It has been three full weeks of video games and whereas there’s a clear No. 1 within the Shore Sports Insider Boys Soccer Top 10, there’s not a transparent dominant staff (or groups, for that matter) in Shore Conference boys soccer. The over-riding message to any dialog with a coach or observer of the Shore Conference up to now is that whereas, there are some fairly good groups and a number of other nice gamers, no staff seems to be considerably higher than the remaining.
Those circumstances ought to make for a extremely entertaining, dramatic Shore Conference Tournament, together with the battle in the course of the group stage to safe one of many 24 spots and eight byes within the knockout stage. In the meantime, nonetheless, the parity all through the convention has created some dilemmas in rating the groups, with numerous proficient sides boxed out of the highest 5 (and in some instances, the highest 10).
Here is how issues stand heading into the final full week of September.
Colts Neck senior goalkeeper Liam Collura. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
1. Colts Neck (6-0, 3-0) Last Week: 1
Sean Moore has returned as probably the most prolific scorer within the Shore Conference, however his efficiency (eight objectives in six video games) is simply a part of what has made Colts Neck so robust to beat via the primary three weeks of the season. In these six video games, the Cougars and senior goalkeeper Liam Collura have conceded just one objective, which got here in a 2-1 additional time win over Freehold Township. After turning again a proficient Middletown South facet, 1-0, on Saturday, Colts Neck’s gamers can have 5 full days of relaxation and preparation forward of Friday’s big match vs. the No. 2 staff within the rankings.
2. Christian Brothers Academy (5-1-2, 2-0-0) Last Week: 2
The Colts are growing the character of a staff that likes late-game drama. In two of its final three video games, CBA scored the game-winning objective within the remaining two minutes of regulation – the primary of which was a penalty kick within the remaining minute to show again Rumson, 2-1. On Saturday, CBA got here via once more within the clutch with a Finn McCarthy objective with 2:08 displaying on the sport clock. CBA has now received 5 straight heading right into a difficult week that features video games in opposition to Holmdel on Monday and No. 1 Colts Neck on Friday.
3. Long Branch (4-0-1, 2-0-0) Last Week: 6
The Green Wave are presently within the midst of a seven-day stretch with out a sport and its final match was a outcome that gave Long Branch a push comfortably into the highest 5. Last Tuesday, Long Branch scored a 4-2 highway win in opposition to a Brick Memorial facet that boosted its inventory Saturday by handing Manasquan its first loss. With Manasquan’s loss, Long Branch is now one in all three unbeaten groups remaining within the Shore Conference together with Colts Neck and Toms River East. Long Branch’s solely tie is a 0-0 draw within the season-opener vs. Rumson-Fair Haven.
Long Branch senior Marvin Oyuela assaults whereas defended by Brick Memorial junior Nick Stryker. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
4. Manalapan (3-1-2, 1-1-1) Last Week: 3
Last week’s 4-0 win over Howell was a breakthrough sport for Manalapan, which needed to maintain on to beat Point Pleasant Boro, 3-2, and routed New Egypt in its solely prior wins. The Braves couldn’t resolve Rumson’s stingy protection in a scoreless draw on Friday, so they’re nonetheless looking for a win over a ranked opponent. Manalapan will get its likelihood to seize its first signature win over 2025 Thursday, when the Braves journey to Manasquan for a Shore Conference Tournament group stage sport.
5. Toms River East (7-0, 3-0) Last Week: 7
The Raiders are one in all two remaining undefeated, untied groups within the Shore Conference and on Monday evening, they will turn out to be the primary outright division champion within the Shore Conference by beating rival Toms River North. The Raiders received a share of the 2022 Class A South title together with Toms River North, however haven’t stood alone atop the division since 2011. Last week’s robust, 1-0 road win over Lacey set the stage for Monday’s clinching alternative.
Toms River East senior Aiden Reis. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
6. Brick Memorial (5-3, 3-0) Last Week: Not ranked
It has been a roller-coaster season for Brick Memorial, which surged into the highest 10 with a 3-0 begin, solely to crash out with a 1-0 loss to Pinelands in Shore Conference Tournament group play. With an out-of-division win over previously-unbeaten Manasquan on Saturday, the Mustangs come stomping again into the highest 10 and might clinch a second straight division title this week by beating Manchester on Monday (and an outright title with that win, plus a win over Point Beach on Saturday).
