The Finals
#1 Howell (17-2-1) vs. #2 Manalapan (15-2-2)
Saturday, Oct. 27, 5 p.m. at Memorial Field, Neptune
It's Howell-Manalapan for the third time this year and the seventh time in the last two years. What more can you say? I'll think of something.
Once Manalapan righted the ship in the middle of its Class A North schedule, it has been the Rebels and the Braves, and then everybody else. Manalapan showed just how much of a difference there is between the second-best team in the Shore and the third-best team by dominating Jackson from start to finish. Jackson may not be the third-best team, but there isn't much separating Jackson from TR East, CBA, Marlboro, Monsignor Donovan, Toms River South, Monmouth, and Central.
The semifinal game between the two teams was more competitive than the final between TR East and Manalapan, so it's only right that the two will meet in the finals. These two teams are already familiar with what each other does and wants to do, but in case you all aren't, let's have a look.
Howell
From what I've seen, the Rebels are hands-down the best team in the Shore. I saw one Shore Conference coach at the semifinals on Thursday who was in a talking mood, and he told me Howell was the best team he had seen in the entire state and that other coaches around the state have come to the same conclusion. They move the ball beautifully, they have speed, they have two great scorers in Cody Calafiore and Kyle Bethel, they have very good supporting players in Eric O'Neill, Billy Kappock, and Chris Katona, and they have a suffocating defense.
Unfortunately for the Rebels, looking like the best team will amount to nothing for them Saturday night. They will have to score more goals than Manalapan, which they had trouble doing in two postseason meetings with the Braves last year. Howell has a similar team to the one it did last season, for better and for worse. I mentioned some of the good earlier, but patching up their few weaknesses will critical to Howell finishing the job this year.
Howell has two flaws that could work against them Saturday. The first is their inconsistency finishing quality chances. This can happen to any team, and it's not really a major problem, but it has been a theme is some of the Rebels games in which they have lost, or come close to losing. Even in a 5-2 win over Marlboro, there were some early opportunities they couldn't finish before errupting late. Again, not a major problem for a team that creates a lot of opportunities, but if opportunities are hard to come by, finishing will be even more important.
The second flaw is that Howell cannot afford to let Manalapan dictate the pace, more specifically the physicality, of the game. They have been sucked into playing and more up-and-down, phyisical game in the past against the Braves, and it showed in the CJ IV game last year when the Braves beat them 2-0. Even in the 2-2 tie this year, Howell missed some chances earlier and allowed Manalapan to counter for two goals because they got out of their possession game. Howell can win the up and down game because it has some tremendous skill players, but they have not faired well doing so against Manalapan. Howell needs to possess the ball and force Manalapan to do the same in order to build an attack.
Manalapan
The Braves are playing a lot like they did during the postseason last year, which should be a scary proposition for the Rebels and everyone else in Group IV. They are 13-0-2 in their last 15 and only Howell and Midd. North have even come close to beating them.
George Quintano is the front-runner for player of the year after the hat trick against one of the Shore's top defenses in Jackson, and he'll need to be even better against Howell. The Rebels have done a great job keeping him in check this year, holding the senior scoreless in two games. He doesn't necessarily have to score, but he'll need to be able to create scoring chances in some capacity. If Quintano is held down, Caner Semen and Adam Rice will be key for the Manalapan attack. If Quintano is hounded for most of the game, Rice and Semen will have the ball at their feet most of the time.
Manalapan has not shown many weaknesses of late, but their defense has to be at the top of the short list. Brandon Russo has looked very comfortable at sweeper, but the rest of the group was inexperienced coming into the year. They've had time to grow, but Howell was still able to create some quality chances in the second meeting. Jake Grinkevich is as good a goalie as there is in the area, but there are some coaches who don't think he's regained all of his speed since his left ankle injury.
As stated earlier, Manalapan has to dictate the pace of this game, which they have been able to do in their postseason meetings with Howell and in their last two SCT games. The Braves have played great in the postseason in the last two years, and carry with them about as much skill, leadership, and experience that they had last year.
The Last Word
This rivalry reminds me of the Patriots-Colts rivalry, with Howell playing the role of the Colts and Manalapan playing the role of the Pats. Howell is the better team to watch. They play a good-looking brand of soccer and when you look at the skill players on the field, it's hard to find many teams that are better. Meanwhile, Manalapan, while not playing an ugly brand of soccer by any means, plays a more physical game, relying more on creating mismatches and pouncing on quick scoring opportunities rather than trying to possess the ball. The obvious parallel between the rivalries is that Manalapan, like the Pats, had a mental edge over their opponent that showed in these big games. They are able to play the game the way they want to and Howell has trouble getting the game back in their favor. The regular season success means something, but if Howell falls behind early and loses control of the game, it's going to be hard not to say "here we go again.''
I like the way Manalapan is playing right now. They are confident, their defense is playing well, and their top players are playing their best. Howell has a more quiet confidence about them, which is harder to read. What's easy to read is their play on the field. Still, I think there's something to be said about experience. They've both been there, but Manalapan has won this game before. I think they'll do it again.
