It took 16 extra minutes than expected, but Jaycen Santucci's 31-point performance sent No. 3 Central home with a quadruple-overtime win over No. 14 Southern.
Gaby Parker and Hailey Santiago each had a two-goal half as Freehold Township defeated Central Regional to advance to its third straight Group 4 Final.
Middletown South played hard defense and goalie Allie Greco made diving save after diving save to advance into the SCT Finals for the first time since 1998.
With a senior leader back from a nasty injury that ended his 2022 season, an experienced, hungry Central side is off to its best start in over a decade.
With a pair of wins over ranked teams and a climb into the top five of the Shore Sports Network Shore 16, Central is the first Surf Taco Girls Soccer Team of the Week of 2023.
Teams from Class A South took some lumps against the rest of the Shore last year, but this year features a deeper, more talented field, led by perennial contender Toms River North.