Girls Soccer SCT Semifinals Preview and Predictions

The Shore Conference Tournament semifinals are set up to be two competitive games. In the first game, we have a rematch of the semifinals from 2022 with Howell playing Point Boro. The Panthers will look to get revenge on their 2-1 loss and halt Howell’s run of two straight final appearances. In the night game, Freehold Township will look to get back to the final after being eliminated last year in the quarterfinal round. The Patriots will face Lacey, which has not been in the SCT semifinal since 2004. Lacey has been one of the most consistent teams in the Shore Conference all season. 

 

Shore Conference Tournament Semifinal

At Neptune Memorial Athletic Complex, Summerfield Elementary School

 

No. 6 Howell vs No. 2 Point Boro, 4 p.m.

 

Point Boro’s road to the semifinals:

Won Group G

First Round: defeated Monmouth, 5-0

Round of 16: defeated No. 9 Red Bank Catholic, 2-1

Quarterfinals: defeated Toms River North, 4-0

 

Howell’s road to the semifinals;

Finished second in Group E

First Round: defeated Middletown North, 1-0

Round of 16: defeated No. 5 Rumson-Fair Haven, 2-0

Quarterfinals: Defeated Ocean, 3-1

 

Key Players

Point Boro:

Abby Hannemann (MID) 5 G, 16 A

Gabby Mellet (DEF) 4 G, 2 A

Elise Viggiano (FWD) 12 G, 4 A

Ava Bjorndahl (GK) 10 Shutouts

Maddie Renna (MID) 10 G, 10 A

Molly Heras (MID) 1 G, 1 A

 

Howell

Allison Nase (MID) 8 G, 2 A

Ashley Smith (FWD) 8 G 3 A

Makenzie Memmolo (FWD) 12 G, 7 A

Leila Shaw (GK) 8 Shutouts

Madelyn Roberto (MID) 5 G, 6 A

Samantha Gold (DEF)

 

Keys to the Game:

Point Boro had no issues moving into Class A South from Class B South, going undefeated in the division and conceding only one goal. The Panthers’ defense has been a staple of the team since the current seniors were freshmen. Monmouth University commit Ava Bjorndahl has been a starter since her freshman year and has posted 40 career shutouts. Bjorndahl’s ability to communicate and her chemistry with center back Gabby Mellet makes it hard for opposing teams to score on her. Mellet is the anchor of the back line and keeps everyone organized. The Panthers make very few mistakes on the defensive end, so if they do, Howell needs to be ready to take advantage. On the offensive side of the ball, everything is run through Abby Hannemann. She leads the Shore Conference with 16 assists, has a combination of dangerous speed, and can keep the ball glued to her foot. Her footwork can allow her to get by the best defenders 1-on-1. Freshman Maddie Renna has made a strong case for Freshman of the Year with 10 goals and 10 assists this season. She contributed to all four goals in the quarterfinal round with three goals and one assist. Point Boro’s offense does not stop with those two players. Junior Elise Viggiano is the Panthers’ leading scorer with 12 goals. Viggiano, who was injured last season, causes problems for defenders with her power and foot skill. 

Howell looks to return to the SCT final for the third straight season. The Rebels have several new faces from the team that made the finals two seasons ago, but they also have players who have been there before. Howell’s defense is always prepared, but they are going into the semifinal with two key injuries as seniors Gabrielle Snowden and Layla Barbosa will be out for the rest of the season. They both have been important parts of the Rebels’ defense the last two years. Freshman Kylie Keating has moved to the center back position next to senior Samantha Gold. Gold is the veteran of the backline and will look to communicate with the other defenders and midfield. This season Allison Nase is playing as more of an offensive midfielder compared to the holding midfielder she played last season. The Rebels will need her to control the ball to keep pressure on the Panthers. Howell has two dangerous forwards in Ashley Smith and Makenzie Memmolo. They have combined for 20 out of Howell’s 36 goals and added 10 assists. Howell will need to use Smith’s speed on the outside to cause problems for the defense. Smith was the hero in 2022, scoring the game-winner against Point Boro in the SCT semifinals. Memmolo was the hero against Rumson, scoring both goals in the 2-0 win in Monday’s quarterfinals. She has scored 12 goals in her first two seasons. Over the last three seasons, Howell has been one of the best teams at taking advantage of corner kicks. Senior Madelyn Roberto has been excellent the last three seasons and Howell will need to capitalize on her corners. Junior transfer goalkeeper Leila Shaw is no stranger to big games, playing at Manalapan for the last two seasons. Shaw will have to be very talkative to her defenders with players playing different positions due to injuries.

