Shore Sports Insider Girls Soccer Top 10 for Oct. 21

There are still plenty of questions to be answered as we enter the final week of the Shore Conference Tournament. Middletown South returns to the top spot for the second time this season and Manalapan returns to the rankings for the first time since the opening week of the season.

 

1. Middletown South (13-2-1). Last Week: No. 2

Middletown South won 1-0 in an instant classic against No. 1 Wall in the first round of the Shore Conference Tournament, which could have been a championship game most years. The Eagles avoided the upset against Brick Memorial in the round of 16 by winning 2-1 in double overtime. That marked the third straight meeting that was decided in double overtime against the Mustangs. Middletown South travels to No. 5 Freehold Township on Monday in the Shore Conference Tournament quarterfinal round. A win would send the Eagles back to the semifinals for the second straight year. Middletown South defeated Freehold Township 2-1 during the regular season. 

 

2. Point Boro (11-1-2). Last Week: No. 3

Point Boro moved on to the SCT quarterfinal round by defeating No. 9 Red Bank Catholic, 2-1. Senior Abby Hannemann continued her great season of creating scoring chances for her teammates, assisting on both goals against RBC. Point Boro hosts Toms River North in the quarterfinal round. The Panthers defeated the Mariners 3-0 during the regular season. A win by Point Boro will send them to the SCT semifinal round for the second time in three seasons.  

 

3. Wall (12-2-1). Last Week: No. 1

Wall fell to No. 2 Middletown South 1-0 in the opening round of the SCT. It was a championship-style game with both teams going back and forth. Wall then defeated Trinity Hall in a consolation game. The Crimson Knights will play St. John Vianney on Monday as they continue to prepare to defend their Central Jersey Group 2 title.

 

4. Lacey (15-1-1). Last Week: No. 4

Lacey got revenge on for its only defeat this season by beating No. 6 Central 3-0 in the second round of the SCT. The Lions started the game with a lot of energy and capitalized on Central’s miscues to build their lead. Lacey’s three-headed monster of Natalie McGovern, Reece Paget and Mackenzie Brotherston all scored goals in the game. There are not many teams in the state that can match up on the defensive end to slow Lacey’s offense down. 

 

5. Freehold Township (9-6). Last week: No. 7

Freehold Township advanced to the SCT quarterfinals after defeating Matawan in the first round and then holding off Toms River South for a 2-1 victory in the second round. The Patriots played a strong first half against the Indians but could only find the back of the net once entering halftime. Freehold Township gave up the equalizer in the opening minute of the second half but kept South scoreless the rest of the way. Senior Sophie Tonino scored the game-winner with just over ten minutes to play. Freehold Township will host No. 1 Middletown South in the quarterfinal round on Monday.

 

6. Howell (11-4). Last Week: No. 10

This is the time of year Howell takes its game to the next level, so it should be no surprise the Rebels advanced into the quarterfinal round for the third straight season. They defeated Middletown North in the opening round, 1-0,  and then delivered a 2-0 road victory over then-No. 5 Rumson-Fair Haven. Sophomore Makenzie Memmolo scored both goals for the Rebels against Rumson. Howell will host Ocean on Monday in the quarterfinal round. 

 

7. Central (10-3-1). Last Week: No. 6

Central squeaked by Trinity Hall on penalty kicks in the opening round after battling to a scoreless draw for 100 minutes. Freshman goalkeeper Addison Fruilio made two big saves in the shootout for Central. In the second round, the Golden Eagles were defeated 3-0 by Lacey. Central started off the game sluggish and Lacey was able to take advantage in the first half. Central will host Point Beach in a consolation game as they start to prepare to defend its South Jersey Group 4 title. 

 

8. Red Bank Catholic (10-5-1). Last Week: No. 9

Red Bank Catholic defeated rival Red Bank in the opening round of the SCT, 3-0, but lost in the round of 16 to No. 3 Point Boro, 2-1. The Caseys have lost three of their last five games, only scoring one goal in those games. RBC will host Toms River South in a consolation game as it prepares for the South Jersey Non-Public A sectional tournament. The Caseys need to play more consistently on the offensive end of the field. They only scored two goals in their five losses this season.

 

9. Rumson-Fair Haven (10-5). Last Week: No. 5

After earning a bye in the first round of the SCT, Rumson fell to Howell, which has been ranked in the top ten all season, 2-0. Rumson has lost two of its last three games but all five losses on the season have been to teams ranked in the top 10. The Bulldogs will travel to Jackson Memorial in a consolation game as they prepare for the Central Jersey Group 2 sectional tournament. Rumson has made it to the sectional final in each of the last two seasons.

 

10. Manalapan (10-7-1). Last Week: not ranked

Manalapan has climbed back into the top 10 for the first time since the first week of the season. The Braves have been up and down this season but have always been a team you would want to avoid in the postseason. They advanced into the quarterfinal round of the SCT after defeating Manchester 2-0 and St. John Vianney 2-1. Manalapan came back after trailing 1-0 at halftime to score two second-half goals against the Lancers. The Braves will travel to face No. 4 Lacey in the quarterfinal round. A win will send Manalapan back into the semifinals for the first time since 2021. 

 

On Bubble

Toms River South, Toms River North, St. John Vianney