NJSIAA Tournament

Sectional Semifinals

North Jersey 2, Group III

(6) Middletown North 1, (7) Summit 0

Liam McGregor scored in the third minute of the second half off a through-ball from Zak Bent and the Lions (14-4-2) held on to beat the Hilltoppers (15-7-1) and reach a sectional final for the first time since 1999.

Middletown North will travel to No. 1 Hopewell Valley in search of the program's first sectional final since the Lions won Central Jersey Group IV in 1991. Hopewell eliminated Middletown North in last year's sectional semifinals, 4-2, after the Lions took a 2-0 lead to halftime.

 

Central Jersey Group IV

(3) Marlboro 1, (15) Manalapan 0 (OT)

Senior P.J. Ringel scored his second golden goal of the tournament and the Mustangs (20-2-1) beat the Braves (11-9-2) for their third straight overtime victory, which propels Marlboro into its first sectional championship game appearance since 2004.

Senior Justin Markowitz touched a long ball in Ringel's direction and after chesting it toward the goal, Ringel shot the ball with his outside right foot and tuck the 20-yard strike into the far right corner.

Ringel scored the overtime winner in a first-round win over Colts Neck one week earlier - a game he played just one day after the passing of his father. Marlboro defeated North Brunswick on an overtime winner by Zach Scarpa on Thursday.

Marlboro will look to win its first ever NJSIAA sectional title Thursday when the Mustangs travel to play top-seeded Hunterdon Central.

 

Central Jersey Group III

(2) Toms River South 3, (3) Wall 0

Tyler Egnatuk scored midway through the first half and Isaiah Dominguez followed with a goal before the break to spark the Indians (15-3-2) to a win over the Crimson Knights (14-6-3) and earn a third straight trip to a sectional final.

Jack Seitz tacked on a goal early in the second half and Toms River South leaned on goalkeeper Dom Pizzi for his second straight clean sheet.

Toms River South will host No. 8 Allentown in Thursday's sectional final, as the Indians shoot for their second consecutive sectional title. Toms River South won South Jersey Group III last year on its way to a Group III title game appearance.

 

Central Jersey Group II

(2) Bernards 1, (3) Matawan 0

Nick Neptune scored the game's lone goal in the first half and the Huskies (13-4-3) could not muster an equalizer as their banner season came to an end against the one-loss Mountaineers (19-1-1).

(13) Rumson-Fair Haven 3, (9) Holmdel 0

Mitch Lauria scored two goals in a span of six minutes in the second half and Jeremy Nives tacked on an exclamation point in the 70th as the Bulldogs (10-12) beat the Hornets (9-7-3) to advance to the sectional final for the second time in four years after entering the tournament five games below .500.

Nick Calabrese assisted Lauria's first goal - a header in the 53rd minute that broke a scoreless tie - as well as Nives's insurance tally.

Rumson will travel to face No. 2 Bernards in Thursday's sectional final as the Bulldogs look to win their first ever sectional title.

 

Central Jersey Group I

(1) Asbury Park 2, (4) South River 1 (OT)

Fenelson Etienne finished off a pass from Davensky JoinVilmar in the 95th minute for his second goal of the game and the Blue Bishops (17-3-1) beat the defending sectional champion Rams (15-5-1) in overtime to reach the Central Jersey Group I final. Asbury Park will host No. 3 Palmyra in the championship game on Thursday.

 

South Jersey Group III

(3) Mainland 0, (7) Central 0 (Mainland advances in shootout, 3-0)

Goalkeeper Tom Ruscitti and Central's defense pitched its third consecutive shutout, but the Golden Eagles (13-5-3) could not score a goal and fell to the Mustangs (17-2-2). Mainland will host No. 8 Hammonton in the sectional final on Thursday.

 

South Jersey Group II

(7) Haddonfield 1, (3) Point Boro 0

Max Green scored off a corner kick in the 76th minute and the Bulldogs (16-4-2) broke the hearts of the Panthers (18-4) to advance to the sectional final Thursday against top-seeded Delran.

 

South Jersey Non-Public A

(1) CBA 2, (5) St. Joseph Metuchen 1

Scott Misson finished off a pass from Ryan Nigro in the 68th minute and the Colts (22-1) fought off a tough challenge from the Falcons (12-8-2) to earn their third straight appearance in the South Jersey Non-Public A final.

Matt Mawson scored off a feed from Matt Thorsheim five minutes into the game, only for St. Joseph to answer less than 10 minutes later.

CBA will take on St. Augustine at Eastern High School in the South Jersey A final for the second consecutive season. The Colts beat the Hermits, 2-1, in last year's sectional championship game.

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