Boys Soccer – Middletown North Beats Ocean to Remain in B North Race

OAKHURST - The Middletown North High School boys soccer players who returned from last year's team know all about peaking for the postseason and they are hoping for more of the same this season.

With the Shore Conference Tournament less than a week away, the Lions turned in arguably their most complete effort this season by beating Ocean, 2-0, Saturday to keep their hopes of a Shore Conference Class B North championship alive while denying Ocean a chance to win the title outright.

Senior Elliot De La Rosa one-timed a Ryan Harmon cross into the far side netting in the 25th minute to open the scoring for Middletown North, which lost to Ocean, 1-0, on an own goal in the first meeting between the B North foes.

After his team took a 1-0 lead into the second half, junior Liam McGregor added another goal in the 51st for insurance. McGregor took a pass from De La Rosa on the right side of the 18-yard box, turned past a defender and slipped the ball inside the near post to give Middletown North an insurance goal.

Goalkeeper Scott Weigel earned the shutout by making seven saves, including two diving stops. The first one came in the first half on a clean, 10-yard strike by Ocean junior Steve Carton with the game scoreless.

The other came in the 70th with Middletown North leading 2-0. Ocean sophomore Santieno Harding drilled a low, left-footed shot that Weigel parried away with a dive to his left.

Middletown North can win at least a share of the Class B North championship by beating Manasquan at home on Monday and can win the title outright if Wall loses to or ties Long Branch and Ocean loses to or ties Red Bank Catholic.