Girls Soccer Shore Conference Tournament Final Preview and Prediction: Toms River South and Trinity Hall Prepare to Clash

2026 Girls Soccer Shore Conference Tournament Championship

Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026

3 p.m.

At Memorial Field, Summerfield Elementary School, Neptune

 

No. 4 Trinity Hall vs  No. 10 Toms River South 

Teams at a Glance

Toms River South (13-3)

Head Coach: Kacey Woram
SCT Championships: 1 (2002)

 

Road to the Championship:

First Round: Defeated (23) Manchester 6-0

Round of 16: Defeated (7) Rumson-Fair Haven 1-1 (4-1)

Quarterfinals: Defeated (2) St. John Vianney 4-1

Semifinals: Defeated (11) Freehold Township 4-0

 

Toms River South opened the Shore Conference Tournament with an offensive outburst, scoring four first-half goals to cruise into the second round. Junior Daniella Gordon picked up right where she left off following her return from injury, finishing with two goals and two assists, while Samantha Fallon added two goals. The Indians’ defense and goalkeeper Reese Lindemann held firm to secure their fifth shutout of the season.

The Indians faced a much tougher challenge in the second round, needing a penalty-kick shootout to survive a road matchup against Rumson-Fair Haven. Junior Emma Turnbach gave Toms River South a 1-0 lead in the first half, but the Bulldogs answered with a second-half equalizer to force overtime. After neither team could find a winner, the Indians converted all four of their penalty kicks while holding Rumson to just one successful attempt. Lindemann finished with seven saves to help Toms River South advance.

In the quarterfinals, Toms River South rediscovered the form that had made it the Shore Conference’s top-ranked team earlier in the season. The Indians raced out to a 3-0 advantage before taking a 3-1 lead into halftime, then added an insurance goal in the second half to secure their first SCT semifinal appearance since 2013. Gordon and Turnbach each contributed a goal and an assist in the victory.

Toms River South carried that momentum into the semifinals, overwhelming Freehold Township with another explosive offensive performance. The Indians struck three times in the first half before putting the game out of reach with a fourth goal just three minutes after halftime, cruising to a 4-0 victory. Junior Sadie Kartikis and Turnbach each recorded a goal and an assist, while Lindemann turned aside five shots for her sixth shutout of the season. The victory sent Toms River South to its first SCT championship game since 2002.

 

Projected Starting Line-up:

GK – Reese Lindemann, Jr. 

Def – Kylee Ford, Jr. 

Def – Alexia Cecere, Sr. (2 A)

Def – Fiona McGrath, Sr.

Mid – Sadie Kartiklis, Jr., (1 G, 3 A)

Mid – Ava Knight, Sr. (4 A)

Mid – Emma Turnbach, Jr. (11 G, 8 A)

Mid – Kaylee Boemio, Jr. (1 A)

Mid – Ava Barbalinardo, Jr. (1 G, 4 A)

Fwd – Daniella Gordon, Jr. (12 G, 8 A)

Fwd – Jaelyn Mayne, Sr. (8 G, 1 A)

 

Outlook:

Toms River South returns to the Shore Conference Tournament championship game for the first time since 2002, when the Indians captured their only SCT title. After seeing their 2025 season end with a 1-0 loss to state-ranked Shawnee in the South Jersey Group 3 semifinals, the Indians entered 2026 as the Shore Conference’s No. 1 team. With all but one player returning from last year’s squad, Toms River South had both the experience and talent to enter the season with championship expectations. The road back to the final was not without adversity, however, as the Indians endured a stretch of three losses in four games, including two defeats without star junior forward Daniella Gordon.

 

Offense:

Since returning from injury, Gordon has scored five goals to bring her team-leading total to 12, while junior Emma Turnbach has established a career high with 11 goals, including one in Tuesday’s semifinal victory over Freehold Township. Speed has been one of Toms River South’s greatest strengths, allowing the Indians to transition quickly from defense to offense and put constant pressure on opposing teams. Senior Ava Knight plays a key role in that approach, controlling the midfield and using her speed to jump-start the attack. Junior Sadie Kartikis provides another offensive threat, particularly on set pieces, as she demonstrated against Freehold Township when she opened the scoring with a free-kick goal.

Defense/Goalkeeper:

When Reese Lindemann is at her best, she is among the top goalkeepers in the Shore Conference. She demonstrated that ability against Central, making a season-high 10 saves to keep the Eagles from mounting a comeback. Toms River South’s speed also allows the Indians to operate with just three defenders in the back, giving them more flexibility to push players forward into the attack. Seniors Alexia Cecere and Fiona McGrath, along with junior Kylee Ford, have the speed and defensive awareness to cover for one another when opponents threaten, helping the Indians maintain their aggressive approach without leaving themselves vulnerable defensively.

 

Keys to Victory:

– Strike early: Toms River South came out aggressively against Freehold Township, building an early lead and never allowing the Patriots to get back into the game. The Indians need to bring that same intensity against Trinity Hall and avoid letting the Monarchs hang around.

– Stick with what is working: The Indians have scored four goals in each of their last two games, using their speed and offensive balance to overwhelm opponents. Maintaining that attacking approach will be key to breaking down Trinity Hall’s defense.

– Limit corner-kick opportunities: Trinity Hall has a history of capitalizing on corner kicks, making set-piece defense a priority for Toms River South. The Indians must avoid conceding unnecessary corners and stay organized when defending them.

