NJSIAA Tournament

Sectional Quarterfinals

Central Jersey Group IV

Freehold Township conceded a goal three minutes into the game on a free kick from 30 yards out, but regrouped and scored two unanswered goals to defeat Hillsborough and advance into the CJG4 semifinals. 

The Patriots scored the equalizer off Shea Jackson’s corner kick. Junior Gaby Parker received the ball at the 18 yard line and floated it over the head of goalkeeper Abigail Reigrod. 

Freehold Township took the lead in the 52nd minute when senior Ainsley Moy scored on a free kick from 25 yards away.

Freehold Township will host No. 5 Howell in the semifinals. The Patriots defeated Howell, 4-0, during the regular season. 

(5) Howell 1, (13) Montgomery 0

Senior Jade Vieira scored the game’s lone goal in the 15th minute off a corner kick from Leila Oshiro. Howell held on to beat the Cougars and senior Madison Smith earned her ninth shutout of the season. 

Howell returns to the CJG4 semifinals for the first time since 2015 and will travel to division rival No. 1 Freehold Township.

(3) Manalapan 4, (6) Old Bridge 1  

Manalapan conceded the game’s first goal late in the first half, but scored four unanswered goals to defeat No. 6 Old Bridge and advance to the CJG4 semifinals for the third straight season. 

The Braves answered Old Bridge’s goal with two goals of their own to close out the first half. Senior Vanessa Sarf scored her 13th goal of the season to tie the game and senior Kasey Resker scored the game-winner a few minutes later. Resker would add a second goal on a penalty kick after Sarf was taken down in the box. 

Manalapan will travel to No. 2 Monroe on Thursday in the semifinals. 

(2) Monroe 2, (10) Marlboro 1 (OT)

 

Central Jersey Group III

(1) Middletown South 4, (8) Colts Neck 0

Middletown South extended its unbeaten streak to 13 games by defeating No. 8 Colts Neck in the quarterfinal round of CJG3. Junior Amanda MacGregor scored all four goals for the Eagles and had four different players assist the goals. 

Middletown South advances to the semifinals for the second straight season as they move closer to repeating as CJG3 champions. They will host No. 4 Steinert on Thursday.  

(4) Steinert 1, (5) Jackson Memorial 0 

Junior Mia Garofolo scored the game-winner for Steinert in the second half to advance into the CJG3 semifinals. They will travel to No. 1 Middletown South on Thursday. 

(3) Brick Memorial 5, (6) Hopewell Valley 0

A rematch of the 2021 CJG3 semifinals turned out better for Brick Memorial, as the Mustangs scored four goals in the first half to put away Hopewell Valley, 5-0. 

In 2021, Brick Memorial scored in the first two minutes, but ultimately conceded the equalizer and lost in a shootout. This year, the Mustangs scored 39 seconds into the game when senior Chloe Gellici scored on senior Gabby Hernandez’s corner kick. 

Brick Memorial added insurance in the 27th minute when Hernandez and Gellici partnered on another corner kick. Gellici finished the game with a hat trick and Hernandez finished with two goals and two assists. 

“It felt good to start the game strong and end even stronger,” Hernandez said. “Coach (Billy Caruso) said we deserve to move on after all the hard work we have put in all season and to empty our tanks and most importantly play for each other.”

Brick Memorial will host No. 7 Northern Burlington on Thursday in the semifinals.

 

Central Jersey Group II

(16) Holmdel 4, (8) Gov. Livingston 1

First Holmdel knocked off the No. 1 seed Spotswood and next defeated No. 8 Gov Livingston to advance into the CJG2 semifinals for the first time since 2021, when the Hornets won the Group 2 championship. 

Senior Sophia Laudi, who was on that championship team, scored a hat trick in the victory. She has five goals in the first two rounds of the state tournament for the Hornets. 

“Sophia thrives when the lights are the brightest,” Holmdel coach Brianna Brennan said. “Injuries were an issue for us earlier in the season so we needed her in a more defensive role during the divisional play. Being at full strength has freed Laudi up to get involved in the attack and take players down the line.”

Holmdel will travel to No. 5 Wall on Thursday in the semifinals. Holmdel lost to Wall in the regular season, 4-0.

(5) Wall 1, (4) Point Boro 0

The game remained scoreless until the 68th minute, when sophomore Cali Buxbaum snuck a shot past Bjorndahl to give Wall a 1-0 lead that stood up to send the Crimson Knights into the semifinals. 

Every time it appeared Wall was going to break through and score, either Ava Bjorndahl made a save or the Point Boro defense cleared the ball out of danger. 

