The boys soccer state tournament will officially kick off on Wednesday, signaling the beginning of a run that will see six teams crowned as state champions in just three short weeks.
NJ Advance Media is breaking down every bracket in preparation for the state of the tournament.
Below, find our preview on all four Central Jersey brackets.
FAVORITE
Shore
Shore, the No. 1 seed in the section, won its first Group 1 title last year with a 1-0, overtime victory against Brearley, and also won the sectional title in 2022. This year, the Blue Devils are 13-7 and went 4-2 in the Shore Conference B North Division. They opened going 9-3 with losses against Southern, St. John Vianney and Howell, and have gone 4-4 in their last eight games with losses to Ocean Township, Red Bank Regional, Long Branch in the Shore Conference Coaches’ Cup final and Toms River South. Sixteen different players have combined for 54 goals and 45 assists, with senior Jadyn DeRosa leading the way with 15 goals and 12 assists. Senior goalie Thomas Wenner has 93 saves and five saves in 18 games.
CONTENDERS
Florence
Florence is the No. 2 seed in this section and has gone 11-7-1 and 4-3-1 in the BCSL Patriot Division this season. The Flashes opened the season going 3-3 and then won five-straight games before a 2-1 loss to Delran. In their last seven games, they‘ve gone 3-3-1 with losses to Seneca, Shawnee in the South Jersey Coaches’ Cup first round and Palmyra. Senior Derek Tindall leads the team with 28 goal and 12 assists, while senior Eddie Smith has 12 assists and four goals. Sophomore goalie Michael Habingreither has made 112 saves with two shutouts in 17 games.
Middlesex
Middlesex is the No. 3 seed after going 10-7-1 and 1-5-1 in the Greater Middlesex Conference Blue Division. The Blue Jays went 4-7-1 in its first 12 games, but closed the season out on a six-game win streak, outscoring opponents 14-3 with four shutouts. Senior Christopher Moreno (11 goals, four assists) and junior Ryan Buitron (five goals, 15 assists) have led the offense, while junior goalie Kevin Rand has 85 saves in 17 games with six shutouts.
Roselle Park
Roselle Park made a run to the sectional semifinals last year as the No. 7 seed and lost to Shore 2-1. The Panthers, which went 11-7 and 5-1 atop the Union County Conference Valley Division, has one-goal losses to College Achieve Central and Brearley, both of which are in this bracket. Fourteen different players have combined for 47 goals and 36 assists, with junior David Trigueros leading the way with 12 goals and six assists. Sophomore goalie Danny Arias has made 92 saves in 18 games with three saves.
College Achieve Central
College Achieve Central also went on a run last year, advancing all the way to the sectional final as the No. 8 seed where it fell to Shore 1-0 in overtime. This year, the Phoenix are 13-5 and went 7-2 in the Skyland Conference Mountain Division, with losses to Manville, Montgomery, Blair, Immaculata and Somerville. But since a 5-4, overtime loss to Somerville on Sept. 25, it has won 10-straight games, outscoring opponents 38-7 with five shutouts. Twenty-one different players have combined for 57 goals and 50 assists, with seniors Christopher Ramirez (nine goals, four assists) and Bryan Rodriguez (eight goals, 14 assists) leading the way. Senior goalie Alex Pineda, who played in six games last year, has 70 saves in 10 games with four shutouts.
BEST FIRST-ROUND MATCHUP
11-Point Pleasant Beach at 6-Manville
PROJECTED SECTIONAL FINAL
2-Florence at 1-Shore
FAVORITE
Robbinsville
Robbinsville won the Group 3 title in 2022 and advanced to the final last year where it fell to Garfield 2-1. This year, the Ravens, ranked No. 12, moved over to Group 2, and earned the No. 2 seed after going 16-1-2 and 6-0-1 in the Colonial Valley Conference Colonial Division. Robbinsville was undefeated through its first 17 games before a 2-0 loss to Notre Dame in the CVC Tournament semifinals, then ended the regular-season with a win over North Brunswick. The Ravens have outscored opponents 57-12 with 10 shutouts and have been led by seniors Nicholas Grippa (20 goals, nine assists), Mitchell Shapiro (13 goals, 19 assists) and Ethan Pagani (11 goals, six assists). Senior Brody Kaplan, a two-year starter, has 112 saves in 19 games and has faced the best offenses in the CVC this season.
CONTENDERS
Cinnaminson
Cinnaminson, which went 10-9-2 last year, made a run to the sectional semifinals as the No. 4 seed and fell to eventual Group 2 finalist Delran 2-1. This year, the Pirates have gone 14-4-1 and 4-1-1 in the BCSL Liberty and earned the No. 1 seed. After starting the season 3-2-1, they won nine-straight games before a loss to Bordentown. Since then, they closed out the regular season going 2-1 with wins over Cherry Hill West and Delsea and a loss to Moorestown in the South Jersey Coaches’ Cup quarterfinals. Senior Noah Huber (11 goals, three assists) leads an offense that has scored 40 goals, while senior goalie Luke Rittler, a three-year starter, has 138 saves in 19 games with six shutouts.
