Boys Soccer Shore Sports Insider 2025 Final Top 10

Up until last season, the post-COVID boys soccer landscape in the Shore Conference was dominated by Christian Brothers Academy, which finished No. 1 four straight seasons from 2020 to 2023. Finally, in 2024, the Colts opened the season without the No. 1 ranking to their name and when CBA has not been the clear No. 1 team in the Shore Conference, you can expect a free-for-all for the No. 1 spot.

For the second straight year, the preseason No. 1 team in the Shore Conference did not finish anywhere near the top of the rankings and the team that did finish No. 1 was not in that spot heading into the NJSIAA Tournament, nor were they in the top three of the rankings heading into the season.

Overall body of work is the standard by which teams are measured in the rankings, but there is an emphasis on tournament success and the final No. 1 team of 2025 delivered in a big way during tournament season after a solid-but-not-spectacular regular season. That was the case last year, when Southern finished No. 1 by winning the Group IV championship and this season, the Shore’s No. 1 team came up one win short of a group title, but already had a Shore Conference Tournament title in hand.

 

1. Middletown South (17-4-1, 3-2-1) Preseason Rank: 7

The Eagles won both the Shore Conference Tournament and an NJSIAA sectional championship for the first time in program history and as the season closes, Middletown South is the No. 1 team in the Shore Conference – also for the first time in program history. The season started with Middletown South winning its first three, then dropping three out of their next four, then barely squeaking by Neptune. From there, however, the Eagles caught fire, particularly on the defensive side. They finished the season by going 13-1-1 with 10 shutouts, including a stretch in which Middletown South allowed two goals in eight postseason games without trailing in any of them.

Both Christian Brothers Academy and Colts Neck had more noteworthy wins on their respective résumés, but Middletown South beat Colts Neck in two different championship games and beat CBA head-to-head in the Shore Conference Tournament. Losses to Manasquan and Wall were early hiccups, but the Eagles rebounded as well as any team could hope to. Broadly speaking two other teams authored seasons that rivaled Middletown South, but the Eagles were the conference champions and one of only two teams (Ranney) in the Shore Conference to reach a state final. Those are some lofty new standards to meet in 2026, when the Eagles will return leading goal-scorer Connor Saul, plus key contributors in Brody Illingworth, Charlie Welsh, Luke Strukiewicz, Grant Pipercic and Liam DeStefano.

2. Christian Brothers Academy (16-3-4, 5-0-1) Preseason Rank: 2

Coming off a 2024 season in which it finished runner-up in the Shore Conference Tournament and ended its season in the NJSIAA sectional quarterfinals, CBA won a sixth straight Class A North division championship, made it back to the SCT semifinals for the seventh straight season and returned to the South Jersey Non-Public A final after its run of nine straight sectional final appearances was snapped in 2024.

On the totality of its résumé, CBA has a strong case to be the No. 1 team in the conference. The Colts’ 2-1 loss to Middletown South in the SCT semifinal was their only loss of the season to a Shore Conference opponents and they also beat Colts Neck on the road, Class A South champion Toms River East twice and Class B North champion Freehold Township once. CBA also took down Non-Public A contenders St. Augustine and Bergen Catholic and lost on the road to two No. 1 seeds from their respective sections – Central Jersey Group IV top seed Old Bridge and South Jersey Non-Public A No. 1 Pingry. Pingry’s 2-0 win over CBA was the only game the Colts lost by more than a one-goal margin.

While the Colts did not return to the No. 1 ranking in the Shore Conference in 2025, they took a step back toward that mantle and are set up to be among the favorites again in 2025, when CBA is set to return a host of regular contributors: Joe Guastella, Justin Arias, John Little, Matt Papagni, Liam Wheeler, Shane Landau and goalkeeper Brady Lepore.

3. Colts Neck (19-3, 5-1) Preseason Rank: 3

Even after losing on penalty kicks to Middletown South in the Shore Conference Tournament final, Colts Neck had the inside track to the No. 2 ranking in the Shore Conference and a sectional championship would give the Cougars a chance to finish No. 1. Then, one bad second half vs. Middletown South ended Colts Neck’s season and pursuit of the No. 1 ranking.

