Top Returning Boys Soccer Players at the Shore in 2026
The high school boys soccer preseason is underway in New Jersey and the Shore Conference regular season is slated to kick off on Aug. 31. Coming off a 2025 season in which three Shore Conference teams won an NJSIAA sectional championship (Middletown South, Ranney and Southern Regional) and two (Middletown South and Ranney) made it to the group final. The Shore was shut out of winning an overall state championship last fall for the first time since 2021 and compared to most years, so there are 45 teams in the conference that did not experience the ending they envisioned going into 2025.
Heading into 2026, the Shore will have its usual collection of contenders come NJSIAA Tournament time, but the competition for the Shore Conference Tournament could be as balanced as it has ever been. If the parity on paper translates to the field, one reason will likely by the relatively low number of returning All-Shore players around the conference. Only five honorees on the Shore Sports Insider All-Shore Team are returning for 2026, plus two more selections via the Fan Vote. That is not to say there will not be all-state caliber seasons at the Shore, but it does hint that a lot of players and teams will be heading into 2026 with something to prove.
Below are the returning SSI All-Shore players in 2026, plus returning selections from the Shore Conference Soccer Coaches Association All-County and All-Division Teams. On the All-Division list, players are listed under their team’s current division.
Returning SSI Boys Soccer All-Shore Players
Sean Moore, Sr., Forward, Colts Neck
2025 Stats: 30 goals, 8 assists
A three-time All-Shore selection, two-time First-Teamer and the 2025 Shore Sports Insider Player of the Year(opens in new tab), Moore is back for his fourth varsity season and has a chance to tie a ribbon on a record-breaking career. With 80 goals and 29 assists over his first three seasons, Moore is 14 goals from matching the all-time Shore Conference career record and 20 shy of becoming the conference’s first ever 100-goal scorer. The Cougars senior is also 43 points from the Shore’s all-time scoring record of 232 points.
Individual accomplishments have been a highlight of Moore’s career, but his impact on winning is equally noteworthy. He was a force in leading Colts Neck to its first ever Shore Conference Tournament championship in 2024 and he led the Cougars back to the final last year(opens in new tab), when Middletown South outlasted them on penalty kicks. An NJSIAA Tournament trophy has been the elusive prize for Moore and Colts Neck over the past three seasons and with one of the most decorated players in the history of the conference leading the way, the Cougars will be a threat to break through this November.
Connor Saul, Sr., Forward, Middletown South
2025 Stats: 16 goals, 1 assist
The primary reason Colts Neck is not currently in possession of a 2025 NJSIAA sectional championship trophy in Group III is Saul, who engineered the game of his life in Middletown South’s biggest game of the year. (opens in new tab)Saul scored a hat trick(opens in new tab) in the 2025 Central Jersey Group III final at Colts Neck to lead the Eagles to a 4-0 win that gave the program its first ever sectional championship.
The three goals by Saul were part of a 16-goal season in which the junior scored half of his goals in either the Shore Conference or NJSIAA Tournament. He was the leading goal-scorer for the No. 1 team in the final Shore Sports Insider Top 10 and returns in 2026 along with a solid supporting cast that will attempt to defend the Shore Conference Tournament championship while pursuing Middletown South’s first ever NJSIAA overall group championship.
Middletown South senior Connor Saul. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
Nate Stryker, Sr., Forward, Brick Memorial
2025 Stats: 27 goals, 6 assists
In his three varsity seasons at Brick Memorial, Stryker has lived up to his last name by establishing himself as one of the Shore’s best finishers. As a junior in 2025, Stryker finished fourth in the Shore Conference in total scoring (60 points) and his 27 goals were tied for third in the entire conference. Although the Mustangs lost a solid senior group from 2025, Stryker’s return will five Brick Memorial a chance to pursue a second straight Shore Conference division title after winning Class B South last season.
Chris Ruggiero, Sr., Forward Toms River North
2025 Stats: 6 goals, 3 assists
Ruggiero’s six goals scored as a defender is an impressive accomplishment, but the fact that those six goals led the team was a manifestation of a larger scoring problem for the Mariners. This year, Ruggiero will move to the top of the formation as Toms River North reworks its attack in hopes of returning to the upper echelon of the Shore Conference. Even in a relative down season, Toms River North won the 2025 Shore Conference Coaches Cup and placed second with a 2-1-2 division record in a highly-competitive Class A South field.
