Where We Stand: The Boys Soccer SCT if the Tournament Started Today

x – Clinched 1st place
y – Clinched SCT berth

Group A
Team	Wins	Draws	Losses	Points	Goals	Allowed	Differential
x-Toms River East	4	0	0	12	18	2	+16
y-Holmdel	3	0	1	9	15	2	+13
y-Ranney	2	0	2	6	10	15	-5
St. Rose	1	0	3	3	6	19	-13
Donovan Catholic	0	0	4	0	4	15	-11
Group B
Team	Wins	Draws	Losses	Points	Goals	Allowed	Differential
x-CBA	3	0	1	9	11	3	+8
y-Middletown South	3	0	1	9	7	4	+3
y-St. John Vianney	3	0	1	9	8	5	+3
Manchester	1	0	3	3	5	7	-2
Monmouth	0	0	4	0	2	14	-12
Group C
Team	Wins	Draws	Losses	Points	Goals	Allowed	Differential
x-Central	3	0	1	9	11	5	+6
y-Red Bank	3	0	1	9	8	5	+3
y-Howell	2	0	2	6	9	8	+1
Shore	2	0	2	6	5	7	-2
Brick	0	0	4	0	3	11	-8
Group D
Team	Wins	Draws	Losses	Points	Goals	Allowed	Differential
x-Toms River North	3	1	0	10	10	1	+9
y-Toms River South	3	1	0	10	13	6	+7
y-Freehold Twp.	2	0	2	6	5	4	+1
Point Beach	1	0	3	3	5	14	-9
Matawan	0	0	4	0	1	9	-8
Group E
Team	Wins	Draws	Losses	Points	Goals	Allowed	Differential
x-Ocean	4	0	0	12	13	2	+11
y-Southern	3	0	1	9	7	4	+3
y-Brick Memorial	2	0	2	6	4	5	-1
Long Branch	1	0	3	3	6	7	-1
Asbury Park	0	0	4	0	3	15	-12
Group F
Team	Wins	Draws	Losses	Points	Goals	Allowed	Differential
x-Lacey	5	0	0	15	16	3	+13
y-Middletown North	4	0	1	12	24	5	+19
y-Point Boro	3	0	2	9	12	12	0
Barnegat	2	0	3	6	13	10	+3
Freehold Boro	1	0	4	3	8	15	-7
Keyport	0	0	5	0	1	29	-28
Group G
Team	Wins	Draws	Losses	Points	Goals	Allowed	Differential
x-Marlboro	4	0	0	12	17	1	+16
y-Wall	3	0	1	9	15	2	+13
y-Neptune	2	0	2	6	9	7	+2
Pinelands	1	0	3	3	3	13	-10
New Egypt	0	0	4	0	0	21	-21
Group H
Team	Wins	Draws	Losses	Points	Goals	Allowed	Differential
x-Manalapan	4	0	0	12	19	9	+10
y-Jackson Memorial	3	0	1	9	17	7	+10
y-Rumson-Fair Haven	2	0	2	6	12	7	+5
Lakewood	1	0	3	3	9	13	-4
Henry Hudson	0	0	4	0	1	22	-21
Group I
Team	Wins	Draws	Losses	Points	Goals	Allowed	Differential
x-Colts Neck	4	0	0	12	22	4	+18
y-Manasquan	3	0	1	9	20	5	+15
y-Raritan	2	0	2	6	10	14	-4
Red Bank Catholic	1	0	3	3	5	19	-14
Jackson Liberty	0	0	4	0	3	18	-15

 

Who qualifies?

The top three teams in each of the nine groups move on to the 27-team Shore Conference Tournament. Teams are awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw and none for a loss. The teams that advance to the SCT are the ones with the three highest point-totals within group play and the team with the most points is deemed the group winner.

What are the tiebreakers?

First tiebreaker between two teams: head-to-head results. If two teams are tied in points, whichever team won the head-to-head meeting is prioritized in the standings.

Second tiebreaker between two teams: goals allowed. If two teams are tied in points, the number of goals allowed determines priority in the standings.

Third tiebreaker between two teams: goals scored/goal differential. If two teams are tied in points and have allowed the same number of goals, goal differential is the next tiebreaker. Single-game goal differentials in group play are limited to six with the losing total setting the recorded goal-scoring total. Example: an 8-0 result would only count as 6-0; a 9-2 result would count as 8-2.

Fouth tiebreaker between two teams: fair-play points. The final on-field tiebreaker will favor the team with the fewest deductions for cards issued during group play. Yellow cards are minus-1 point, a double-yellow is minus-3 and a straight red minus-5.

Sixth tiebreaker between two teams: coin flip.

The tiebreakers for multiple teams that finish with the same point total in group play skip over the are the same as the two-team tiebreaker, except it skips over the head-to-head tiebreaker.

How will the teams be seeded?

The bracket is predetermined based on how each team finishes in its respective group, so there will not be a seeding process after group play is completed, as there was last year. With 27 teams in the field, five teams will receive first-round byes, which will go to the first-place teams in Groups A, B, C, D and E. The remaining group winners will all be guaranteed a home game vs. a third-place team from a different group, while seven of the nine second-place teams will be guaranteed a first-round home game. The predetermined pairings are as follows.

Shore Conference Tournament First Round Pairings

*Winners of Groups A, B, C, D and E receive bye into the SCT Round of 16

Wednesday, Oct. 16

Group A Third Place at Group F Winner

Group B Third Place at Group G Winner

Group C Third Place at Group H Winner

Group D Third Place at Group I Winner

Group E Third Place at Group A Second Place

Group F Third Place at Group B Second Place

Group G Third Place at Group C Second Place

Group H Third Place at Group D Second Place

Group I Third Place at Group E Second Place

Group F Second Place at Group G Second Place

Group H Second Place at Group I Second Place

 

With most of group play already completed, some teams are already set in their SCT position, while many others have clinched a spot in the tournament that will be finalized in the coming days. As of Monday’s action, here is what the Shore Conference Tournament field looks like.

Shore Conference Tournament Pairings

Through games played on Oct. 10

* – denotes a team that has clinched its listed position in the tournament

Opening Round

Byes: Toms River East, Middletown South, Central, Toms River North, Ocean

Ranney at Lacey

St. John Vianney at Marlboro

Howell at Manalapan

Freehold Township at Colts Neck

Brick Memorial at Holmdel

Point Boro at Middletown South

Neptune at Red Bank

Rumson-Fair Haven at Toms River South

Raritan at Southern

Middletown North at Wall

Jackson Memorial at Manasquan

Round of 16

Jackson Memorial/Manasquan winner at Toms River East

Midd. North/Wall winner at CBA

Raritan/Southern winner at Central

Rumson/TR South winner at Toms River North

Neptune/Red Bank winner at Ocean

Pt. Boro/Midd. South winner vs. Ranney/Lacey winner

Brick Memorial/Holmdel winner vs. SJV/Marlboro winner

Howell/Manalapan winner at Freehold Twp./Colts Neck winner