The Toms River East boys soccer team watched its Shore Conference Tournament run come to an end last year at Holmdel High School despite a furious second half comeback that pushed the then-second-seeded Hornets to overtime and the brink of defeat.

Once again granted an opportunity to knock out Holmdel - now the No. 15 seed in the SCT - on Thursday in the Shore Conference Tournament opening round, the Raiders did not let this chance slip away.

Senior Josh Sommerer scored two goals and Chris Varga tacked one one more in the final seconds as the No. 18 Raiders knocked off the Hornets to advance to the SCT round of 16 Saturday against No. 2 seed and defending champion Manalapan. The result snaps a string of four straight SCT quarterfinal appearances by Holmdel, the last three of which ended no earlier than the semifinals.

Josh Sommerer (16) and Alessio Rea (7) celebrate Toms River East's 3-1 win over Holmde on Thursday. Sommerer scored two goals for the Raiders, who advanced to the SCT round of the 16 to play defending champion Manalapan. (Photo by Larry Murphy)
Josh Sommerer (16) and Alessio Rea (7) celebrate Toms River East's 3-1 win over Holmde on Thursday. Sommerer scored two goals for the Raiders, who advanced to the SCT round of the 16 to play defending champion Manalapan. (Photo by Larry Murphy)
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Sommerer opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, a goal that sent Toms River East into the second half with a 1-0 lead. Holmdel drew even when Nick Chrystal hammered in a cross from Brednan Wall within the first 30 seconds of the second half.

Midway through the second half, Sommerer struck for his the game-winner, his second goal of the game and 14th of the season. The senior forward flicked a free kick from Kyle Unger with his head and the ball bounced into the net to give the Raiders the lead back.

Last year, Holmdel scored as time expired in the first half to up its halftime lead to 2-0, but Toms River East scored two second-half goals to force overtime before Holmdel eventually won it.

Just as Toms River East got another chance to take down Holmdel, it will again have a chance to beat a No. 2 seed on the road Saturday in Manalapan. Although they won a share of the Class A North division title and earned a No. 2 seed, the Braves have just one win over their last four games (1-1-2).

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