Bordentown
Bordentown, which earned the No. 3 seed, fell in the first round to Wall 1-0 last season. This time around, the Scotties have gone 11-5-1 and 4-3-1 in the BCSL Patriot Division with losses to Northern Burlington, Florence, Palmyra, Moorestown Friends and Burlington Township. Bordentown closed out the regular season going 5-1, outscoring opponents 14-2 with three shutouts in those five wins. Sophomore Anthony Crisostomo (seven goals, two assists) leads the team in scoring while sophomore Marco Carlini leads the team in assists with eight. Freshman goalie Liam Mellor has made 123 saves in 17 games with four shutouts.
Delran
Delran has been the best team in South, Group 2 over the last three years, winning back-to-back Group 2 titles in 2021 and 2022, and last year falling to Ramsey in the final. This season, they moved into Central, Group 2 and they‘re the No. 4 seed after going 9-7-2 and 4-2 in the BCSL Liberty Division. Delran opened the season with three-straight 1-0 wins before going 1-3-1 with a 1-0 win over Cinnaminson, a 0-0 tie with Lenape and losses against Bordentown, Kingsway and Hun. Six of Delran’s losses were by one goal, and the Bears have only scored 15 goals in 11 games. Junior goalie Anthony Salvitti has 130 saves in 17 games with 10 shutouts.
Ocean Township
Ocean Township is the No. 5 seed after going 12-4-1 and 4-1-1 in the Shore Conference B North Division. The Spartans opened the season going 6-1 with a 4-3 loss to Howell and outscored opponents in those six wins 18-2 with five shutouts. They lost 2-0 to St. John Vianney on Sept. 25 but have gone 6-2-1 in their last eight games, and ended the regular season with a 2-1 loss to eventual Shore Conference Tournament champ Colts Neck in the semifinals. Sophomore Connor Shaw leads the team with 12 goals to go with one assist, while sophomore Matthew Makower has helped anchor a defense that has allowed 17 goals with nine shutouts.
BEST FIRST-ROUND MATCHUP
10-Wall at 7-Rumson-Fair Haven
PROJECTED SECTIONAL FINAL
2-Robbinsville at 1-Cinnaminson
FAVORITE
Colts Neck
Colts Neck fell in the quarterfinals to Steinert last year as the No. 7 seed, and this year returns as the No. 1 after going 17-0-2 and 5-0-1 in the Shore Conference A Central Division. The Cougars, ranked No. 15, have ties against Manalapan and No. 13 Princeton, and defeated Christian Brothers 3-2 to win their first Shore Conference Tournament title. Colts Neck has outscored opponents 72-18, with senior Kyle Moore (23 goals, 12 assists) and sophomore Sean Moore (27 goals, 10 assists) leading the offense. Senior goalies Justin Appel and Dan Ravelo have combined for 37 saves and nine shutouts.
CONTENDERS
Northern Burlington
Northern Burlington went 6-13 last year and fell to Howell in the first round as the No. 15 seed. This year, the Greyhounds are 10-6-1 and went 2-3-1 in the BSCL Liberty Division to earn the No. 2 seed. They opened the season going 5-5-1, but after a loss to Cinnaminson finished the regular season going 5-1 with a loss to Haddonfield. Sophomore Elijah Font leads the team with 12 goals and 10 assists, while goalies George Senf and Kyle Brennan have anchored a defense that has posted three shutouts.
Steinert
Steinert made a run to the sectional final last year and fell to CVC opponent Robbinsville in a shootout in the final. This year, Steinert is the No. 3 seed after going 13-3-3 and 5-0-2 in the CVC Colonial Division. The Spartans opened the season on a 8-0-3 streak before a 1-0 loss to Cherokee on Oct. 5, but rebounded with a 2-0 win over then-No. 14 Princeton before falling to Hun 1-0. They closed out the regular season going 4-1 with a 1-0 win over Notre Dame and a 2-0 loss to Princeton in the Colonial Valley Conference Tournament semifinals. Sophomore Christopher Vega (seven goals) and senior Tyler Tafrow (six goals, four assists) have led the team offensively, while senior goalie Dennis Chaykovskyy has 60 saves in 16 games with nine shutouts.
Middletown South
Middletown South earned the No. 4 seed in this section after going 8-7-3 and 2-3-1 in the Shore Conference A Central Division. Its three ties were all 0-0 against Holmdel, Freehold Township and Manasquan, and four of its seven losses were by one goal, including a 1-0 loss to Shore Conference Tournament champion Colts Neck and a 2-1 loss to Christian Brothers.
