St. Rose took three-time defending Non-Public B champion Gill St. Bernard's into penalty kicks in the state final -- a worthy performance to cap a resurgent season for the Purple Roses.
Led by its battle-tested seniors and a freshman phenom, Middletown South survived overtime to win its third NJSIAA sectional championship in the last six years.
After six straight years ending its season with a state-tournament loss to Shore, Point Beach finally conquered its Group I rival and is now one win from a sectional championship.
Washington Township and Toms River East have been the source of postseason frustration for Toms River North and the Mariners earned redemption against both in the last week.
Its dominance aside, Freehold Township has overcome a number of obstacles to get to this point of the season as the Shore Conference Tournament champion for the second straight year.
Middletown North has changed its fortunes over the last three weeks and it has come just in time to carry the Lions to their first Shore Conference semifinal appearance since 2004.
Multiple teams took the Shore Conference Class A South division race down to the wire and when the dust settled, Toms River South claimed the championship in the Shore's closest division race.