Although the Cougars came up one win short of division, conference and sectional championships, they still managed to lead the Shore Conference in wins and finished in the top three in the SSI rankings for the second straight year. They amassed seven wins over teams ranked in the final SSI Top 10, which also led the conference and included a head-to-head win over Middletown South in the regular season.

Individually, Colts Neck boasted some of the Shore’s best 2025 performances. Sean Moore led the conference in goals (30), Ben Kazani in assists (21) and the defense with goalkeeper Liam Collura in shutouts (14). Moore is only one of three starters eligible to return next season, but Moore’s return alone would make Colts Neck a threat to return to a top-three ranking for a third straight year.

4. Southern (16-7-2, 2-2-1) Preseason Rank: Not ranked

At both the start of the year and the last rankings before the final top 10, Southern was on the outside looking in at the top 10 teams in the SSI rankings. For the second straight year, the Rams surged up the rankings thanks to a run to an NJSIAA sectional championship. Before last November, Southern had never won a state sectional championship and after this postseason, they now have two despite playing for three head coaches over the last two full seasons and enduring a fair amount of roster turnover between 2024 and 2025.

Following a 3-3-1 start to the season that was marred by a handful of short-term injuries as new starters settled into their roles, Southern made its first major statement when it handed Toms River East its first loss of the season. From there, the Rams won their Shore Conference Tournament group, bounced back from a first-round loss to Ocean and hit their stride in the NJSIAA Tournament. After scoring 18 goals in four South Jersey Group IV victories last season, the Rams put up 17 in four wins this year, including five goals in three of their four wins. Southern won an epic overtime game at top-seeded Washington Township in the sectional semifinals, then scored five goals in the second half to beat Cherry Hill East in the South Group IV championship game.

A red card early in the second half vs. North Brunswick in the Group IV semifinal with the Rams already down, 1-0, effectively sank Southern’s hopes of a second straight trip to the Group IV final, but winning a second consecutive South Jersey title despite graduating seven seniors and 60 goals from last year’s team was a major accomplishment for this year’s team. The challenge will be similar in 2026, when Southern will be without the eight senior starters from the 2025 squad.

5. Toms River East (17-7, 4-1) Preseason Rank: Not ranked

Even after losing two top scorers and a four-year starter in goal from the 2024 team, Toms River East went to a new level this fall. The Raiders won their first outright Class A South championship since 2011, reached the SCT quarterfinals for the third straight year, the NJSIAA sectional semifinals for a second straight year and beat their 2024 win total with 17 wins this year – the most in a season since 2008.

An overtime loss at Southern was Toms River East’s lone loss within Class A South divisional play and the Raiders bounced back with two wins over ranked teams prior to the state tournament. It took penalty kicks for Delsea to knock out the Raiders in the South Group III semifinals, leaving next year’s team with another step to take. With strong returning core led by Evan Capetta, Samuel Los, Brady Gillen, Malcolm Smith and Brennen Hutton, Toms River East has a chance to continue the climb toward a sectional title in 2026.

6. Manasquan (13-8, 5-1) Preseason Rank: Not ranked

Just like No. 5 Toms River East, Manasquan was a division champion that reached the NJSIAA sectional semifinals and had its season end on penalty kicks. The Warriors were one of September’s best teams, beating SCT champion Middletown South and South Jersey Group IV champion Southern during the first month of the season. The Warriors hit a cold spell at the end of October, but showed up in November by knocking off perennial Group II contender Delran, followed by a road win over second-seeded Cinnaminson in the Central Group II quarterfinals.

The Warriors will miss top scorer and four-year standout Cruz Farkas in 2026, but a core of juniors and sophomores stepped up in 2025 to help Manasquan replace a deep, talented graduating class of 2025

 

7. Marlboro (9-8-4, 1-2-3) Preseason Rank: Not ranked

At one game better than .500 and an goal-differential of zero for the full season, Marlboro was far from a dominant team, but the Mustangs were a competitive one that performed against several of the teams that are right on their heels for this No. 7 spot. Marlboro beat preseason No. 1 Manalapan twice and went 1-0-1 vs. Holmdel, with the win coming in the Shore Conference Tournament round of 16.

