Boys Soccer – NJSIAA Tournament Preview: Non-Public A and B

South Jersey Non-Public A

Shore Teams in the Field: No. 1 CBA, No. 6 Donovan Catholic, No. 7 Red Bank Catholic, No. 8 St. John Vianney
Defending Champion: CBA
Top Seed: CBA
Favorite: CBA
Sleeper Team: None. I have never passed on picking a sleeper, but this field only has 12 teams and seven of them are well below .500. Maybe that makes the entire field below No. 5 sleepers, but it’s also really hard to see any of the Nos. 6 through 12 seeds winning a quarterfinal game. Donovan Catholic might have the best chance with its young roster that has battled its way to some tough losses this year, but St. Augustine is a tough first-round draw. RBC has played better in recent weeks, but probably won’t have the pieces to slow down a dangerous Bishop Eustace team. St. John Vianney beat Manalapan and hung with Freehold Township last week, but beating CBA in a potential quarterfinal is a different beast.
Prediction: CBA over No. 2 Bishop Eustace. The defending Non-Public A champs should face little resistance before the sectional final, although the Colts have shown some vulnerabilities over the last three weeks. Bishop Eustace is probably the most dangerous team in the bracket for CBA, but St. Augustine is always tough as well, even if the Hermits are more of a good team than a great one this year.

CBA senior Shane Keenan. (Photo by Matt Manley)

Round-by-Round Results

(8) St. John Vianney over (9) Camden Catholic

(7) Red Bank Catholic over (10) Paul VI

Quarterfinals

(1) CBA over (8) St. John Vianney

(4) St. Joseph Metuchen over (5) Notre Dame

(3) St. Augustine over (6) Donovan Catholic

(2) Bishop Eustace over (7) Red Bank Catholic

Semifinals

(1) CBA over (4) St. Joseph Metuchen

(2) Bishop Eustace over (3) St. Augustine

Final

(1) CBA over (2) Bishop Eustace

South Jersey Non-Public B

Shore Teams in the Field: No. 6 St. Rose, No. 8 Ranney
Defending Champion: Gill St. Bernard’s
Top Seed: Gill St. Bernard’s
Favorite: Gill St. Bernard’s
Sleeper Team: St. Rose. It’s not much easier to find a sleeper in this bracket than it is to find in the South Non-Public A field, but the Purple Roses come close. St. Rose has not been able to hang with the best teams on their schedule, but they do have some weapons that could put it all together for a run to the sectional final against a strong Gill St. Bernard’s team. Ranney, meanwhile, has played much better during the latter part of the season is set up to win a game before running into the top-seeded Knights in the quarterfinal.
Prediction: Gill St. Bernard’s over Immaculata. Although only a .500 team heading into the tournament, Immaculata has played a challenging schedule and picked up some notable wins over Somerville and Bernards. The Spartans did lose to Gill St. Bernard’s twice, but at least they will know what they are getting into in a potential championship game.

St. Rose junior Evan Walters. (Photo by Paula Lopez)

Round-by-Round Results

(8) Ranney over (9) Holy Cross

(5) Moorestown Friends over (12) St. Joseph Hammonton

(4) Wildwood Catholic over (13) Gloucester Catholic

(3) Immaculata over (14) Holy Spirit

(6) St. Rose over (11) Wardlaw-Hartridge

(7) Trenton Catholic over (10) Rutgers Prep

Quarterfinals

1 Gill St. Bernard’s over (8) Ranney

(4) Wildwood Catholic over (5) Moorestown Friends

(3) Immaculata over (6) St. Rose