Class A South Preview

This is the first year I'm making preseason soccer picks, so I've elected to go the more conservative route when faced with a tough decision. In this case, it's Jackson vs. Toms River North. Had I done this before, I might go with Toms River North based on the skill they have back from a team that was only a couple breaks away from being a legitimate top 10 team. But Jackson has some good speed and experience that makes them everyone's favorite to win the division. If I had the experience - or the cajones - I might go with North, but I'll go with the popular pick for now.

1. Jackson



Somone told me whenever we at the Press acknowledge Jackson's high expectations, they have disappointing results. I can't vouch for that theory, but a lot of the returning players from last year's team acknowledged that they got complacent after climbing to the No. 1 ranking in the Shore. With six starters back from last year's team, including a top-three keeper in the Shore (at least) in Alex Morgans, the Jags have the experience and talent to make a run at the Class A South, Shore Conference, and sectional titles that all eluded them last year. The defense will be as strong, if not stronger than it was last year, but the challenge for coach Steve Bado will be finding the offense to replace APP Player of the Year Ben Rodkey and Jerry Mecca. With the Jackson Liberty split going into full effect next year, there is a sense of urgency about Jackson that wasn't as strong last year. Whether that helps or hurts remains to be seen.


Big Three: Alex Morgans (Sr.), Tito Nurundeen (Sr., Def.), Mike Carletta (Jr., For.).





2. Toms River North

After a down-year in 2006, the perenial power is back among the top teams in the Shore with a heavy dose of battle-tested seniors and varsity-level sophomores. The Mariners endured an 0-4 start, an injury to top offensive player Dan Huff, and one-goal losses that eliminated them from both the Shore Conference Tournament (a 1-0 loss to Howell) and the NJSIAA South Jersey Group IV playoffs (a shootout loss to Washington Twp.). They went though a lot of growing pains, but the good news is seven of last year's starters had the chance to grow up and try again this year. TR North appears to have more offensive skill and goal-scoring ability, but Jackson was a faster team and they can guard the goal. These two are the class of the division and it could go either way.

Big Three: Huff (Sr., Mid.), Eric Istvanditsch (Sr., Def.), Dan O'Neill (Sr., Mid.).

3. Toms River East

You would think a team that needs to replace nine starters from last year's team wouldn't have a chance in the Shore Conference, but the 2007 version of the Raiders appears poised to exceed expectations just as the 2006 team did. One coach told me that he didn't think last year's TR East team was anything special when he saw them in the preseason and they turned out to be 18-3-1. He then said this year's team looked better. Brandon Zeller could emerge as one of the best players in the division in the midfield and Pete Fitzsimmons was one of the best finishers on last year's team. Bruce Burgess and Joe Shore saw significant time and are capable defenders, but the key to the season may be how senior John Amey holds up in goal. He's the only keeper on the varsity roster and one of only two in the entire program, according to coach Ted Gillen. That experience - or lackthereof - at keeper is what separates TR East from Jackson and TR North.

Big Three: Zeller (Sr.), Fitzsimmons (Sr.), Shore (Sr.).

4. Brick Memorial

I saw Brick Mem. once last year, a 3-2 loss to Holmdel in the Shore Conference Tournament. In that one game, the Mustangs put on a Jekyll and Hyde performance that typified the season. Two defensive breakdowns led to two Homdel goals by Albert Zheng in the first three minutes, followed by Brick Memorial dominating from about the 10th minute to the 65th minute. The Mustangs tied the game at two and even had some chances to put the game away, but Holmdel came away with a goa and a win. This season will be a continuing quest for a talented team to find consistency. The talent probably isn't as abundant as it was last year for Kevin Bliem's team, but if they can ride their defense and keeper Chris Pimentel, they may be better off than trying to outscore teams as they did last year.

Big Three: Joe Kocher (Sr., Mid.), Pimentel (Sr.), Krishna Nathu (Jr., D).

5. Brick

The buzz around Ocean County, and to a certain extent the Shore Conference, is that Brick is the sleeper team of the season. The only issue with the Dragons is the absence of a lot of impact seniors. Ken Lynch will start eight juniors and two sophomores against a very tough schedule that includes games against Manalapan and CBA on top of the A South slate. However, his one senior, center midfielder Andrew Smith is a major player in the division and could be the man that carries Brick into a top three spot in A South. This is the best team Lynch has had in his four years as coach, and if they don't make their case as a top 10 team in the Shore this year, they should do so next year.

Big Three: Smith, Dan Durnian (Jr., For.), Dan Wroblewski (Jr., GK).

6. Toms River South

I could be dead wrong about this team. They have a lot of solid players back, but have a lot to replace at the same time. The Indians lost two First Team All-Shore scorers, Sean Nelson and Dan Constantini, who essentially did all the scoring for coach Ed Liebe's team. Scoring will be much harder to come by without their two play-makers, but seniors Ian Martin and Andrew Leissing will pick up some of the slack. Martin came on strong at the end of last year and will take over Nelson's role as the primary playmaker. There are nine players back that saw significant time last year, but replacing Nelson's and Contantini's 26 goals and a goalkeeper will not be easy.

Big Three: Martin (Mid.), Andrew Leissing (For.), Jordan Panecki (Sr., Mid.).

7. Lacey

Second-year head coach Joe Humenik is hoping his players have turned from cubs into Lions after its first season in A South. According to Humenik, Lacey may have one of its best teams in school history while four-year letter-winner Randy Romanowski is looking to break school records in goals, assists, and scoring. The question is, will that talent be reflected in the Lions' record against an A South schedule that is much tougher than the B South schedule that is a not-so-distant memory for many of the players? Lacey could be a surprise team, but with all the talent in A South this year, I'll allow myself to be surprised with everyone else if it does happen.

Big Three: Romanowski, Doug Meehan (Sr., GK), Steven Torre (Jr., Mid.).

8. Southern

The Rams return five starters from a 4-13 team in what will be a difficult season to throw together a starting lineup and beat this line of A South teams. Coach Paul Lovas won't call this a rebuilding year, but I'd say only Toms River East is dealing with more inexperience than Southern in A South. The difference is that the Raiders have some parts left over from Top 10 teams in the Shore, while Southern does not. Southern competed against some of the top teams in the division last year and with just those five starters back, Lovas would be content to compete again.

Big Three: Darren Schoeneberg (Sr., Mid.), Tim Moffit (Sr., F), Jimmy Morris (Sr., D).

Fab Five

1. Alex Morgans - Jackson

2. Dan Huff - Toms River North

3. Brandon Zeller - Toms River East

4. Andrew Smith - Brick

5. Eric Istvanditsch - Toms River North