 

 

Trinity Hall (13-3-1)

Head Coach: Patrick Trombetta
SCT Championships: 0

 

Road to Semis:

1st Round: Bye

Round of 16: Defeated (13) Manasquan 1-0

Quarterfinals: Defeated (12) Wall 4-0

Semifinals: Defeated (9) Central 0-0 (4-3)

 

Trinity Hall was the only team among the SCT semifinalists to receive a first-round bye. In the second round against Manasquan, sophomore Bette Kane broke a scoreless tie with a second-half goal off an assist from senior Grace Greene to send the Monarchs into the quarterfinals. After splitting time in goal throughout the regular season, senior O’Neal Hile has taken over full-time duties during the postseason. She made five saves against Manasquan to secure the shutout.

The Monarchs found their offensive rhythm in the quarterfinals, erupting for four goals against Wall. Sophomore Anna Noble led the attack with two first-half goals before setting up Kane for a goal in the second half. Hile turned aside four shots to help Trinity Hall record its 10th shutout of the season and secure a spot in the SCT semifinals.

For the third consecutive season, Trinity Hall and Central needed a penalty-kick shootout to settle their SCT showdown after battling through 100 minutes of scoreless soccer. The Monarchs’ defense held firm throughout the match, limiting Central’s attack and preventing the Eagles from generating many quality scoring opportunities. Despite having several players with experience from last year’s run to the SCT championship game, it was first-year starting goalkeeper O’Neal Hile who emerged as the hero. With Central holding chances to win the shootout in both the fourth and fifth rounds, Hile delivered three consecutive saves to keep Trinity Hall alive, including the decisive stop in the sixth round. Junior Reese Kelly, who did not enter the game until the final minute, made the most of her opportunity by converting both of her penalty kicks, including the game-winner in the sixth round, to complete the Monarchs’ comeback and send them to the championship game for the second straight season.

Projected Starting Line-up:

GK – O’Neail Hile, Sr.

Def – Grace Greene, Sr. (4 A)

Def – Lily Guli, Jr.

Def – Sloane Biggie, So.

Def – Ryane Green, So. (4 A)

Mid – Anjali Birudaraju, So. (1 G, 3 A)

Mid – Quinn Khichi, Fr. (4 G, 1 A)

Mid – Anna Noble, So. (5 G, 4 A)

Mid – Sienna Parker, So. (1G, 1 A)

Mid – Kaylee Davis, Jr. (3 G, 2 A)

Fwd – Kailyn Fitzgerald, Sr. (7 G, 4 A)

 

Outlook:

Trinity Hall did not yet exist the last time Toms River South reached the SCT championship game in 2002, but on Saturday, both programs will be making their second appearance in the final. The Monarchs reached the semifinals and championship game for the first time in school history last season and are now the first team to advance to consecutive SCT finals since Howell accomplished the feat in 2022 and 2023. Trinity Hall enters Saturday’s matchup with the advantage of championship-game experience, as several players return from last year’s squad and know what to expect on the Shore Conference’s biggest stage.

 

Offense:

Trinity Hall has plenty of offensive depth, with six players scoring at least three goals this season. While opposing defenses have focused much of their attention on Kailyn Fitzgerald, sophomore Bette Kane has emerged as another dangerous scoring threat, leading the Monarchs with eight goals and seven assists. Kane provides an offensive spark off the bench, giving Trinity Hall another weapon and helping relieve some of the defensive pressure on Fitzgerald. Fellow sophomore Anna Noble has shown a knack for delivering in big postseason moments, combining her scoring ability with a relentless work rate. Sophomore transfer Anjali Birudaraju has also made an immediate impact since arriving from Jackson, establishing herself as a key contributor on both sides of the ball. Birudaraju has regularly drawn some of Trinity Hall’s toughest defensive assignments, matching up against opposing teams’ top midfielders and limiting their ability to create scoring opportunities.

 

Defense/Goalkeeper:

Trinity Hall boasts one of the Shore Conference’s stingiest defenses, having allowed more than one goal in a game just twice this season. Senior Grace Greene has anchored the unit after moving back to defense following a season in the midfield, providing leadership for a young backline that has helped the Monarchs record 10 shutouts. Sophomores Ryane Greene and Sloane Biggie bring valuable experience despite their youth, having started every game on defense as freshmen last season. Behind them, senior goalkeeper O’Neal Hile has been nearly unbeatable, having not conceded a goal since the season opener against Rumson-Fair Haven, when Jordyn Sullivan found the back of the net.

 

Keys to Victory:

– Survive the first 15 minutes: Toms River South has made a habit of striking early and putting opponents on their heels. Trinity Hall must withstand that initial pressure, stay organized defensively and avoid allowing the Indians to build an early lead.

– Slow down Ava Knight: Knight may not put up big scoring numbers, but she is the engine that drives the Toms River South offense. Her ability to control the midfield and quickly start the attack makes her a key player to contain. Limiting her touches and disrupting her rhythm could go a long way toward slowing down the Indians.

– Get Fitzgerald involved early: Trinity Hall needs to establish Kailyn Fitzgerald as an offensive threat from the opening whistle. Forcing Toms River South to devote defensive attention to her could create more space and opportunities for Anna Noble, Bette Kane and Knichi.

– Control possession: One of the best ways to neutralize Toms River South’s speed is to keep the ball away from the Indians. Trinity Hall must be patient in possession, limit turnovers in the midfield and prevent Toms River South from turning loose balls into quick counterattacks.

 

Prediction: 

Toms River South 2, Trinity Hall 1 (OT)