Girls Soccer Shore Conference Tournament Opening Round Preview

Shore Conference Tournament Opening Round Preview and Predictions

No. 17 Manasquan at No. 16 Toms River East, 6 p.m.

Road to SCT

Manasquan (Group 7 Runner-Up): Defeated St. John Vianney, 2-1; defeated Ranney, 5-0; lost to Central, 4-1

Toms River East (Group 6 Runner-Up): Defeated Raritan, 5-1; defeated Ocean, 3-2; lost to Manalapan, 3-0

Manasquan has one of the most organized defenses in the Shore Conference. The only two games in which the Warriors gave up more than two goals were against No. 1 Freehold Township and No. 4 Central Regional. The Warriors can also put the ball in the goal, with three players scoring seven or more goals on the season. Toms River East might be the hottest team entering the SCT. The Raiders won five straight games, including an upset against Brick Memorial last week. TRE gave up 12 goals in the first three games of the season and has only given up seven in their last seven matches.

Prediction: Manasquan wins in shootout, 1-1 after regulation.

No. 21 Colts Neck at No. 12 Brick Memorial, 2 p.m.

Road to SCT

Colts Neck (Group 3 Runner-Up): Defeated Monmouth, 2-0; defeated Donovan Catholic, 2-1; lost to Jackson Memorial, 2-1

Brick Memorial (Group 5 Runner-Up): Defeated Manchester, 6-0; defeated Middletown North, 3-0; lost to Red Bank Catholic, 2-1

Colts Neck has had an up-and-down season, but found some success with a lineup change, moving Terri Morgan to forward. A common theme over the last two seasons for the Cougars has been to play teams hard, but not being able to finish. Brick Memorial is the strongest team not to win an SCT group and will use that as motivation. The Mustangs have four players with five or more goals on the season. Goalkeeper Giselle Lizardi has been great this season as a first-year starter, posting seven shutouts.

Prediction: Brick Memorial 3, Colts Neck 0

No. 20 Shore Regional at No. 13 Howell, 4 p.m.

Road to SCT

Shore (Group 1 Runner-Up): Defeated Barnegat, 6-0; defeated Brick, 7-3; lost to Freehold Twp., 4-0

Howell (Runner-Up in Group 8): Defeated Long Branch, 6-0; defeated Jackson Liberty, 8-0; lost to Wall, 3-2 (OT)

If Brick Memorial is the first team that would have been ranked higher in the old format, Howell would have been a close second. Howell started the season with three straight loses to top 10 opponents. The Rebels ended the season winning six out of their last eight games, five by shutout. After not qualifying last season, Shore Regional is back in the SCT. The Blue Devils have a strong attack with senior Ava Agresti leading the team with 10 goals and sophomore Jenna Eichenbaum, who just returned from injury, adding seven more.

Prediction: Howell 4, Shore 2

No. 19 Red Bank Regional at No. 14 Marlboro, 4 p.m.

Road to SCT

Red Bank (Group 11 Runner-Up): Defeated Asbury Park, 6-0; defeated Neptune, 7-0; lost to Lacey, 3-2

Marlboro (Group 2 Runner-Up): Defeated Pinelands, 8-0; defeated St. Rose; tied Toms River North, 1-1

For the second straight season Marlboro and Red Bank will meet in the first round of the SCT. Last season, Marlboro edged out RBR, 1-0. Marlboro has played strong defense all season and freshman goalie Jordyn Bauer has played like an experienced veteran this season. RBR’s seniors have scored 23 of their 29 goals this season and will rely on their leadership to advance.

Prediction: Marlboro 3, Red Bank 2

No. 22 Holmdel at No. 11 Toms River North, 3:30 p.m.

Road to SCT

Holmdel (Group 10 Runner-Up): Defeated Keyport, 8-1; defeated Matawan, 5-0; lost to Point Boro, 3-0

Toms River North (Group 2 Winner): Defeated St. Rose, 6-0; defeated Pinelands, 6-0; tied Marlboro, 1-1

The two teams that benefited the most from the new format meet in the first round. Toms River North locked up a top 11 seed by winning SCT Group 2 and Holmdel won its only two games of the season in SCT Group 10 to guarantee a spot in the tournament. TRN is led by Alexis Garcia, who is one of the best players in the Shore Conference and has 60 career goals. This season, Kathryn Naughton leads Holmdel with five goals and last year's leader, Lily Reardon, has only three goals this season, but has scored in two of the last three games. Holmdel will need Reardon to continue to score in order to advance.

Prediction: Toms River North 3, Holmdel 1

No. 18 Toms River South at No. 15 Trinity Hall, 3:45 p.m. at Maria Gatta Park, Oceanport

Road to SCT

Toms River South (Group 4 Runner-Up): Defeated Freehold Boro, 5-0; defeated Point Beach, 2-1; lost to Middletown South, 4-0

Trinity Hall (Group 9 Runner-Up): Defeated Lakewood, 7-0; defeated Southern, 2-0; lost to Rumson-Fair Haven, 1-0

Both teams play strong defense and this can be a game where the first team that scores wins. Trinity Hall only gave up three goals in the regular season and Emily Venezia has posted eight shutouts. The combo of senior Emma Woch and freshman Ava Knight will need to find a way to crack the Monarchs defense for Toms River South.

Prediction: Trinity Hall 1, Toms River South 0 in overtime