Prediction: Point Boro, 1-0

 

 

No. 5 Freehold Township (10-6) vs No. 4 Lacey (16-1-1), 6:30 p.m.

 

Freehold Township’s road to semifinals:

-Won Group H

First round: defeated Matawan, 9-0

Round of 16: defeated Toms River South, 2-1

Quarterfinals: defeated No. 1 Middletown South, 2-0

 

Lacey’s road to the semifinals:

Won Group E

First round: Bye

Round of 16: defeated No. 6 Central Regional, 3-0

Quarterfinals: defeated No. 10 Manalapan, 3-2 in extra time

 

Key Players

Freehold Township

Gaby Parker (FWD) 25 G, 5 A

Danielle Howard (MID) 7 G, 11 A

Sophie Tonino (MID) 5 G, 5 A

Ashley Moore (GK) 6 Shutouts

Chloe Walters (DEF) 2 G

Reese Metcalfe (MID) 5 G, 2 A

 

Lacey

Mackenzie Brotherston (FWD) 12 G, 11 A

Natalie McGovern (FWD) 23 G, 14 A

Reece Paget (MID) 16 G, 10 A

Ava Forde (MID) 2 G, 6 A

Ava Schmidt (GK) 10 Shutouts

Olivia Miller (MID) 2 A

Avery Johnson (DEF) 2 G, 7 A

Lynsey McGovern (DEF) 

Danielle Pasqua (DEF) 

 

Keys to the Game:

Freehold Township has been dangerous at times and also inconsistent at times. The Patriots have the experience and the talent to win the SCT even though it has not been a typical Freehold township season. Coach Dave Patterson put together a very difficult schedule to start the season and prepare the team for the postseason. The Patriots’ defense will face one of their strongest tests since their opening day game against state No. 1 Rutgers Prep against a Lacey team averaging 3.4 goals per game. Senior Ashley Moore has been in more pressure situations than any other goalie in the Shore Conference and is always ready to be tested. Her communication with the back line will be crucial against the Lacey attack. A key battle will be at midfield between Freehold Township’s Danielle Howard and Lacey’s Reece Paget. The Patriots will have an advantage if Howard and the midfield can control the ball. Senior Gaby Parker leads the Shore Conference with 25 goals this season and has a combination of speed and ball control. If Lacey focuses its attention on her, who will be the player to step up for the Patriots?

Lacey looks to return to the SCT final for the first time since 2004 where it lost to Middletown North in overtime. The Lions are a three-headed monster on the offensive side of the ball between Mackenzie Brotherston, Natalie McGovern and Reece Paget. All three players reached double-digits in goals scored and have combined for 51 out of the Lions’ 62 goals. The three of them also have great chemistry on the field, having a total of 35 assists on the season. Lacey has a fast-paced, aggressive style of play on the offensive side of the ball. The three stars get most of the attention, but the rest of the team is just as impressive. Midfielders Ava Forde and Olivia Miller cause problems with opposing teams with their hustle and ability to get to 50-50 balls first. With all the attention the offense gets, people forget the defense has helped shut out 10 teams. Avery Johnson, Lynsey McGovern and Danielle Pasqua have done a great job this season on the back line, shutting out ranked teams like Howell and Central. Junior Ava Schmidt has not missed a step since she took over the starting job in goal. Schmidt was a starter her freshman season, stepping in for injured Lorynn Leporino, but was the backup last season. Not only can she make big saves, but her big punts can help switch the field in a hurry.

Prediction: Freehold Township, 4-3 in Overtime