7. Manasquan (5-1, 2-0) Last Week: 4
A win over Brick Memorial on Saturday would have put the Warriors within the working for the No. 2 rating this week. Instead, they get a actuality test after a dream begin to the season for a staff with solely two returning starters from 2024. That outcome could show useful for Manasquan in the long term given it was only a non-division sport. This week, the Warriors flip their consideration again to pursuits of better import: the Class A Central divisional race and a Thursday residence showdown with Manalapan in an SCT group sport that might very nicely be for a first-round bye.
8. Middletown South (4-2, 2-1) Last Week: 5
The Eagles’ three-spot drop within the rankings has much less to do with a really aggressive loss to No. 1 Colts Neck on Saturday and extra to do with the loss by Manasquan – which beat Middletown South, 4-2 – to Brick Memorial that very same day. The lack of a top-five spot is a minor setback for Middletown South, which remains to be on monitor to earn a first-round bye within the SCT and has loads of positives to attract from Saturday’s 1-0 loss to the No. 1 staff.
9. Rumson-Fair Haven (3-2-2, 1-2-1) Last Week: 8
The Bulldogs went 1-0-1 with a tie in opposition to the No. 4 staff within the rankings, however fall one spot attributable to circumstances outdoors their management (Brick Memorial upsetting Manasquan). Scoring has not come straightforward for the Bulldogs, however they’ve confirmed to be one of many more durable defensive groups within the convention that additionally has a standout goalkeeper in Jack Del Priore to prime all of it off. Beating Shore Regional and tying Manalapan final week is all of the extra spectacular contemplating Rumson did so with out senior midfielder Bobby Tamashunas, who will probably be again this week after serving a red-card suspension.
10. Holmdel (4-1-1, 1-0-1) Last Week: Not ranked
Since dropping a lopsided opening-day loss to Middletown South, Holmdel has rounded into type with wins over Middletown North, Raritan, Ocean and Howell, plus a scoreless draw in opposition to Marlboro. The win over Ocean in SCT group play is the Hornets’ greatest win thus far, because the Spartans had been ranked within the prime 10 every of the primary three weeks. Holmdel’s top-10 standing will probably be instantly examined this week, when the Hornets play at No. 2 CBA on Monday and host No. 4 Manalapan on Saturday.
Holmdel senior Dom Poli (left) and Middletown South senior Brett Denery problem for the ball. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
Dropped Out
Shore (5-3, 2-1) Last Week: 9 – The Blue Devils dropped a heartbreaker at Rumson however bounced again with a win over Point Boro on Saturday.
Ocean (4-3, 1-2) Last Week: 10 – A loss to Holmdel within the SCT group stage bumps the Spartans out of the highest 10 in favor of the Hornets. Games this week vs. three struggling groups – St. Rose (0-7-1), Raritan (three straight losses) and Middletown North (0-6-1) – will give Ocean an opportunity to regroup.
The Next Five
Marlboro (2-2-2, 0-2-2) – The Mustangs battled Colts Neck till happening a person and shedding, 1-0, on a objective within the remaining eight minutes. Scoring has been a difficulty, however Marlboro has remained aggressive in opposition to robust competitors.
Freehold Township (4-2-1, 3-1-0) – A loss to Red Bank is the hiccup maintaining the Patriots out of the highest 10. Otherwise, the one loss is to Colts Neck and the one tie is vs. Manalapan.
Ranney (5-1, 2-0) – After swallowing a bitter tablet (a 6-0 loss to Gill St. Bernard’s) to open the season, Ranney has caught hearth with 5 straight wins, together with convincing victories over B North groups Raritan and Red Bank.
Toms River South (4-1-1, 2-1-0) – An additional time loss to Brick Memorial is the one blemish for Toms River South, which remains to be holding out hope for a chunk of the Class A South title and the No. 1 spot in its SCT group.
Toms River North (1-4-3, 1-0-2) – The file is ugly, however Toms River North has performed a loaded schedule and has misplaced in devastating vogue early on whereas solely conceding 5 objectives in eight video games.