Shore Sports Network Brielle Orthopedics 2023 Boys Soccer All-Shore Team: Second and Third Team

Shore Sports Network All-Shore Team

Teams selected by Shore Sports Network Soccer Editor Matt Manley based on stats, coaches input, first and second-hand accounts. For the coaches' choices, click here.

Check Out: 2023 Boys Soccer All-Shore First Team

Second Team

Forwards

Kyle Moore, Jr., Colts Neck

2023 Stats: 22 goals, 10 assists

Colts Neck torched the Shore Conference field when it comes to scoring goals and Moore was one half of the duo that led that operation. His 54 points tied Holmdel’s Stepan Kapranov for second in the Shore Conference and his 22 goals trailed only Joey Kurak of Manchester (28). Moore did not have any three-goal games in 2023, but he did post five goals in a win over Ocean and four in a win over Matawan, as well as five other two-goal games.

Chris Lopez, Sr., Long Branch

2023 Stats: 11 goals, 5 assists

Lopez’s senior season got off to a literal rough start when he suffered a head injury that required stitches in Long Branch’s second game of the season and kept him out of the next two games. Once he came back, Lopez established himself as a clutch goal-scorer and creator for a 12-win team. He scored a goal and set up the winning own goal in a 2-1 overtime win over Rumson-Fair Haven, posted a hat trick in a 3-2 win over Manchester, and went for two goals and an assist in a Class B North division win over Colts Neck.

Sean Moore, Fr., Colts Neck

2023 Stats: 21 goals, 10 assists

The other half of Colts Neck’s sibling scoring tandem, Sean Moore stepped onto the varsity pitch as a freshman and immediately proved to be one of the Shore’s most adept forwards of any age. His 52 total points was good for fourth in the Shore Conference, his 21 goals tied him for third and only two players in the Shore Conference were credited with more assists. Sean Moore notched three hat tricks – including a four-goal game vs. Freehold Boro – and capped his outstanding debut with two goals in each of Colts Neck’s two NJSIAA Tournament matches.

Anthony Ruggiero, Sr., Toms River North

2023 Stats: 10 goals, 3 assists

Ruggiero got a smattering of minutes during Toms River North’s 2021 NJSIAA South Jersey Group IV championship season and in the two years since, he emerged as the top scoring option for the Mariners. In his final year, Ruggiero was one of five players in the Class A South division to score at least 10 goals and his scores were almost all of great consequence. Ruggiero scored a goal against each of Class South’s other top-five teams in the standings (Southern, Toms River East, Central and Jackson Memorial) and he scored four goals in seven postseason games, including two in a 2-1 win over Lenape in the sectional semifinals.

Midfield

Kosta Papanikolas, Sr., Toms River North

2023 Stats: 6 goals, 6 assists

Like his All-Shore teammates, Anthony Ruggiero and Luke Montanile – Papanikolas got a chance to play on Toms River North’s decorated 2021 team and became a leader on its subsequent teams. This past season, Papanikolas was a versatile player who showed prowess in both the middle of the park and on the wing. While much of his contributions did not appear on the stat sheet, some of them did: he erupted for a hat trick against rival Toms River South posted a goal and three assists during the NJSIAA Tournament and scored one of his goals against Middletown North – the No. 5 team in the Shore Sports Network Shore 16 rankings.

Dimitry Corba, Sr., Christian Brothers Academy

2023 Stats: 5 goals, 5 assists

Corba was not able to contribute to the final two rounds of CBA’s run to a third straight Shore Conference Tournament title because of a knee injury, but the senior midfielder was instrumental in helping the Colts get that far. A second-year starter and a third-year regular, Corba was CBA’s best attacker and creator out of the midfield and his performance against Howell – an assist on the equalizer, followed by a game-winning goal – carried CBA to a 2-1 win that was crucial in clinching the outright Class A North title. Corba also had an assist in a 2-1 overtime win over Marlboro, the last game he appeared in before the state final vs. Seton Hall Prep.

