Shore Sports Insider 2025 Boys Soccer Preseason Top 10

For the first time since 2019, a team other than Christian Brothers Academy finished No. 1 in the Shore last season, and for the first time since 2009, it was a team from Ocean County. The balance of power in the Shore Conference has shifted away from its powerhouse program, as well as across the counties – a trend that appears as though it will hold in 2025.

With that being said, there is a clear preseason No. 1. It is a team from Monmouth County, and it is not CBA. Manalapan finished 2024 as the No. 3 team in the Shore Conference behind only Southern Regional and Colts Neck and one spot ahead of CBA. The Braves bring back most of their scoring among the seven returning starters and will be hungry to make a deep Shore Conference Tournament run after falling victim to the format. Manalapan lost to eventual champion Colts Neck in the round of 16 despite the two teams being ranked Nos. 1 and 2 at the time.

The rest of the rankings feature a mix of teams that are close enough in talent that they could end up in any order by the end of the season. It’s also worth remembering that last year’s No. 1 team (Southern) finished fourth in its division standings, and the other NJSIAA sectional champion from the Shore Conference (Long Branch) went 0-6 in divisional play. The regular season counts, but championships will not be decided until October.

1. Manalapan

No team in the Shore Conference has the combination of a well-rounded attack and an imposing goalkeeper that Manalapan does, and the Braves are hoping last year’s performance by a very similar-looking group was just the beginning. Manalapan dropped only four games all year, won a share of the Class A Central championship and lost to the eventual Shore Conference Tournament champion (Colts Neck) and NJSIAA Central Group IV champion (Princeton) in the two postseason tournaments. A combination of talent and a source for motivation is a dangerous combination, which makes Manalapan a dangerous team.

2. Christian Brothers Academy

Last year marked the first year CBA fell short of the NJSIAA sectional final round since 2013. Even in falling short of the lofty postseason standard, CBA had a season that included its fifth straight Class A North championship and a fourth straight trip to the SCT championship game. Scoring did not come as easily for the Colts last year as it has in previous years, and while goal-scoring remains a question, CBA remains a high-level operation in the midfield and especially in the back.

3. Colts Neck

Not only did two of the three best players in the Shore Conference last season play on the same team, they came from the same family. Kyle and Sean Moore led Colts Neck to its first Shore Conference Tournament championship and entered the NJSIAA Tournament undefeated. A stunning sectional quarterfinal loss to Long Branch was a sour end to a special season, and the Cougars hope to carry the magic to this season with Sean Moore back to lead the attack. The supporting cast will look different, but there remains a strong core from last year’s team that will keep Colts Neck in the mix for both the Class A North, SCT and Group III titles.

4. Lacey

How hard has it been to pull the Class A South championship away from Toms River? Southern was the best team in Group IV last year and still could not beat out Toms River North for the division title. Lacey finds itself in a similar situation this season, with the Lions bringing back a top-heavy roster with All-Shore selections Tanner Grozinski and goalkeeper Dylan Graham leading the way. Surviving the Class A South slugfest means playing well right out of the gate, but last year – when Lacey reached the SCT semifinals after finishing third in Class B South – is a reminder that there is plenty more to accomplish beyond the regular season.

5. Toms River North

Speaking of the Class A South regular season, the Mariners have owned it over the last five years. They have also been just as good in the state tournament, with Toms River North entering 2025 looking to reach an NJSIAA sectional final for the fifth time in six years. The Mariners have a lot of scoring to replace, but will be strong in the midfield behind Brady Gilman and Chris Ruggiero and have a track record under coach Joe Mahon of weaving it all together over the course of a season.

6. Long Branch

With a 2-10 record through 12 games in 2024, the road to a preseason ranking to open 2025 seemed non-existent for Long Branch. Those next 10 games, however, changed everything for the Green Wave. Long Branch won all 10 of them, which included winning the Shore Conference Coaches Cup, then the program’s first NJSIAA sectional title since 1997. Although the Green Wave have several core players to replace, the return of top scorers Thomas Silva and Christopher De Oliveira Santos, plus goalkeeper Gerardo Rodas sets Long Branch up for another big season – this time right from the opening kickoff.

7. Middletown South

Coming off a top-10 finish in 2023, Middletown South lost talent to both graduation and MLS Next and still manufactured a 10-8-3 season in a difficult division. One of those MLS Next talents is back this season, with Luke Strada returning to the Eagles’ midfield to complement a strong back line and goalkeeper situation. The Class A Central schedule will be a grind, but the Eagles have the motivation and the pieces in place to have a big year.

8. Central

The Golden Eagles were a hard team to stop throughout the 2024 season, and two rough road performances against Ocean County foes were the only thing that stood between Central and appearances in both the SCT semifinals and South Jersey Group IV final. Central’s 2024 depth up top will feed this year’s attack, led by one of the Shore’s best returning midfields. Replacing Devont King Reilly in the back will be the toughest challenge for this year’s squad, but the Golden Eagles have experience in goal and danger up front.

9. St. John Vianney

Last year, St. John Vianney moved up from Class B Central to Class B North and won its second outright division championship in a row despite the tougher competition. The Lancers’ reward is another bump up in division difficulty. As a member of Class A Central, they will now attempt to make it three division titles in a row in three different divisions. Mason Boles returns as one of the top scorers in the Shore, and the defense and midfield have a chance to be even better in 2025.

10. Ocean

The Spartans have a lot to replace – particularly on the defensive side of the formation – but they return a very talented junior class while adding well-rounded center midfielder Brandon Cosentino from the academy ranks. Coming off a top-five finish in the SSI Top 10 and a trip to the Shore Conference Tournament semifinals, Ocean is set up to have a big year in 2026. It wouldn’t take much to get a jump on things with another top-five finish in 2025.

 

The Next 10

Rumson-Fair Haven – Scoring is a question, but the Bulldogs are stout on defense and cohesive throughout their formation.

Southern – Replacing a deep, decorated senior class will be difficult, but the defending Group IV champions have championship pedigree and expectations that remain lofty.

Holmdel – The Hornets will look much different without one of the state’s best players in the midfield, but they have balance and should thrive on the defensive side of the game.

Toms River East – The Raiders had two of the Shore’s best goalkeepers on the same roster in 2024, and retaining one of them (Mike Moore) will help ease the transition for a group in the field that will have to replace a lot of scoring.

Freehold Township – Now in Class B North, Freehold Township is looking to rebound from back-to-back losing seasons and return to the level that helped them become one of the Shore’s most accomplished programs.

Shore – The last two seasons for the Blue Devils could not have ended any differently, but Shore still has the talent to make a run at a second Group I championship in three years.

Jackson – For the first time since 2007, there is only one soccer team in Jackson. The two teams from Memorial and Liberty are now combined to form a team that will be in the mix for a division title and the top spot in Ocean County.

Manasquan – The Warriors return just two starters from 2024, but one of them is All-Shore forward Cruz Farkas.

Toms River South – The defending B South champions will have a chance to repeat thanks to the return of all-division performers Shane Gambarony and Nigel Graham.

Middletown North – Another deep SCT run was not in the cards last year, but the Lions have enough returning on the roster to get back into the dance this season.