Toms River South Backs Up No. 1 Ranking With 3-1 Win Over Central
TOMS RIVER — The date had been circled since the Shore Conference released the 2026 girls soccer schedule. It was a battle between two of the Shore Conference’s best teams, and No. 1 Toms River South made its case as the team to beat this season, scoring three unanswered goals to defeat No. 3 Central, 3-1.
Both teams put on a show in the first half, but the Indians came out of halftime with renewed intensity and quickly took control of the game.
Junior Emma Turnbach broke a 1-1 tie in the 46th minute, scoring what proved to be the game-winning goal off a pass from classmate Daniella Gordon inside the box.
Emma Turnbach scores to put No. 1 TRS up 2-1 over No. 3 Central. 9/15/26 (Photo by Doug Phillips/Framegrabs LLC)
“I think in the first half, we came out very panicked,” Turnbach said. “We knew this was gonna be a big game for the season, and we’re all kind of just in our heads. Coach (Kacey Woram) told us we had to slow down, play our game. I think we executed way better in the second half. We played the feet, we played quicker, and moved forward.”
Central was able to strike first with a goal in the 13th minute. Senior Leah DiCillo was officially credited with the goal off her corner kick, although video appeared to show Brianna Daly getting a head on the ball before it crossed the goal line.
Toms River South wasted no time scoring the equalizer. Gordon recorded her first assist of the game in the 16th minute when she used her speed to break down the field and sent a ball across the goal for Samantha Fallon to finish.
“I think our team is very supportive,” Turnbach said. “We do not let each other get down. Because we are so supportive, we were able to get that back. That’s something I love; we are very supportive and the closest team ever. We all love each other.”
Gordon caused problems for the Golden Eagles’ defense throughout the game with her speed and foot skills. She added an insurance goal for the Indians in the 58th minute, eluding two defenders before sneaking a shot just inside the near post.
Gordon also showcased her versatility late in the game, shifting to the defensive side of the field to help preserve the lead and prevent any chance of a Golden Eagles comeback.
Daniella Gordon scored a goal and had two assists against No. 3 Central. 9/15/26 (Photo by Doug Phillips/Framegrabs LLC)
“Right now she’s (Gordon) playing at a very high level, which we expected her to play at,” head coach Kacey Woram said. “She is another workhorse and will play any spot we need her, and we can put her in any situation, and she is going to give us her absolute all day in and day out. She’s got a knack for finding the goal, which helps us. She is a phenomenal kid to coach.”
After conceding the game’s first goal early in the first-half, Toms River South’s goalkeeper Reese Lindemann was flawless. She made several highlight-reel saves throughout the game.
“I was really frustrated with the first goal,” Lindemann said. “That was my motivation, but communicating with my team just comes naturally. With our team bond, I have an easy time talking to them and organizing them because sometimes we are all scattered. I think they (backline) did a wonderful job, and communicating with them was very easy tonight.”
One of her 10 saves came in the 31st minute off a very close shot by Maddie Leppard, but her save of the game came in the 69th minute. Central played the ball to the far post for a forward to have an open header, but Lindemann was able to get there and get her hand on the ball.
Reese Lindemann makes a save in the second-half against No. 3 Central. 9/15/26 (Photo by Doug Phillips/Framegrabs)
“She (Lindemann) has definitely put in a lot of work since last season,” Woram said. “We test her every day at practice, and every day she makes big saves for us. We knew it would translate over into game atmospheres, and she’s a gamer.”
Most of the time, when you look at a soccer box score, you don’t get the full story. A team may dominate, but the score doesn’t show it, or a player may make the team go, but not get on the stat sheet for goals or assists.
Ava Knight is the player who makes the Indians run. She may not always show up in the scorebook with goals or assists, but her value to the team is immeasurable. Knight is constantly involved in the action from one side of the field to the other. She wins challenges, connects passes, and helps create opportunities or support the defense.
Toms River South junior Ava Knight controls the ball during the Freehold Township vs Toms River South Shore Conference Soccer Match at the Toms River South HS Turf Field in Toms River, New Jersey. 9/3/25 Photo Credit: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com
“Ava (Knight) is that field leader,” Woram said. “She is not going to have a ton of stats that everyone is gonna look at, but she does everything that matters. Everything that does not show up on a stat sheet is her. Whether it’s two passes away from the goal, sliding something in, just her awareness on the field, and getting players to go where they need to go at any given time. Without Ava Knight, we are not the team we are.”
Toms River South entered the season as the Shore Sports Insider preseason number one team. The performance against Central was a message to the Shore Conference that it will not be easy to knock them off of their perch.
“This was big,” Turnbach said. “There was a lot of going back and forth with different people, one and two, and I think this just really made a statement. This was one of our biggest games. We told everyone this was the biggest game of the season. That is why everyone showed up, and now we move forward and keep going.”
The Indians (4-0, 2-0) are the last undefeated team in Class A South and return to action on Thursday against Toms River North.
The Golden Eagles (4-1, 2-1) will look to bounce back against Manchester on Thursday.
