Boys Soccer – VOTE: Week 2 Surf Taco Player of the Week

Welcome to the Week 2 Surf Taco Boys Soccer Player of the Week Vote. Below are the six players of the week in each of the Shore Conference divisions, as selected by Shore Sports Network Soccer Writer Matt Manley. Scroll to the bottom to vote for the player you think deserved to be the second Surf Taco Boys Soccer Player of the Week for the 2018 season. Voting closes Thursday at 10 p.m., so get started and keep voting.

Class A North

Isaac Ball, Freehold Boro

Over the first two weeks of the season, Ball has proven to be one of the Shore best clutch goal-scorers, with game-winning goals in all three of Freehold Boro’s wins. Last week, the junior forward scored the winning goal in the final four minutes of a 3-2 win over Middletown South and scored the first goal of a 3-0 win over Point Boro.

Honorable Mention: Bennett Messinger, Freehold Twp.; Jason Junquet, Manalapan; Stiviny Silva, Long Branch; Danny Minze, Middletown South

Class A Central

Jack Giamanco, Holmdel

Despite losing four adept scorers from last year’s loaded lineup, Holmdel has had no trouble scoring again in 2018. While a big part of that is returning Player of the Year Anthony Arena, players like Giamanco have stepped up, with Giamanco in particular starting the year on fire. The junior recorded a hat trick in a 7-0 win over Raritan and broke the ice late in the second half of a 3-0 win over Colts Neck on Saturday. With two more goals on Monday vs. Monmouth, he leads the team with six of its 17 goals.

Honorable Mention: Kaan Pehlivan, Monmouth; Anthony Arena, Holmdel; Brian Waltsak, Monmouth; Ethan Wallace, Monmouth; Drew Greenblatt, Manasquan

Class A South

Kevin Kiernan, Southern

As is the case with most teams that start the season as well as the Rams have in 2018, Southern has been fortunate to get contributions from a lot of areas. Kiernan, however, has been the standout: he took over the reigns as the attacking center midfielder as a sophomore and has made the most of the opportunity. Last week, he scored the lone goal in a big, 1-0 win at Toms River South and followed that up with two more goals in a 4-1 win over Brick Memorial.

Honorable Mention: William DeLao, Brick; John Crist, Brick; Logan Romero, Toms River East; Nico Garcia, Toms River North

Class B North

Wilby Alfred, Neptune

Alfred appears to be off and running toward another big season after scoring 18 goals as a junior and this time he is taking his team with him. Neptune is off to a 3-0-1 start to the season, part of which were wins over Manasquan and St. John Vianney last week. Alfred scored two goals in a 6-0 drubbing of Manasquan on a Ranney Monday afternoon and came through with a goal and an assist in a 2-0 win on the road against the Lancers.

Honorable Mention: Aidan Newbury, Wall; Leo Montesinos, Ocean; Riley Powers, Wall; Armond Valentino, St. John Vianney; Marcelo Colonna, Matawan

Class B Central

Christian Riozzi-Bodine, St. Rose

With St. Rose facing a potential tough road loss at Central last week, Riozzi-Bodine sprung into action. The junior scored the game-tying goal in the 77th minute and tallied the golden goal in the third minute of overtime to turn his team’s fortunes and deliver the Purple Roses a win over the Golden Eagles.

Honorable Mention: Davenson JoinVilmar, Asbury Park; Alex Atno, Point Beach; Ki Costa, Point Beach; Jonathan Caputo, St. Rose

Class B South Player of the Week

Kip Byrne, Lacey

This past Monday, Byrne became Lacey’s all-time career-leader in assists, but it was his goal-scoring that stood out during two impressive showings by the Lions last week. The senior midfielder slammed home a hat trick and assisted both other goals – all in the second half – in a 5-1 win over Barnegat. Byrne also scored one of Lacey’s five goals in a 5-2 win over Red Bank.

Honorable Mention: Elton Canta, Jackson Liberty; Giovanni Hernandez, Lakewood; Kristian Talas, Lakewood; Junior Bravo, Lakewood; Sean Moffitt, Lacey