Nick Prosperi, Jr., Southern

2023 Stats: 10 goals, 4 assists

Southern had its best season more than three decades during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, but this year’s Rams team showed that its best days may still be yet to come. Southern performed especially well against its own division and Prosperi’s knack for coming up with a big goal had a lot to do with that. The junior midfielder scored against each of the other seven teams in the Class A South division, which included key wins over Toms River North, Central and Toms River East.

John Gambale, Sr., Christian Brothers Academy

2023 Stats: 5 goals, 8 assists

As a speedy, crafty winger on the Shore’s No. 1 team, Gambale’s play throughout the season was worthy of All-Shore consideration. It was his contribution late in the season, however, that pushed Gambale’s candidacy over the finish line. With senior teammate Dimitry Corba sidelined with a knee injury, Gambale delivered a goal in the Shore Conference Tournament championship game, scored another in a 1-0 win over St. Joseph of Metuchen in the South Jersey Non-Public A first round, and assisted the goal by Lawrence Mancino that clinched the South Non-Public A title with a 1-0, overtime win over Pingry.

Maxx Eichenbaum, Sr., Shore

2023 Stats: 14 goals, 5 assists

Eichenbaum watched from the stands in 2022 as his high school team at Shore Regional won its first NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I title since 2014 before its season ended with a loss in the Group I semifinal. A year later, Eichenbaum decided to return to high school soccer to be part of another sectional championship run with the hopes of making it a state title run. Eichenbaum and the Blue Devils delivered, with Shore winning its first ever Group I championship and Eichenbaum assisting the championship-clinching goal by Stephen Molnar in the Group I final.

Defense

Padraig Flynn, Sr., Rumson-Fair Haven

2023 Stats: 5 goals, 3 assists

Rumson brought back only three returning starters from last year’s Class A Central championship team and Flynn was one of them. An outside back initially, Flynn moved up and played in the midfield when the situation called for it and whatever roll the Bulldogs needed him to play, he shined in it. Flynn was a penalty-kick master and delivered goals for Rumson against Class A Central divisional foes Holmdel, Wall and Raritan. The first of those games gave Rumson a leg up on the Hornets for the division title, the win over Wall officially clinched the outright division title and the win over Raritan was a first-round, Central Jersey Group II Playoff game.

Jack Marano, Sr., Southern

2023 Stats: 1 goal

After a resurgent season for the program in 2023, Southern is set up to make a serious play for both the Shore Conference Tournament and South Jersey Group IV titles next year thanks to the considerable talent set to return in 2024. Without seniors like Marano and classmate Matt Hoosack, however, the leap forward this season would not have been as significant. Marano made his presence felt as a central defender for a Southern back line that allowed 18 goals in 17 games and closed the season out with shutouts in back-to-back state tournament games. Marano and goalkeeper Jack Schweigart led a shutout of top-seeded Washington Township in the South Group IV semifinals, but the Minutemen prevailed on penalty kicks.

Diego Nieves, Sr., St. Rose

2023 Stats: 7 goals, 3 assists

By the numbers, St. Rose had the most effective defense in the Shore Conference when it comes to the most important measurement of all: keeping opponents out of the goal. The Purple Roses surrendered a Shore-Conference-low 10 goals in 20 games, and while a lot of that credit goes to goalkeeper Jack Harmon and center back Henry McLean, Nieves deserves his due. Nieves played a defensive center midfield role and controlled most of St. Rose’s matches from the middle of the field. He also delivered some key goals, including one vs. Toms River South in an SCT round-of-16 win and one apiece against Ranney and Princeton Day in the NJSIAA South Jersey Non-Public B Tournament.

Goalkeeper

Landon Terrell, Sr., Middletown North

2023 Stats: 7 shutouts, 18 goals allowed

Terrell was voted by the coaches as the top goalkeeper in Monmouth County after shutting down the Lions goal this season. Terrell is a looming figure in goal at 6-foot-3 and athleticism that makes him quick to react on shots and extra-difficult to beat in the air. Those skills and attributes helped Terrell and the Middletown North defense, which battled injury issues on the back line early in the season, hold opponents to 18 goals in 18 games with seven shutouts. Middletown North was one of nine teams in the Shore Conference to hold opponents to under 20 goals on the season, which helped the Lions reach the Shore Conference Tournament semifinals for the second straight year.

