on the road against rival No. 5 Trinity Hall. Rumson finished a game behind the Monarchs last season in Class A Central.

 

10. Middletown North 

The Lions got off to a hot start last season, winning their first five games, which included a 4-2 win against Trinity Hall in an SCT Group game. Middletown North finished with a 13-7 record and advanced into the North Jersey Section 2 Group 3 semifinal, where they fell to eventual Group 3 champions Chatham. Middletown North returns nine starters from last year’s team led by senior Sofia Chaknis. Chaknis led the team with 11 goals, but can be utilized all over the field. Last season, the Lions rotated three goalies and will continue to use senior Natalie Morford and junior Emilia Miller. Sophomores Peyton Kulka and Charlie Brink will look to build on the great rookie season they had. They combined for 10 goals and 20 assists last year. Junior Mackenzie Miller missed time last season due to injury and will provide a boost on the defensive side of the field this season. Middletown North opens the season at Raritan on Thursday in a Class A Central game. Both teams played in Class B North last season.

 

Bubble:

Manasquan, Wall, St. John Vianney