Girls Soccer Shore Conference Tournament First Round Preview and Predictions

The Shore Conference Tournament has arrived and even with all the debate about how the bracket was set up this year, the games have to go on. The bracket does appear lopsided with seven ranked in the Shore Sports Insider Top 10 on the same side of the bracket, but to become the champion you need to win no matter who you face.

 

SCT & Coaches Cup Homepage 

 

No. 1 Wall at No. 2 Middletown South, 4 p.m.

The battle of the Shore Conference’s top two teams met in the first round. These teams have been two of the most complete and have played consistent soccer all season. If the bracket was done by seeding, I would have had these two projected to meet in the finals. Both teams are experienced at all three levels of the field with players who won championships in the last two years. The only possible question mark these two teams may have is in goal with both teams having new keepers from last season. The teams’ veteran defenders should help any nerves the goalies might have as they enter their first postseason. Prediction: Wall 1-1; advance on PKs, 4-3.

 

Shore at Toms River South, 3 p.m.

Shore enters the SCT on a three-game winning streak that helped them win the Class B North division title. Junior Jenna Eichenbaum is a dangerous forward with 15 goals on the season, but the Blue Devils will need someone else to help Eichenbaum against a strong Toms River South defense. Toms River South moves the ball around and does not have a single player who has more than five goals this season. That could be a good thing or a bad thing going into the postseason. They have 16 players who scored a goal but will need someone that they can go to when the game is on the line. Prediction: Toms River South, 3-1.

 

Matawan at No. 7 Freehold Township, 3:30 p.m.

Matawan has only three wins on the season, but two of them came in SCT group play to qualify for the tournament. Unfortunately, the Huskies drew defending Group 4 champion Freehold Township in the first round. The Patriots have a very favorable draw compared to the rest of the teams ranked inside the Top 10. If things go Freehold Township’s way, it will be the only ranked team not to face another ranked team in the first two rounds. Prediction: Freehold Township, 6-0.

 

No. 8 Trinity Hall at No. 6 Central, 5:30 p.m.

This can end up being one of the best games in the opening round. Trinity Hall has one of the toughest defenses in the Shore Conference led by Grace Greene, but can struggle at times at putting the ball in the net. The Monarchs were shut out or only scored one goal in seven games this season. Central has playmakers all over the field and also has a strong back line led by Emma Christensen. This can end up being the first team to score wins. Prediction: Central, 1-0 in extra time.

 

Manchester at Manalapan, 4 p.m.

Manchester has shown it can be a dangerous team after they defeated No. 1 Wall in SCT group play. Sophomore Madelin Nolan is their playmaker and leads the team in scoring with 10 goals, but goalkeeper Kaia Buckley is a player who can frustrate opposing players. Buckley makes highlight reel saves in the majority of her games and can keep Manchester in every game. Manalapan is a team that has been up and down all season and could not play consistently on the offensive end, being shut out in six games. If Manalapan can get it going on the offensive end, they will be a team everyone will want to avoid. Prediction: Manalapan, 5-1.

 

Middletown North at No. 10 Howell, 4 p.m.

Middletown North is back in the SCT after winning the Coaches Cup last season. The Lions were on a six-game win streak, but been shut out in each of their last three games. They did end the regular season with a 0-0 tie with No. 4 Lacey. Middletown North has been without Rutgers commit Jayme Malanda since opening day and the timetable for her return is still up in the air. This is the time of the year Howell takes its level of play up a notch. The Rebels have played in the last two SCT finals and look to make it three straight. They are battling a couple of injuries on the defensive side of the ball, but are strong all over the field. Senior Ashley Smith and sophomore Makenzie Memmolo are a dangerous combination at the forward positions. Prediction: Howell, 3-2.

 

Ocean at Toms River East, 3:45 p.m.

After losing its first six games, Ocean went on a 5-0-1 streak and defeated St. Rose 7-3 to qualify for the SCT. The Spartans were shut out four times in those first six games bit since then have scored two or more goals in every game. Toms River East has one of the strongest defenses in the Shore Conference led by Grace Crowley. The Raiders have posted nine shutouts this season, but have been shutout in all four of their losses. Prediction: Toms River East, 2-0.

 

Marlboro at Manasquan, 3 p.m.

Marlboro enters the postseason on a two-game losing streak but has played close games with some of the Shore Conference’s best teams. Sophomore goalie Jordyn Bauer is one of the best in the conference and can keep Marlboro in any game. All of Manasquan’s losses this season came to ranked opponents. Last year, Manasquan made it to the SCT semifinal for the first time in the school’s history. Playing in the brutal Class A North, the young Warriors are battle-tested for another deep postseason run. Prediction: Manasquan, 1-0 extra time.

 

Monmouth at No. 3 Point Boro, 4 p.m.

Monmouth finished third in its SCT group to qualify for the tournament. The Falcons are led by senior Jenna Chlapowski, who has 10 goals this season. Unfortunately for Monmouth, Point Boro is one of the most complete teams in the Shore. It is very hard to score on the Panthers and senior goalie Ava Bjorndahl, who has nine shutouts on the season. Point Boro will need to score more consistently than it has in the past four games. The Panthers have been shut out in three of them and have gone 1-1-2 in that span. Prediction: Point Boro, 4-0.

 

Red Bank at No. 9 Red Bank Catholic, 6 p.m.

The Bucs qualified on the last day of group games with a 1-0 victory over Freehold. Red Bank has faced several ranked teams this season, which will help it prepare for Red Bank Catholic. They were one of the few teams to hold Lacey under three goals this season. RBC can look like the best team in the Shore Conference at times and other times they play like the young team that they are. The Caseys can move the ball around the field as well as anyone in the Shore to create scoring chances. Red Bank will have to slow down Maryland commit Paige Foye, who leads the Caseys with 14 goals. Prediction: Red Bank Catholic, 5-0.

 

Toms River North at Point Beach, 3:45 p.m.

Toms River North might have the strongest two center backs in the Shore Conference with Jordyn Brown and Olivia Forlenza. The Mariners struggle when they don’t score more than one goal in a game. They only posted one victory when scoring one goal this season. Point Beach brings back the majority of its back-to-back Central Jersey Group I championship teams. The seniors on the team have a lot of experience in postseason games and it could be an advantage for the Garnet Gulls. Senior Gabby Kirchner has been the playmaker for Point Beach since her freshman year and creates the scoring chances for the rest of the team. Prediction: Toms River North, 4-3