Bobby Calvo, Jr., Toms River East

2023 Stats: 6 shutouts, 23 goals allowed

Calvo is on track to be a four-year starter in goal for Toms River East, which endured some growing pains over the first three weeks of the season before hitting its stride. The Raiders found their identity in a well-connected team that could always rely on its quick and cagey goalkeeper. Calvo was at his best in the Shore Conference Tournament, during which he made critical saves in wins over Central and Colts Neck and kept the Raiders close in a loss to Middletown North. In the shootout win over Central, Calvo saved two attempts and made one to carry Toms River North to the round-one win.

Third Team

Forwards

Keith Swistock, Sr., Central

2023 Stats: 7 goals, 1 assist

Central turned another corner this season, reaching 10 wins for the first time since 2016 while finishing third in a competitive Class A South division. Swistock was a steady player on the attack, tying for the team lead in goals and scoring critical goals in Shore Conference Tournament group-play wins over both Manchester and Holmdel. Swistock capped his senior year by scoring in Central’s NJSIAA South Jersey Group IV first-round win over Bridgeton.

Shawn McCann, Sr., Middletown South

2023 Stats: 8 goals, 3 assists

Fresh off his second straight season as Middletown South’s top scorer, McCann is the All-Shore representative for an Eagles team that finished the season at No. 7 in the final Shore Sports Network Shore 16 rankings. Middletown South’s biggest win of the season was an upset of CBA and McCann stepped up to score a goal in that eye-opening win. McCann also scored twice in a Shore Conference Tournament win over Group I champion Shore Regional, plus scored against ranked teams in Marlboro and Colts Neck.

Jose Oliva, Jr., Lakewood

2023 Stats: 20 goals, 4 assists

Oliva got a late start to the season but once he debuted, he was one of the Shore’s most electrifying players. Despite missing September, Oliva was one of only five players in the Shore Conference to score 20 goals and he did it in the fraction of the games compared to the other players who reached that mark. Oliva score four goals in three games and three twice. Against Holmdel in the Shore Conference Coaches Cup quarterfinals, Oliva showed he could thrive against good teams by scoring a goal to go with an assist.

Frankie Brusco, Sr., Holmdel

2023 Stats: 17 goals, 3 assists

With two First Team All-Shore midfielders as teammates, Brusco was tasked with finishing off goals at the front of the formation and came through for his team. He finished seventh in the Shore Conference with his 17 goals and many of them were among Holmdel’s most meaningful goals of the season. His lone hat trick came against 2022 Central Group IV champion Freehold Township an he scored four game-winning goals, including the championship-clinching goal in a 1-0 victory over Manasquan in the Central Jersey Group II final.

Midfield

Lucas Farkas, Sr., Manasquan

2023 Stats: 8 goals, 10 assists

Only three teams scored more goals than Manasquan’s 58 as a team in 2023 and Farkas was the Warriors’ senior maestro in the middle. He was one of 11 Shore Conference players credited with at least 10 assists on the season and his résumé of teams against which he scored a goal is a strong one: Wall, Colts Neck, Middletown South, Point Boro and Jackson Memorial, among others. Between the Shore Conference Tournament group stage, tournament play and the NJSIAA Tournament, Farkas posted four goals and seven assists in nine matches.

Matteo Pasqualichio, Sr., Lacey

2023 Stats: 15 goals, 10 assists

The top scorer on one of the two Class B South co-championship teams, Pasqualichio finished tied for sixth in the Shore Conference in total scoring and was one of six players in the Shore Conference to notch both double-digit goals and double-digit assists on the season. He scored against each of the other four top-five teams in the Class B South standings (Manchester, Point Boro, Lakewood and Pinelands) to aid Lacey in its climb to a division co-title, including a goal and two assists in a convincing regular-season win over Manchester.

Shaan Moon, Sr., Jackson Memorial

2023 Stats: 12 goals, 4 assists

In the final week of September, Jackson Memorial had its season epiphany and turned its fortunes after a 1-5-1 start. The Jaguars went 7-3-3 the rest of the way, including 5-1 in the six matches that followed the 1-5-1 start. Moon helped feed that stretch by scoring seven goals in those six games, including one in a 2-1 win over Southern and another in a 3-1 win over Wall in the Shore Conference Tournament opening round.