With trips to the SCT quarterfinals and Central Jersey Group IV semifinals, the Mustangs squeezed quite a lot out of the 2025 season, despite struggles to finish goals throughout the year. Marlboro’s possession game helped them remain competitive in one-goal losses to Middletown South and Colts Neck, as well as a 2-0 loss to CBA. A quality senior class will again move on, so the search for scoring will continue in 2026, albeit with a solid core in the middle of the field, on defense and in goal with Kosta Mastrokalos.

 

8. Freehold Township (12-9-1, 5-1) Preseason Rank: Not ranked

Although Freehold Township did not get a chance to prove itself in the NJSIAA Tournament due to three regular-season red cards, the Patriots proved themselves during the course of the regular season and Shore Conference Tournament. They beat Long Branch to earn a share of the Class B North championship, marking the first time Freehold Township has finished either alone in or tied for first place in a division since 2019. The Patriots then knocked off Brick Memorial, Toms River South and Manalapan in consecutive rounds of the SCT to reach the conference semifinals and were just over a minute from stunning Colts Neck before the Cougars scored two goals in under two minutes to win an overtime classic while ending Freehold Township’s postseason.

The division championship and SCT final-four appearance marked a return to the upper reaches of the Shore Conference for a program that qualified for 19 straight SCT’s from 2003 to 2022, won three of them and won four NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV championships during the same span of time. Along with a stellar senior class, a promising sophomore group led by Chase Melcher and goalkeeper Giuseppe Romano emerged this season and will lead the rejuvenated Patriots program over the next two seasons.

 

9. Holmdel (11-7-2, 3-2-1) Preseason Rank: Not ranked

This year’s Holmdel team was not as star-studded as the Hornets have been known to be over the last 10 years, but it had all the makings of a championship team, only with an even tougher schedule to navigate than almost any Holmdel team ever. The Hornets battled through Class A North for the second straight year and came out with a winning record – both overall and within the division. That included wins over Manalapan and Rumson-Fair Haven, as well as a draw vs. Marlboro.

The NJSIAA Tournament ended with Holmdel losing a 1-0 battle to eventual Group II runner-up Robbinsville, which won its fourth consecutive NJSIAA sectional championship this fall. Holmdel made a case as the toughest opponent the Ravens faced on the way to the championship game, which Robbinsville lost to Madison in overtime. Dom Poli, Luke Farrugia, Connor Paul and Nate Koenig will be sorely missed as leaders, but dynamic forward Lucas Nobrega will lead a talented returning group in 2026.

 

10. Manalapan (9-6-3, 1-3-2) Preseason Rank: 1

The preseason No. 1 label has been a cross to bear for the teams that have had the honor of receiving it in each of the past two years. A year ago, Howell battled through injuries and tough losses to finish outside the final SSI Top 10 after drawing the preseason No. 1 ranking. This year, Manalapan managed to hold onto a spot in the top 10, but it was on the opposite side of the rankings from where the Braves were hoping to finish given the proven talent that was returning from a 17-win team in 2024.

Both the SCT and Central Jersey Group IV Playoffs ended with home losses for the Braves, but up to that point, there were enough flashes of brilliance for Manalapan to snag the last spot in the top 10. They beat Manasquan twice during the season, including a penalty shootout in the SCT round of 16. Manalapan also handled No. 4 Southern, 4-0, in a regular-season game and was the only team CBA did not beat in Class A North divisional play, with the two teams finishing in a scoreless draw. A win over Brick in the final week of the regular season also helped to keep Manalapan in the top 10 over the Class C South champion Green Dragons.

Next year will be a reset in more ways than one for Manalapan, as the Braves say goodbye to a talented senior class while turning the program over to a capable group of rising seniors led by goalkeeper Chase Lee.

 

Honorable Mention

Brick (12-7-1, 4-0-0) Preseason Rank: Not ranked – A resurgent year at Brick lands the Green Dragons one spot from a top-10 finish. Brick turned in its first winning season since 2020, made the Shore Conference Tournament for the first time since 2008 and won a division championship for the first time in recent memory.

Ocean (12-7, 3-3) Preseason Rank: 10 – Only four teams (Colts Neck, Ranney, Point Beach and Keyport) averaged more goals per game than Ocean’s 2.73 and other than Colts Neck, none of those teams played the competition the Spartans did. Ocean ends the season with wins over three top 10 teams: Manasquan, Southern and Marlboro.