BEST FIRST-ROUND MATCHUP
9-Long Branch at 8-Hopewell Valley
PROJECTED SECTIONAL FINAL
3-Steinert at 1-Colts Neck
FAVORITE
Hunterdon Central
Hunterdon Central moved from North 2, Group 4 prior to this season and earned the No. 1 seed after going 13-2-1 and 7-1 in the Skyland Conference Delaware Division. The Red Devils, which last won a Group 4 title in 2016, lost in the quarterfinals of North 2, Group 4 last year as the No. 4 seed. Ranked No. 8, Hunterdon Central started the season 8-0, allowed four goals and posted five shutouts before a 2-1 loss to Monroe on Oct. 5. Since then, it has gone 5-1-1, including winning the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament title, wins over then-No. 13 Seton Hall Prep and Gill St. Bernard’s, a loss to then-No. 11 Pingry and a 0-0 tie against Franklin. Nineteen different players have contributed offensively to the tune of 37 goals and 34 assists, with senior Michael Catanzarite leading the way with 11 goals and five assists. Junior goalie Chase Reinhard has 43 saves in 12 games with six shutouts.
CONTENDERS
Manalapan
Manalapan went 15-3-1 season and 6-0-1 in the Shore Conference A Central Division and earned the No. 2 seed in this bracket. The Braves opened the season on a six-game win streak before a 2-1 loss to Toms River East, then went on a 8-0-1 streak that included a 3-3 tie with Colts Neck and a 4-3, overtime win against Southern. Manalapan then lost to Colts Neck 3-0 in the Shore Conference Tournament and closed out the regular season with a win over Freehold Township and a loss to Toms River North. Fifteen different players have combined for 65 goals and 49 assists, with juniors Ethan Lustig (17 goals, 10 assists) and Dan Altman (12 goals, seven assists) and senior Christian Laverde (11 goals, six assists) leading the way. Sophomore goalie Chase Lee has 116 saves in 17 games with five shutouts.
Princeton
Princeton, the reigning Group 4 champion, won this section as the No. 1 seed with a win over Howell last year, which moved to South, Group 4. This year, the Tigers, ranked No. 14, have gone 14-2-4 and 5-2 in the CVC Colonial Division, with losses to Robbinsville and Steinert and ties against Cherokee, Westfield, Gill St. Bernard’s and Colts Neck. Seventeen different players have combined for 61 goals and 48 assists, with seniors Azariah Breitman (19 goals, six assists) and Archie Smith (14 goals, 12 asssits) leading the way. Senior goalie Nicolas Holmelund, a three-year starter, has 81 saves in 20 games with 10 shutouts.
Marlboro
Marlboro earned the No. 3 seed after going 12-4-1 and 3-2-1 in the Shore Conference A North Division. The Mustangs started the season 5-3 with losses to Christian Brothers, Middletown South and Howell, but closed out the season going 7-1-1 with a 3-2 loss to St. John Vianney, a 1-1 tie with Rumson-Fair Haven. Senior Jake Langella leads the team with 15 goals and eight assists, while senior goalie Tim Yafutov has made 103 saves in 14 games with five shutouts.
Monroe
Monroe, the No. 5 seed, advanced to the semifinals last year and fell to Princeton and made it to the final in 2022 where it fell 1-0 to Freehold Township. This season, the Falcons have gone 12-5-1 and 4-2 in the GMC Red Division, with losses to Old Bridge, St. Joseph (Met.) (twice), then-No. 19 Pingry and Christian Brothers. They also tied then-No. 20 Westfield and beat then-No. 8 Hunterdon Central 2-1 and went 7-1 in their final eight games with five shutouts. Senior Aidan Ayar leads the team with 11 goals and 10 assists, while senior goalie Nate Offenberg has 92 saves in 17 games with seven shutouts.
South Brunswick
Last year South Brunswick made it to the quarterfinals where it fell to Monroe as the No. 5 seed, and in 2022 made a run to the semifinals as the No. 15 seed and fell to third-seeded Freehold Township 3-0. This season, the Vikings are the No. 6 seed after going 12-5-2 and 4-1-1 in the GMC Red Division. They opened on a 6-0-1 streak where they allowed just one goal with six shutouts before going 1-4-1 with losses to Monroe, then-No. 17 Elizabeth, then-No. 12 Hunterdon Central and then-No. 11 Robbinsville. South Brunswick then closed out the regular season winning five of its last six games with a shootout loss to St. Joseph (Met.) in the GMC Tournament final. Aidan Fung (eight goals, one assist) leads the team in scoring, while senior goalie Logan Rogers, a two-year starter, has 73 saves in 11 games with six shutouts.
BEST FIRST-ROUND MATCHUP
9-North Brunswick at 8-Montgomery
PROJECTED SECTIONAL FINAL
3-Princeton at 1-Hunterdon Central
Jake Aferiat can be reached at jaferiat@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him at @Jake_Aferiat
Lauren Knego may be reached at lknego@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @laurenknego
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