Brick Memorial junior Nate Stryker. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
Brody Powers, Sr., Forward, Point Pleasant Beach
2025 Stats: 27 goals, 10 assists
A two-sport standout in soccer and baseball, Powers took his scoring prowess to Class B South last season – a step up in competition for Point Beach compared to its Class B Central days. The schedule shift did not deter Powers, who tied Stryker for third in the conference with 27 goals and finished third in scoring as well with 64 total points.
All-Shore Fan Vote Winners(opens in new tab)
Connor Shaw, Sr., Forward, Ocean
2025 Stats: 11 goals, 7 assists
Heading into his fourth year as a starter at Ocean, Shaw is one of the Shore’s most skilled attacking players and he leads a strong returning crop that should make Ocean a contender for multiple championships this fall.
Gavin Stryker, Sr., Goalkeeper, Toms River North
2025 Stats: 10 shutouts, 19 goals allowed (21 games)
The cousin of Nate and Nick Stryker at Brick Memorial, Gavin has excelled in preventing goals instead of scoring them. He took over the full-time starting keeper job as a junior last season and amassed 10 clean sheets, including four shutouts in scoreless draws.
Returning 2026 Shore Conference Coaches All-County Players
First Team
All-Monmouth County
Sean Moore, Sr., Forward, Colts Neck
Connor Saul, Sr., Forward, Middletown South
All-Ocean County
Nate Stryker, Sr., Forward, Brick Memorial
Chris Ruggiero, Sr., Forward, Toms River North
Brody Powers, Sr., Forward, Point Pleasant Beach
Gavin Stryker, Sr., Goalkeeper, Toms River North
Second Team
All-Monmouth County
Connor Shaw, Sr., Forward, Ocean
Chase Lee, Jr., Goalkeeper, Manalapan
All-Ocean County
Evan Cappetta, Sr., Midfield, Toms River East
Third Team
All-Monmouth County
Nic Critelli, Sr., Forward, Ocean
Michael Ilvento, Sr., Midfield, Shore
Jordan Vieira, Sr., Defense, Long Branch
Brian Garcia, Jr., Midfield, Red Bank
Quinn Petrulla, Sr., Goalkeeper, Manasquan
All-Ocean County
Dan Zaic, Sr., Midfield, Donovan Catholic
Serhii Hryhoriak, Sr., Midfield/Forward, Jackson
Brady Gillen, Jr., Defense, Toms River East
Christian Oberti, Sr., Defense, Toms River South
Efrain Garcia, Sr., Defense, Lakewood
Dylan Graham, Sr., Goalkeeper, Lacey
Returning 2026 Shore Conference Coaches’ All-Division Players
Class A North
Sean Moore, Sr., Forward, Colts Neck
Chase Lee, Sr., Goalkeeper, Manalapan
Connor Saul, Sr., Forward, Middletown South (Class B North in 2025)
Class A Central
Connor Shaw, Sr., Forward, Ocean
Nic Critelli, Sr., Forward, Ocean
Michael Ilvento, Sr., Midfield, Shore
Quinn Petrulla, Sr., Goalkeeper, Manasquan
Jordan Vieira, Sr., Defense, Long Branch (Class B North in 2025)
Braden Morin, Jr., Midfield, Ranney (Class B Central in 2025)
Class A South
Evan Cappetta, Sr., Midfield, Toms River East
Gavin Stryker, Sr., Goalkeeper, Toms River North
Nate Stryker, Sr., Forward, Brick Memorial (Class B South in 2025)
Nick Stryker, Sr., Midfield, Brick Memorial (Class B South in 2025)
Christian Oberti, Sr., Defense, Toms River South (Class B South in 2025)
Class B North
Klodian Jaku, Jr., Midfield, Freehold Boro
Brian Garcia, Sr., Midfield, Red Bank
Brandon Joseph, Sr., Midfield/Forward, Asbury Park (Class B Central in 2025)
Chris Torres Pacheco, Jr., Forward, Asbury Park (Class B Central in 2025)
Jesse Cifuentes, Sr., Defense, Asbury Park (Class B Central in 2025)
Class B Central
Hunter Reynolds, Sr., Defense, Neptune
Jack Denver, Jr., Forward, Red Bank Catholic
Ryan Hart, Sr., Forward, Matawan (Class B North in 2025)
Class B South
Brody Powers, Sr., Forward, Point Pleasant Beach
Serhii Hryhoriak, Sr., Midfield/Forward, Jackson
Diego Aldana, Jr., Defense, Brick (Class C South in 2025)
Class C South
Dan Zaic, Sr., Midfield, Donovan Catholic
Max Taurgrasso, Sr., Midfield, Pinelands
Efrain Garcia, Sr., Defense, Lakewood (Class B South in 2025)
