Boys Soccer Shore Sports Insider Top 10, Week 4

Since the end of the 2023 boys soccer season in New Jersey, the Shore Conference has been up for grabs as Christian Brothers Academy came back to the pack in talent and fell out of the No. 1 ranking at the Shore. That run of CBA out of the top spot ends after a year-and-a-month after the Colts beat previous No. 1 Colts Neck, 3-2, to close out last week and remain a perfect 7-0 vs. the Shore.

With a third different team at No. 1, there is hardly complete stability within the Shore Sports Insider Top 10, but this week brings a measure of consistency to an otherwise topsy-turvy season. The same 10 teams from last week’s ranking s occupy the 10 spots this week, so make up for a relatively drab update, we’re naming the next 10 teams outside the rankings – up from the usual five.

1. Christian Brothers Academy (7-1-2, 4-0-0) Last Week: 2

For the first time since the end of the 2023 season, CBA is the No. 1 team in the Shore Conference, which is thanks to a 3-2 win over previous No. 1 Colts Neck on Saturday. That is not a long drought by most measures, but CBA had spent approximately three-and-a-half seasons as the Shore’s No. 1 team before abdicating its spot in the 2024 preseason poll and coming up just short of getting back to No. 1. The Colts still have work to do in clinching the Class A North championship for a sixth straight year and will face Toms River East next week with the top spot in Shore Conference Tournament Group 3 on the line.

2. Colts Neck (6-1, 3-1) Last Week: 1

Although the Cougars lost their Friday showdown vs. CBA and relinquished their No. 1 spot in the rankings, they could at least walk off the field encouraged that a potential rematch vs. the Colts could go differently. Colts Neck scored twice in the second half to cut a 3-0 deficit to 3-2 and leading scorer Sean Moore worked his way into a clean shot from the middle of the 18-yard box that missed the mark in the final minute. Both teams are still in the running for a bye in the Shore Conference Tournament, which means both could wind up as the top two overall seeds.

3. Long Branch (7-0-1, 4-0-0) Last Week: 3

After benefiting from a nice bump in the rankings last week, the Green Wave proved they deserve to be in the top three. Two weeks ago, it was a win over Brick Memorial that boosted Long Branch and last week, it was a 3-2, SCT group win over a surging Wall side. The Green Wave will play a huge road game at Freehold Township Tuesday with the Class B North division championship at stake, then turn their attention to clinching the top spot in SCT Group 8 with two more games – at Pinelands and home vs. Southern.

4. Toms River East (9-1, 4-1) Last Week: 5

The Raiders have a printed list of goals for the season and going undefeated is not on that list. So, while an overtime loss at Southern is a splash of cold water on the Raiders hot start, it does not prevent Toms River East from continuing its pursuit of a first-round bye in the SCT and a top-four seed in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group III bracket. The Raiders will look to complete one of their goals this week when they host Toms River South on Tuesday in search of a season sweep vs. Toms River North and Toms River South.

5. Holmdel (5-2-1, 2-1-1) Last Week: 10

Since dropping a 4-1 decision at Middletown South to open the season, Holmdel has been one of the Shore’s more consistent outfits. Even in a 2-0 loss at CBA last Monday, the Hornets put a scare into the Colts by hitting the post in the first 12 minutes of the match and forcing CBA goalkeeper Brady LePore to make three great saves in the final five minutes to preserve the clean sheet. Holmdel followed that up by knocking off Manalapan on Saturday after the Braves had just beaten Manasquan on the road. A home match at Ranney – winners of eight straight this week – could determine a first-round by in the SCT.

6. Manalapan (4-2-2, 1-2-1) Last Week: 4

Despite landing their biggest win of the season – a 3-2 overtime triumph at Manasquan – the Braves fall two more spots in the rankings after they closed the week with a 2-1 loss to Holmdel in which they trailed for 84 minutes. Any hopes of winning a crowded chase for a division title are likely dashed, but Manalapan still has a path to No. 1 at the Shore because the Braves are inching closer to clinching a first-round bye thanks to the win over Manasquan.

