Boys Soccer Shore Conference Tournament Round-of-16 Preview, Picks
Boys Soccer Shore Conference Tournament Round-of-16 Preview
No. 17 Point Boro (9-6-1) at No. 1 CBA (11-1-4), 4 p.m.
The team with the Shore’s longest winning streak takes on the team with the Shore’s longest unbeaten streak in a 1-vs.-17 game that is more intriguing than most. Point Boro rolls up the Parkway to Lincroft on an eight-game winning streak, which is one short of matching the season-long in the Shore Conference (held by Toms River East, CBA and Toms River South). The most recent win tops the list, with the Panthers advancing on an overtime winner by Alberto Boscolo-Cegion Tuesday after Central rallied from two different one-goal deficits. Point Boro does not generate a lot of chances, but the Panthers are opportunistic, hard-working and have a standout performer in net in senior Logan Forte.
After back-to-back draws vs. Old Bridge (3-3) and Manalapan (0-0), CBA got back in the win column Saturday with an impressive 3-2 victory over Bergen Catholic and will now try to wear out Point Boro over 80 minutes. The Colts are giving up more scoring than usual this season – albeit still at just over one goal per game – but the offense is much more potent this season and should be on display throughout this tournament.
The Pick: CBA, 3-1
CBA senior James Brady. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
No. 18 Brick (10-3) at No. 2 Colts Neck (11-1), 2:30 p.m. at Five Points Park
There are several great stories in the Shore Conference this season and many more to come that that tournament season is upon us, but it is hard to top what the Green Dragons have done for their program this season. Winning the division was great in and of itself, but playing in a Class C South division with several rebuilding teams, it was not a surprising accomplishment. Making the SCT for the first time in 17 years? Big deal. Beating the likes of Freehold Township, Toms River East and Brick Memorial in the regular season? Huge deal. Knocking off Long Branch on the road in the first round of the SCT? Now we’re talking about a generational season for Brick.
What has already been a special season for the Green Dragons can become legendary if they can put it all together Thursday at Colts Neck. The Cougars are the defending Shore Conference Tournament champions, lost its only game this year to the No. 1 seed and roster the most dangerous offensive player in the conference in Sean Moore. Brick will counter with its dynamic duo of Carl Loffredo and Gianno Godenzi and if both can have a moment while the defense and goalkeeper Devin Baldwin can turn away Moore early, the pressure could become palpable for Colts Neck. Ultimately, though, Moore proved to be too much for the Dragons when Colts Neck beat Brick, 3-0, in the group stage and while Brick will have some adjustments, keeping Moore quiet is rarely a reasonable expectation.
The Pick: Colts Neck, 4-2
Colts Neck junior Sean Moore attempts to avoid Manalapan senior Patrick Hearn. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
No. 14 Freehold Twp. (9-5-1) at No. 3 Toms River South (10-1-2), 3:30 p.m.
Two decorated Shore Conference programs of the last two decades that are enjoying resurgent seasons clash in Toms River with a trip to the SCT quarterfinals on the line. Freehold Township already beat the Class B South division champion and will now take on the B South runner-up, whose only loss of the season came in overtime to the same Brick Memorial team that Freehold Township beat on Tuesday. Freehold Township has had some letdown games but has generally showed up for the big matches, with the sophomore class making a bigger impact with each passing week. It was goalkeeper Giuseppe Romano who shined Tuesday, with the sophomore saving a penalty kick in the final five minutes to preserve the 2-1 win.
Toms River South has not lost since its Sept. 8 overtime loss to Brick Memorial and a 0-0 draw with Marlboro last week ended a nine-game winning streak that helped propel the Indians to the No. 1 seed. Like Freehold Township, Toms River South has a talented underclassman in goal in Connor Starr and he is likely to be a factor throughout Thursday’s match. Shane Gambarony and Jake Myers will put their stamp on this game at some point for Toms River South, but it feels like this battle of scrappy teams goes to the wire.
The Pick: Toms River South, 2-1 (in penalties)
No. 13 Lacey (9-6) at No. 4 Middletown South (8-3-1), 5:45 p.m.
Within the context of Shore Conference soccer, these two schools are nowhere near each other but have developed a rivalry of sorts over the last two seasons because of how many important games they are playing vs. one another. In 2024, Middletown South let a 2-0 lead slip away in the second half and lost on penalty kicks in the Shore Conference Tournament round of 16. This year, Middletown South had its revenge: the Eagles fell behind, 2-0, and rallied to beat Lacey in overtime, which effectively clinched Middletown South a first-round bye in the SCT.
Middletown South heads into Thursday with a decided edge thanks to an overwhelming number of injuries for Lacey. The Lions had already lost senior starters Christian Gilani, Anthony Introna and Braedyn Gialanella for the season and the bad news kept coming Tuesday, when leading scorer Tanner Grozinski left the game late with a hip injury that will keep him out indefinitely, according to coach Steve Torre. Junior goalkeeper Dylan Graham recently returned from his second different injury this season and will have to deliver a heroic performance for Lacey while senior Aiden Schmitt and sophomore Paul Guerriero try to lead the compromised attack.