Long Branch (15-5-1, 5-1-0) Preseason Rank: 6 – There was no Cinderella state playoff run to end the season like there was in 2024, but Long Branch was a consistently solid team from start-to-finish. The Green Wave won a share of the Class B North championship and turned in a strong showing in the state tournament in bowing out to Middletown South in a 1-0 loss.

Brick Memorial (16-8, 5-0) Preseason Rank: Not ranked – Brick was home to two boys soccer renaissances, with the Mustangs winning a second straight division championship and posting their best season in almost two decades. Wins over Toms River North, Toms River South and Manasquan during the regular season, plus a trip to the NJSIAA Central Group III semifinals also highlighted 2025.

Toms River South (15-5-2, 4-1-0) Preseason Rank: Not ranked – The Indians returned to their perch as a Group III contender this season, reaching the sectional semifinals in South Group III behind a dominant defense in front of freshman goalkeeper Connor Starr. The 14 goals allowed by Toms River South tied for the best mark at the Shore and set a program single-season record.

Wall (11-11, 2-4) Preseason Rank: Not ranked – At .500 with losses to Middletown North and Jackson, Wall has some warts that other top 20 teams don’t have, but the Crimson Knights also have some credentials that the rest of the group does not. Wall not only owns a 2025 win over SCT champion Middletown South; the Crimson Knights also showed postseason chops by reaching the Central Jersey Group II championship game.

St. John Vianney (12-7-4, 1-2-3) Preseason Rank: 9 – The Lancers came close to a number of monumental wins, but could not get over the hump. They settled for a 0-0 draw vs. Middletown South and led St. Augustine, 2-0, in the NJSIAA South Non-Public A quarterfinals before a red card began a second-half collapse that ended with a penalty-kick loss – a rough end for a high-level senior class that contributed to back-to-back division titles in 2023 and 2024.

Toms River North (8-8-5, 2-1-2) Preseason Rank: 5 – Scoring goals was a problem all year for the Mariners, who played four scoreless ties and went 2-3 in 1-0 games. They also allowed just 19 goals in 21 matches and caught fire in late October to win the Shore Conference Coaches Cup championship by outscoring opponents by a cumulative margin of 11-0.

Rumson-Fair Haven (10-8-3, 1-3-2) Preseason Rank: Not ranked – The Rumson résumé looks a lot like that of Toms River North: three scoreless draws and a 4-2 record in 1-0 games (including a shootout loss). After a 4-0 loss to Colts Neck on opening day, every one of Rumson’s next seven losses were by a one-goal margin, with four of those coming in either overtime or a shootout.

Shore (13-7-1, 3-2-1) Preseason Rank: Not ranked – The Blue Devils reached the Coaches Cup championship for the third straight year, although they also lost for the third straight year. Along the way, Shore picked up notable wins over Brick, Long Branch and Ocean on the way to a tie for second place in the Class A Central standings.

Point Pleasant Boro (13-8-2, 1-3-1) Preseason Rank: Not Ranked – After a 1-6-1 start, Point Boro rallied to finish the season 12-2-1 with one of those losses coming at CBA in the Shore Conference Tournament. The other was a heartbreaking, 3-2 loss to Wall in the NJSIAA Central Group II quarterfinals, a difficult end to a Panthers season defined by resilience.

Ranney (14-7-1, 6-0-0) Preseason Rank: Not ranked – Ranney did not beat any other team mentioned in this post this season, but the Panthers deserve a mention for making program history. In addition to winning its first ever outright Shore Conference division title by running the table in Class B Central, Ranney captured its first ever NJSIAA sectional championship.

Lacey (10-11-1, 2-3-0) Preseason Rank: 4 – What started as a promising season for a talented roster was decimated by injuries from day one. Returning All-Shore players Tanner Grozinski and Dylan Graham both missed time due to injury and played through them when they were on the field – just two of a litany of injuries that tanked the Lions’ season, but also paved the way for playing time for the next wave of starters.

Central (7-11, 2-3) Preseason Rank: 8 – Like Lacey, Central endured a debilitating number of injuries, most notably to returning all-division midfielder Madden Leszczynski, who returned midseason from a torn ACL only to suffer the same injury again upon his return. Also like Lacey, Central somewhat salvaged their season by scoring a win over Southern.