The Pick: Manalapan 3-2.
Saturday, Oct. 27, 5 p.m. at Memorial Field, Neptune
It's Howell-Manalapan for the third time this year and the seventh time in the last two years. What more can you say? I'll think of something.
Once Manalapan righted the ship in the middle of its Class A North schedule, it has been the Rebels and the Braves, and then everybody else. Manalapan showed just how much of a difference there is between the second-best team in the Shore and the third-best team by dominating Jackson from start to finish. Jackson may not be the third-best team, but there isn't much separating Jackson from TR East, CBA, Marlboro, Monsignor Donovan, Toms River South, Monmouth, and Central.
The semifinal game between the two teams was more competitive than the final between TR East and Manalapan, so it's only right that the two will meet in the finals. These two teams are already familiar with what each other does and wants to do, but in case you all aren't, let's have a look.
Howell
From what I've seen, the Rebels are hands-down the best team in the Shore. I saw one Shore Conference coach at the semifinals on Thursday who was in a talking mood, and he told me Howell was the best team he had seen in the entire state and that other coaches around the state have come to the same conclusion. They move the ball beautifully, they have speed, they have two great scorers in Cody Calafiore and Kyle Bethel, they have very good supporting players in Eric O'Neill, Billy Kappock, and Chris Katona, and they have a suffocating defense.
Unfortunately for the Rebels, looking like the best team will amount to nothing for them Saturday night. They will have to score more goals than Manalapan, which they had trouble doing in two postseason meetings with the Braves last year. Howell has a similar team to the one it did last season, for better and for worse. I mentioned some of the good earlier, but patching up their few weaknesses will critical to Howell finishing the job this year.
Howell has two flaws that could work against them Saturday. The first is their inconsistency finishing quality chances. This can happen to any team, and it's not really a major problem, but it has been a theme is some of the Rebels games in which they have lost, or come close to losing. Even in a 5-2 win over Marlboro, there were some early opportunities they couldn't finish before errupting late. Again, not a major problem for a team that creates a lot of opportunities, but if opportunities are hard to come by, finishing will be even more important.
The second flaw is that Howell cannot afford to let Manalapan dictate the pace, more specifically the physicality, of the game. They have been sucked into playing and more up-and-down, phyisical game in the past against the Braves, and it showed in the CJ IV game last year when the Braves beat them 2-0. Even in the 2-2 tie this year, Howell missed some chances earlier and allowed Manalapan to counter for two goals because they got out of their possession game. Howell can win the up and down game because it has some tremendous skill players, but they have not faired well doing so against Manalapan. Howell needs to possess the ball and force Manalapan to do the same in order to build an attack.
Manalapan
The Braves are playing a lot like they did during the postseason last year, which should be a scary proposition for the Rebels and everyone else in Group IV. They are 13-0-2 in their last 15 and only Howell and Midd. North have even come close to beating them.
George Quintano is the front-runner for player of the year after the hat trick against one of the Shore's top defenses in Jackson, and he'll need to be even better against Howell. The Rebels have done a great job keeping him in check this year, holding the senior scoreless in two games. He doesn't necessarily have to score, but he'll need to be able to create scoring chances in some capacity. If Quintano is held down, Caner Semen and Adam Rice will be key for the Manalapan attack. If Quintano is hounded for most of the game, Rice and Semen will have the ball at their feet most of the time.
Manalapan has not shown many weaknesses of late, but their defense has to be at the top of the short list. Brandon Russo has looked very comfortable at sweeper, but the rest of the group was inexperienced coming into the year. They've had time to grow, but Howell was still able to create some quality chances in the second meeting. Jake Grinkevich is as good a goalie as there is in the area, but there are some coaches who don't think he's regained all of his speed since his left ankle injury.
As stated earlier, Manalapan has to dictate the pace of this game, which they have been able to do in their postseason meetings with Howell and in their last two SCT games. The Braves have played great in the postseason in the last two years, and carry with them about as much skill, leadership, and experience that they had last year.
The Last Word
This rivalry reminds me of the Patriots-Colts rivalry, with Howell playing the role of the Colts and Manalapan playing the role of the Pats. Howell is the better team to watch. They play a good-looking brand of soccer and when you look at the skill players on the field, it's hard to find many teams that are better. Meanwhile, Manalapan, while not playing an ugly brand of soccer by any means, plays a more physical game, relying more on creating mismatches and pouncing on quick scoring opportunities rather than trying to possess the ball. The obvious parallel between the rivalries is that Manalapan, like the Pats, had a mental edge over their opponent that showed in these big games. They are able to play the game the way they want to and Howell has trouble getting the game back in their favor. The regular season success means something, but if Howell falls behind early and loses control of the game, it's going to be hard not to say "here we go again.''
I like the way Manalapan is playing right now. They are confident, their defense is playing well, and their top players are playing their best. Howell has a more quiet confidence about them, which is harder to read. What's easy to read is their play on the field. Still, I think there's something to be said about experience. They've both been there, but Manalapan has won this game before. I think they'll do it again.
The Pick: Manalapan 3-2.
posted by Matt Manley at 3:31 PM
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