Trevor Barrett, Jr., Marlboro

2023 Stats: 5 goals, 3 assists

Barrett was the pace-setter in the midfield for a Marlboro side that, while enduring its share of ups and downs, was competitive against the Shore’s best teams (two losses to CBA on late game-winning goals, a draw vs. Howell. He put up a goal and an assist in a win over Freehold Township, scored in a loss to No. 7 Middletown North and scored twice in a regular-season win over Central Jersey Group IV semifinalist Old Bridge.

Cristian Gonzalez, Jr., Manasquan

2023 Stats: 11 goals, 6 assists

Gonzalez was a model of consistency when it came to scoring and creating goals for the high-powered Warriors, which rode its dangerous attack all the way to the Central Jersey Group II final. Gonzalez scored or assisted a goal in 14 of Manasquan’s 20 games and racked up 11 goals despite never scoring more than one in any match. Manasquan played in six tournament games between the Shore Conference Tournament and the Group II Playoffs and Gonzalez scored a goal in each of the first five, including a goal against Governor Livingston in the Central Group II semifinals that he put in directly off the kickoff.

Defense

Jack Eubanks, Sr., Toms River North

2023 Stats: 2 goals

Toms River North made a strong case as the best defensive team in the Shore Conference in 2023 and Eubanks was in the middle of it as the Mariners’ senior center back. The Class A South champions led the Shore Conference with 13 shutouts, with eight of the 12 goals they allowed all season coming in three losses to CBA, Southern and Washington Township.

Nick Ribeiro, So., Long Branch

2023 Stats: 2 assists

Although only a sophomore, Ribiero is a towering presence on the back line, where he helped Long Branch defended the box both in the air and on the ground. Led by Ribiero and fellow center-back standout, junior Evan Santiago, the Green Wave conceded only 20 goals in 19 games on the season, including 16 in the last 18 games after the first two matches were marred by a red card and a key injury to senior leader Chris Lopez.

Henry McLean, Jr., St. Rose

2023 Stats: 3 goals

McLean played at the center of the Shore’s top team in goals conceded, with the junior center back leading a defense that allowed 10 goals in 20 matches. He was one of many standouts in Manasquan’s dominant 6-0 win over Manasquan in the group stage of the Shore Conference Tournament and helped lead shutout efforts all three group-play games, as well as all three of St. Rose’s matches in the NJSIAA Non-Public B Playoffs.

Goalkeeper

Zach Frabizio, Sr., Ocean

2023 Stats: 7 shutouts, 24 goals allowed

There was not a more clutch keeper in the Shore Conference this season than Frabizio, who made his mark in close tournament games – particularly in the Shore Conference Tournament. It started in the group play stage, during which Ocean won its group by surrendering just one goal in four matches, including a 1-0 win over Middletown South. Frabizio’s two shining moments came in shootout wins over Manalapan in the SCT round of 16 and Allentown in the Central Group III first round. In both Ocean wins, he saved two attempts during the shootout and in the state-tournament win over Allentown, Frabizio buried the winning kick to send Ocean past the 2022 sectional runner-up.

Jack Harmon, Sr., St. Rose

2023 Stats: 11 shutouts, 11 goals allowed

For the second straight season, Harmon was on his game during the postseason for St. Rose, but the season leading up to the NJSIAA Non-Public B Tournament went even better for the Purple Roses this time around. Harmon and his defense topped the Shore Conference with 0.5 goals allowed per game (10 in 20 matches) and collected 11 shutouts – good for a second-place tie within the Shore. Harmon posted clean sheets in all three of St. Rose’s Shore Conference Tournament group stage games and all three of its NJSIAA Tournament games, with the Purple Roses bowing out on penalty kicks in the sectional final. In Shore Conference Tournament and state tournament play, Harmon allowed just two goals to slip past him in eight games.

Coming Soon: 2023 All-Shore Final Vote

Vote for the final four members of the 2023 Shore Sports Network All-Shore Team. Check back later on Friday for the nominees and the poll and start voting.