Soccer Games

  Jackson Liberty waited almost a full year to get back to this point, losing last season to RBR in the first round of the CJG3 playoff game. Played at the same field it was played at a year ago, the Lions got the result they wanted this season, defeating the Bucs 2-0 to move on to face #1 seed Steinart tomorrow.  Jackson Liberty gave a complete team effort to advance, solid defense, great passing in the midfield, forwards attacking and great goalkeeping like we have come to expect from senior Camryn Wiese. "It definitely feels good and it was a good game to play going into Saturday,” Liberty coach Dana Young said. “At times we did not battle the way we should have and hats off to them (RBR) they played their hardest the entire game, but we found a way to score and our goalie and defense stepped up.” The Lions had a couple good chances early in the game that started with great passing by seniors Alyssa Galayda and Seanna Boan, but Red Bank Regional freshman goalkeeper Harper B...

 Great players step up in the biggest of situations and that is exactly what junior Vanessa Sarf did in the second round of the SCT against Lacey. Sarf scored four goals in a 5-2 victory for Manalapan to advance to the quarterfinals.  Manalapan got on the board first seven minutes into the game when freshman Daniella Butash scored off a pass from junior Kasey Resker. Butash just missed a blast a couple minutes early wide right.  Sarf was able to put Manalapan up 2-0 four minutes later when she scored on a rebound off a blast from freshman Nicole Savage that hit the post.  "One of our goals all season was to come out strong and take it to the team right from the start and not be on the defense for the first 15/20 minutes," Manalapan coach John Rogers said. "We came out strong and took it to them and the girls were really clicking today." Lacey was able to respond right back with a goal by sophomore Natalie McGovern scored off a pass from senior Beth Stephens. Manalap...

In the biggest upset of the tournament, #13 Manasquan earned their biggest win in over a decade by defeating #4 Middletown South 2-1 in overtime to move on to the quarterfinals of the SCT. Some teams might have packed it in if they give up a goal 50 seconds into the game, but the Warriors responded by playing better defense and was able to attack the Middletown South defense for several minutes at a time. The Eagles scored when freshman Bea Tinoco scored after receiving a touch pass from senior Abby Doherty. "I was really proud of how they were able to hang on after being down a goal so early on," Manasquan coach Bailey Price said. "I feel this is the most we have been challenged so far and these have been the toughest opponents we have played." It would take another 74 minutes to see the next goal, when senior Meghan Stehle sent a cross into the box and junior Renee Herbert got her foot on it to tie the game with five minutes left. That goal came after Middletown S...

 -A matchup that we deserved to see in the quarterfinals or even the semifinals, #19 Lacey and #14 Central Regional met in round 1 last night and it was everything as expected. Two good teams, one who controlled the offense and another who could do no wrong on defense and got excellent goal keeping.  Lacey was able to battle to a 1-0 victory with some of the best defensive play I have seen all season and a remarkable performance by freshman goalie Ava Schmidt.  Schmidt, who started the season as a back up to junior Lorynn Leporino when she went down early in the season to an ankle injury, stepped up in the biggest game of the season and played like a seasoned upperclassman.  "She has just stepped in and owned the field, you can not tell she is a freshman," Lacey coach Jack Mahar said about Schmidt. "No one would know that if they came to watch her that she is stepping in for our starting goalie." Schmidt made a couple of amazing saves, but no bigger one when Central...

-The SCT opening round started yesterday and unlike in the last few years the Mariners did not have a bye, but they were able to show they can still be the team they have been. They scored four unanswered goals to win 4-1 and advance to round 2. Colts Neck was able to strike first 16 minutes into the game when freshman Isa Suarez, who played in her very first varsity game, was able to score off an assist from sophomore Terri Morgan.  The Cougars were able to apply pressure for a good amount of the first half, but with eight minutes left Toms River North picked up the pace.  TRN was able to get the equalizer with five minutes left in the half when junior Alexis Garcia finished a Madison DiEugenio shot that hit the crossbar. The senior DiEugenio was ripping good shots all first half but they either hit the goal posts or junior goalie Mia Nikolic, who was solid like always, made the save. The Mariners were able to take the lead with 20 seconds left in the half when junior Kaylee ...

My opinion every single game is a coin flip and anyone can win. This season was impossible to seed with everyone beating everyone but Freehold and RBC.  This is just fun so please do not take it personal and I will update every round.  Round 1 I would of picked Brick Memorial over Raritan, which was played Saturday. 5-1 Brick Memorial won #16 Matawan vs #17 Rumson - Rumson challanged themselves with the schedule they put together and hopefully it will reward them in the postseason.  They will need to slow Shannon Reiser down who has been on fire lately. Prediction Rumson  3-2 #25 Ocean Twp vs # 8 Toms River South - Ocean's speed up top is going to give TRS defense problems, but TRS has maybe the best goalie in the Shore with Delaine Wilkinson.  Ocean will need to be able to handle the speed of Gianna Curci. My prediction first goal wins. Prediction Ocean Twp 1-0. #13 Manasquan vs # Jackson Liberty - Liberty started the year on fire and have cooled off a little b...

Under the lights with A South title on the line Toms River South was able to defeat Brick Memorial 1-0 behind a remarkable performance by senior goalie Delaine Wilkinson.  She was tested for about 60 out of the 80 minutes and she did not break, along with the Tribes defense.  Now, as long as TRS does not lose to Toms River East, they will be declared A South winners.  "It was really nice to get this win," TRS coach Kacey Woram said. "These girls have worked very hard  since August. They do it for each other out there. This was a big statement win" Toms River South was able to strike early, ten minutes into the match when sophomore Keira Mulvhill ripped a shot from 25 yards out into an empty net.  Brick Memorial goalie came out to make a play moments before, but the ball got free and the defense could not clear the ball and it led to an open Mulvhill.  After TRS scored, Brick Memorial stepped up their play, dominating almost the full 70 minutes remaining....

In a dark gloomy day, with the pouring rain, Marlboro (3-3-2) was able to clinch a SCT spot as they defeated Freehold Boro (1-8) 2-0.  The first 20 minutes both teams were feeling each other out, each getting a couple chances to score, then Marlboro was able to take control of the ball and applied pressure to Freehold Boro's defense.  The Mustangs were able to score their first goal 23 minutes in when sophomore Carly Guzzardo was able to rip a shot from just over 20 yards that beat Freehold Boro senior goalie Jaeleigh Tuccille.  They followed that with another goal 30 minutes into the game when sophomore Sarah Gold was able to score off a rebound. Tuccille was remarkable in this game, she was able to make the initial save then saved the first rebound shot, but could not get up in time to come up with the third save.  Marlboro was able to put a lot of pressure on Tuccille, the combination of senior Olga Metelkine, senior Christina Glaser and Guzzardo kept Freehold Bor...

In a non divisional matchup, Lacey (6-2-1) defeated St. Rose (4-4) 6-2 in a lopsided game. Lacey, who started off the season slow has been rolling, winning five straight and going 6-0-1 since dropping their first two games.  "It was disappointing in the beginning because I really wanted to win this division," senior Beth Stephens said of Lacey's slow start. "We played two really tough teams right out of the gate, but we picked our heads up and  really came out against Donovan so we are motivited now to keep this streak going." Lacey applied the pressure early and was able to score seven minutes in when senior Beth Stephens, who scored two goals and had an assist, was able to walk a ball into the net after getting a pass from sophomore Natalie McGovern. One minute later sophomore Reece Paget scored on a blast off a pass from McGovern.  "They have great vision, Reece can pick you up and she doesn't have to be looking at you and she will find you if you...