As for Middletown South, the Eagles have dealt with their own struggles since suffering a competitive 1-0 loss to Colts Neck on Sept. 20. They are 4-1-1 since that game, but lost to 5-9 Wall, tied St. John Vianney, 0-0, and barely slipped past Neptune, Red Bank and Middletown North. Luke Strada continues to lead the way for the Eagles and the defense with goalkeeper Carson Perry have allowed just four goals in the last eight games and none in the last four, so while it hasn’t always been convincing, Middletown South has been effective where it counts.
The Pick: Middletown South, 2-1
Middletown South senior Luke Strada. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
No. 12 Marlboro (5-3-4) at No. 5 Holmdel (8-4-1), 5:30 p.m.
Last week, Marlboro dropped a 4-1 decision to Toms River North that was perplexing on many levels. Not only did the four goals scored double Toms River North’s total for the season in one night; the Mariners did so against a Marlboro team that had not allowed three all year and was 1-1-1 in the three games in which it allowed two goals. Even more interesting? Marlboro response to that 4-1 loss was to move a defender forward and play with three in the back and the early returns have been positive. The Mustangs moved the ball well vs. Toms River South and Ranney, with a 0-0 tie vs. Toms River South coming after a red card left Marlboro with 10 players for a majority of the game.
The Mustangs will try their luck vs. Holmdel in the second meeting between the two teams after they finished 0-0 on Sept. 12. That was one of three scoreless ties played by Marlboro this season, while Holmdel has been more adept at scoring in close games. The Hornets have an impact defender in Connor Paul captaining the defense and pushing forward, while Lucas Nobrega, Dom Poli and Luke Farrugia have led the attack. Marlboro is getting quality play from Dean Allegretta up top, Vinny Pollifrone and Rishab Krishnan in the middle and Jake Ferraro on defense and the attack looks more dangerous this week. Expect some more goals to go on the board on Thursday in another toss-up game.
The Pick: Marlboro, 2-1
No. 11 Manasquan (11-3) at No. 6 Manalapan (7-3-3), 3 p.m.
The fourth of the rematches will be a run-back of one of the best games of the SCT group stage. Manasquan tied the game in the final five minutes to send its game with Manalapan into overtime and in the final two minutes of the second overtime, Ethan Lustig won it for Manalapan to effectively give the Braves a first-round bye. Their reward (other than the bye) is a rematch with a Manasquan side that is as hard-working as any other team in the tournament and boasts one of the Shore’s best strikers in Cruz Farkas.
Over the last two weeks, Manalapan looks like a team that is beginning to peak at the right time. The Braves dropped back-to-back games to Holmdel and Marlboro – both by a goal – and responded with 12 goals in two wins over Freehold Boro and Lakewood, a 0-0 tie vs. CBA and a convincing 4-0 win over a surging Southern side. Manalapan entered 2025 with lofty expectations and it appears the Braves are ready to chase them after an uneven regular season.
The Pick: Manalapan, 4-2
Manalapan senior Ethan Lustig. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
No. 10 Ocean (10-4) at No. 7 Southern (8-5-1), 3:30 p.m.
These two teams have not met this year, but they battled for the top of their group a year ago, with Ocean coming out on top behind a September win over the Rams. A lot has changed on both sides in 2025, with Southern now led by Brody Nacarlo, Caden Schweigart and Nick Leiriao rather than Aiden Donnelly and last year’s senior group. Ocean, meanwhile, is built around senior midfielder Brandon Cosentino, who did not play high school soccer before this season.
Southern has been a rejuvenated team with Caden Schweigart playing striker instead of center fullback and up until a 4-0 loss to Manalapan last Friday, moving Schweigart out of the back has not adversely impacted the defense and has helped the Rams go 5-2 since the move. On the other side, Ocean has been a streak team: the Spartans started 4-0, lost three straight and have gone 6-1 since. While both teams are playing well, Southern’s more recent stretch have come against the tougher competition, which could very well provide them with an edge. It also doesn’t hurt that Southern has the game on its grass either.
The Pick: Southern, 2-1
Southern senior Caden Schweigart. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspimages.com)
No. 9 Toms River East (12-4) at No. 8 Rumson-Fair Haven (8-4-3), 6:15 p.m.
A 1-4 stretch for Toms River East was an uneasy way to head into the tournament, but a win over Freehold Township just before the first round followed by a 6-0 rout of Barnegat in Tuesday’s opening round appears to have the Raiders back on track. They now head to Rumson to face a Bulldogs team that has to find creative ways to score, which include leaning on Zack Halpern’s long throw-in. Countering with Aiden Corapi in the air will help Toms River East neutralize that element of Rumson’s game.
Rumson has lived on the edge all season long. Outside of a 4-0 loss to Colts Neck on opening day and comfortable wins against Donovan Catholic and St. Rose in group play, every game Rumson has played has been down to the wire. Scoring does not always come easy for the Bulldogs, while the defense has been solid and goalkeeper Jack DelPriore is playing one of the Shore’s best. DelPriore and Toms River East’s Mike Moore are both major strengths for their respective teams, so this feels like a game that will be decided by which defense or goalkeeper blinks first.
The Pick: Toms River East, 1-0
First-Round Picks Record: 5-3
