Girls Soccer Shore Conference Tournament Quarterfinal Preview, Picks

Shore Conference Tournament Preview: Quarterfinals

 

(9) Middletown South at (1) Manalapan, 3 p.m.

Middletown South (8-5) is starting to get healthy and starting to hit their stride. The Eagles defeated Colts Neck in the opening round 6-2 and followed that up with a 5-2 second-round victory over the No. 8 seed St. John Vianney. Rutgers commit Bea Tinoco has three goals and three assists in the first two games of tournament action. Sophomore Riley Kapler is right behind Tinoco with two goals and two assists in those two games. Middletown South had four different goal scorers in their second-round game and if they can continue to get that offensive support for Tinoco and Kapler, they will cause problems for the opposing defenses they are about to face. In the regular season game against Manalapan, Middletown South lost 3-1, but were down several starters due to injury. 

Manalapan (13-0) has made almost every game this season look easy. That is except for their two games against Manasquan. In the Class A North division game, Manalapan needed two overtimes to defeat Manasquan 1-0. In the SCT second-round game, Manalapan built a 2-0 lead and won 2-1 to advance into the quarterfinal round. The Braves are strong all over the field and have a strong senior core that has the postseason experience. Daniella Butash leads the team with 14 goals and Olivia Ziobro has nine goals this season. Junior Kayla Sasso scored both goals in the Manasquan win and has six on the season. Manalapan’s offense has five players with five goals or more on the season. Senior Guilianna Naletilic helps control the midfield and is dangerous on set pieces. The defense led by Constantina Papadakis, Sonya Hofmann, Devan Rosenzweig and Callie Butash has only allowed 8 goals this season. Junior Aryanna Lake, who became the full-time starter last season, has seven shutouts this season.

Projection: Manalapan wins 3-1

 

(10) Trinity Hall at (2) Central, 6:30 p.m.

Trinity Hall (14-2-2) shutout two more opponents in the SCT first and second round to bring their total to 15 shutouts on the season. Senior Emily Venezia made three saves in the opening round game against Red Bank Regional and six saves against Wall in the second round. The Monarchs have several weapons that can put the ball in the net. Six players have five or more goals with Kailyn Fitzgerald, the hero who scored with 2:30 left in a 1-0 victory over Wall, leads the team with 14 goals. Senior Maris Child leads the Monarch defense with freshmen Ryane Greene, Ryann Russo and Sloane Biggie. Senior Ryan Raynor, the playmaker in the midfield, scored a goal in the opening round but was injured later in the game. She is questionable in the quarterfinal round. The last time Trinity Hall played at Central was last year in the first round of the SCT where they battled to a scoreless tie for 100 minutes and fell in penalty kicks. 

Central (13-0-1) is one of two teams not to have a loss during the regular season. The Class A South champions earned a bye in the first-round after winning Group 5. The Golden Eagles defeated Marlboro 4-0 in the second-round for their 11th shutout of the season. Junior Leah DiCillo scored two goals in the game, giving her 8 on the season. Central’s strength is their defense led by seniors Emma Christensen and Nicole Kangas in the middle. The speed of Emma Boturla and Katie Ytreboe play on the outside and can help the attack. Senior Brianna Nelson stepped into the starting role and scored 9 goals this season and Brianna Daly has 6. Sophomore Addison Frulio is playing with more confidence in goal this season and is a vocal leader in the back. 

Prediction: Central wins via penalty kicks 1-0

 

(6) Toms River South at (3) Howell, 4 p.m.

Toms River South’s (10-1-2) lone defeat came in double overtime to division rival Point Boro on 9/25. The Indians defeated Middletown South for the second straight season to win SCT Group 4 and earn a first-round bye. TRS defeated Toms River East for the second time in just over a week 2-0 to advance into the quarterfinal round. Sophomore Daniella Gordon scored her team-leading 11th goal of the season. The Indians have one of the fastest teams in the Shore Conference which gives them an advantage when fighting for 50-50 balls. Junior Ava Knight can be a wildcard with her ability to help on defense and set her teammates up on the offensive end. Sophomore Reese Lindemann has seven straight shutouts in goal and nine total on the season in her first season as the starter. 

Howell (11-3) is looking for their fourth straight trip to the SCT semifinal round. The Rebels played one of the hardest schedules in the Shore Conference including two nonconference games against two teams ranked in the New Jersey Top 20. Howell defeated Trinity Hall 1-0 to win SCT Group 7 and earn a first-round bye. The Rebels scored three second half goals to defeat the No. 14 seed Lacey. Junior Makenzie Memmolo scored two goals which gave her 100 career points. Leila Shaw made six saves to earn her 6th shutout of the season. Senior Layla Barbosa has been in this position before and provides experience on the backline for the Rebels.

Prediction: Toms River South wins 2-1

 

(13) Rumson-Fair Haven at (5) Point Boro, 4 p.m.

Rumson (11-6) got revenge from their opening day loss and defeated the No. 4 seed Red Bank Catholic in the second-round to earn the biggest upset in the SCT to date. Duke commit Jordyn Sullivan scored the golden goal with 1:14 left in the second overtime. In the Bulldogs first-round game, Sullivan scored a goal and had an assist in a 2-0 victory over Southern. Rumson faced off with Point Boro in the final SCT Group 8 game that decided first place and a first-round bye. Leading 3-2 in the second half, the Bulldogs gave up to second half goals to fall to the Panthers 4-3. Senior Ella Curran brings plenty of experience in the net and has two straight shutouts in the SCT. Sullivan, who has 24 goals this season, can cause problems for the best defenses in the Shore Conference with her speed and ball control. 

Point Boro (11-1) earned a first-round bye when they came from behind to beat Rumson back on 10/7 in the final SCT Group 8 game. The Panthers had a rematch of last year’s SCT championship game against Freehold Township in the second-round. Point Boro built a 2-0 lead and held on for a 2-1 victory to avenge last year’s defeat. Sophomore Megan Viggiano had her 7th assist of the season to Grace Tansey for the Panthers first goal in the first half. Tansey then had an assist in the second half to Abby Crowell for the second goal. Junior Stella Stevenson made five saves in her first postseason start and has five shutouts on the season. A win for Point Boro will make it three trips to the SCT semifinal round in four years. 

Prediction: Point Boro wins 3-2