7. Brick Memorial (8-3, 5-0) Last Week: 6

Despite a one-spot drop from last week, the Mustangs had a very good week. They scored 15 goals in three games in three wins that both extended their winning streak to five and clinched the outright Class B South championship. The division title is the second in a row for Brick Memorial after the Mustangs won a share of Class C Central last year, but it’s also the first outright division crown since 2002. Brick Memorial will see an escalation in competition this week: a road showdown with crosstown rival Brick, a home match vs. Howell the following day and a huge SCT group-stage road game at Southern on Thursday.

8. Manasquan (7-2, 4-0) Last Week: 7

The Warriors have been battling some injuries, both to players who are missing games and to those who are playing through them. Despite that, they were just two minutes away from a result vs. Manalapan on Thursday and bounced back with a big win over rival Wall on Saturday after the Crimson Knights entered the game on a hot stretch. Even better: Manasquan has had the cleanest divisional performance of any team in Class A Central and just needs to win one of its last two games (or tie both) vs. Shore and Ocean to clinch the division crown.

9. Rumson-Fair Haven (4-2-3, 1-2-2) Last Week: 9

The Bulldogs already have three scoreless ties this season and all three against quality opponents: Long Branch, Manalapan and Marlboro. Of the 10 goals Rumson has allowed this season, six of them have come in two losses to No. 1 CBA (2-1) and No. 2 Colts Neck (4-0) and the two goals allowed vs. CBA were both penalty kicks. Rumson’s defense and goalkeeping will give the Bulldogs a chance in any game going forward and they could earn the additional benefit of a first-round bye in the SCT if they can beat Central next week.

10. Middletown South (5-3-1, 2-2-1) Last Week: 8

The first nine teams in the rankings are all fairly solid in their spots, but No. 10 comes with questions, no matter which team is your preference. Middletown South holds on for another week despite going through a mid-season lull that continued last week with a loss to Wall, a 2-1 win over Neptune and a 0-0 draw vs. St. John Vianney. The Eagles still boast wins over Holmdel, Ocean and Shore and the other two losses are 1-0 to Colts Neck and 4-2 at Manasquan. Like many other teams in these rankings, Middletown South still has the inside track to win its Shore Conference Tournament group.

 

The Next 10

Toms River South (7-1-1, 4-1-0) – The Indians are one standout result from fighting their way into the top 10 and will have their shot at it Tuesday at Toms River East.

Ocean (7-3, 2-2) – The Spartans have been prone to streaks so far: they started 4-0, last three straight and have bounced back with three straight wins.

Southern (5-3-1, 2-2-1) – An overtime win over Toms River East puts the Rams back in the top 10 conversation and they can make another statement next week vs. Long Branch.

Wall (4-4, 2-2) – During a tough stretch of the schedule, Wall has been a tough out. The Crimson Knights have beaten St. John Vianney and Middletown South and their last two losses were by one goal to Long Branch and on the road vs. Manasquan in a game that was tied in the 70th minute.

Toms River North (2-5-3, 2-1-2) – A loaded schedule has taken its toll on the Mariners when it comes to their record, but the Mariners are currently second place in Class A South and still have a chance to qualify for the SCT.

Lacey (5-4, 2-2) – Injuries have slowed Lacey this season, but the Lions look poised to make the SCT thanks to two overtime wins (vs. Howell and Red Bank) in group play.

Marlboro (3-2-3, 0-2-3) – Although the Mustangs are still searching for their first division win, they have tied two top-10 opponents (Holmdel, Rumson) and still have a chance at a first-round bye in the SCT).

Shore (5-3-1, 2-1-1) – Since beating Ocean, the Blue Devils have beaten Middletown North and Point Boro, lost to Rumson tied St. John Vianney in their lone game of last week.

Ranney (8-1, 4-0) – Ranney has now won eight in a row since an opening-day loss to Gill St. Bernard’s and is staring at four huge games between now and Oct. 8: Neptune, Holmdel, Ocean and Asbury Park.

Brick (6-2, 4-0) – The Green Dragons always won a Class C South division title and a win over Freehold Township last week has Brick within sight of qualifying for the SCT.