Wall’s defense and goalie Nelly Bianchi held off the Panthers attack in the final minutes to give Wall the 1-0 victory. Point Boro’s best chance came in the 70th minute when Bianchi was down, but a Wall defender was able to clear the ball off the line.

Wall will host No. 16 Holmdel on Thursday in the semifinals.

(3) Rumson-Fair Haven 3, (6) Metuchen 1

Rumson scored two second-half goals to break the halftime tie and defeat No. 6 Metuchen, 3-1. 

For the second straight game, Rumson had every goal scored by a different player. Junior Aubrey Scoble, who scored in the opening round, had one goal and one assist Monday. Junior Stella Saad scored in the second half, giving her a goal in each of the first two rounds for the Bulldogs.

Rumson will travel to No. 2 Manasquan on Thursday in a semifinal matchup. 

(2) Manasquan 5, (7) Ocean 1

Manasquan scored four first-half goals and went on to defeat No. 7 Ocean to advance into the semifinals of CJG2 for the second straight season. 

The Warriors scored two goals within two minutes of each other to go up, 2-0, seven minutes into the game. Senior Bianca Chiarella assisted the first goal and scored the second goal for Manasquan. Senior Kali Saito had one goal and two assists in the game for Manasquan. 

Freshman Mia Fiorentino scored her 14th goal of the season for Ocean.

Manasquan will host No. 3 Rumson-Fair Haven on Thursday in the semifinals.

 

Central Jersey Group I

(5) Shore 2, (4) New Egypt 1   

Sophomore Jenna Eichenbaum scored a goal in both halves to lift Shore over New Egypt, 2-1. Eichenbaum, who had two assists in the opening-round victory, scored her 10th and 11th goal today to help Shore advance into the semifinals.

Shore Regional will travel to play No. 1 Highland Park on Thursday. 

(3) Point Pleasant Beach 7, (6) Middlesex 0

Point Beach had seven different goal-scorers on the way to a 7-0 victory over No. 6 Middlesex that advances the Garnet Gulls to the CJG1 semifinals.

Sophomore Ellie Loffreno led the Gulls with one goal and three assists and freshman Katie Kirchner added a goal and two assists. 

Point Beach will travel to No. 2 Riverside on Thursday in the semifinals. 

 

South Jersey Group IV

(2) Central 5, (7) Washington Twp. 1

Central Regional scored two goals in the opening minute of the second half to put the game away and defeat  No. 7 Washington Township to advance into the SJG4 semifinals.

Senior Samantha Versnel scored the game's first goal in the first half and added an assist in the second half for Central. Senior Laura Woermer, who scored two goals in the game, and senior Emma Harmon both scored to open up the second half. Harmon also had two assists in the game, giving her 11 on the season.

Central will host No. 6 Cherokee on Thursday in the semifinals. 

 

South Jersey Group III

(1) Ocean City 5, (8) Lacey 0

Senior McKenna Chisholm scored a hat trick for Ocean City to defeat No. 8 Lacey. Ocean City will return to the SJG3 semifinals on Thursday.

 

South Jersey Group II

(4) Cinnaminson 1, (12) Manchester Township 0

Manchester battled No. 4 Cinnaminson for 74 minutes before the Hawks ultimately conceded the game-winning goal to Shiloh Moore. Cinnaminson will play No. 2 Seneca in the SJG2 semifinals on Thursday.

 

Next Up

NJSIAA Non-Public Sectional Quarterfinals

Tuesday, Oct. 31

South Jersey Non-Public A

(8) St. John Vianney at (1) Notre Dame, 4 p.m.

(6) Paul VI at (3) Trinity Hall, 3 p.m.

(7) Immaculata at (2) Red Bank Catholic, 2:30 p.m.

South Jersey Non-Public B

(10) St. Rose at (2) Holy Spirit, 3 p.m.

 

NJSIAA Public Sectional Semifinals

Thursday, Nov. 2 (Times to be determined)

Central Jersey Group IV

(5) Howell at (1) Freehold Twp.

(3) Manalapan at (2) Monroe

Central Jersey Group III

(4) Steinert at (1) Middletown South

(7) Northern Burlington at (3) Brick Memorial

Central Jersey Group II

(16) Holmdel at (5) Wall

(3) Rumson-Fair Haven at (2) Manasquan

Central Jersey Group I

(5) Shore at (1) Highland Park

(3) Point Beach at (2) Riverside

South Jersey Group IV

(8) Gloucester Tech at (4) Kingsway

(6) Cherokee at (2) Central

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