Quick Review
In lieu of scores, I thought I might do a brief "midseason" review on the season tonight. I don't know if it's really the halfway point, but we're just into October and the second trip through the each division.
I like numbers, but I don't have the stats right in front of me as I write this, so I'm going on memory and generalities. Nevertheless, we move on.
Midseason Top 25
1. Howell (9-2)
2. Manalapan (8-2)
3. Toms River East (8-2)
4. Jackson Mem. (8-2-1)
5. Freehold Twp. (6-3-1)
6. CBA (6-4-1)
7. Monmouth (6-2-1)
8. Toms River South (6-4)
9. Brick (6-3-2)
10. Rumson-FH (7-1-1)
11. Monsignor Donovan (9-2)
12. Red Bank (6-2)
13. Toms River North (5-5)
14. SJ Vianney (6-2-2)
15. Midd. North (5-5)
16. Wall (5-3-2)
17. Ocean (5-3-1)
18. Manasquan (6-3-1)
19. Lakewood (5-3)
20. Central (5-3-1)
21. Point Beach (6-3)
22. Shore (7-2)
23. Raritan (4-2-2)
24. Point Boro (5-3-3)
25. Neptune (4-4)
Realistically, all of the teams in A North are in the Top 25 "best teams" but records have to count for something. Brick Mem., Colts Neck, Marlboro, and even Lacey should all be considered among the top 25 in terms of talent, but they're all under .500. The only .500 team I left off the list is Pinelands at 6-3-1. They started well, but got blown out by Lakewood and MonDon and had to go to overtime to beat Jackson Liberty, and now have one of their top scorers, Antonio Scotto Di Carlo on the shelf with a leg injury.
Player of the Half-Year
Eric Mackin, Monmouth - Mackin is not only near the top with 29 points, but has been in the middle of every big Monmouth goal this year. There is a disclaimer to this pick though: Mackin needs to make some noise in the Shore Conference Tournament against the Conference's best. Monmouth has not defeated, or even played, a top 10 team this year so he'll need to do it against good competition. He's definitely good enough to do that, so, he's the front-runner.
Also in the mix: Cody Calafiore (Howell), Ian Martin (TRS), Alex Morgans (Jackson Mem), George Quintano (Manalapan).
Co-Coaches of the Half-Year
Ted Gillen, TRE and Rich Yuro, Howell - I know, this is a total cop-out, but it's only October. I'll make a choice when I have to. Both Gillen and Yuro have dealt with their fair share of issues en route to two-loss records. Gillen lost eight starters to graduation but has his team clicking after a 3-2 start. Yuro, meanwhile has turned Kyle Bethel's injury into a positive (if that's possible) by gettign contributions from a lot of different sources and turing Bethel into the Shore's best decoy.
First Team All-Shore Mid-Season
F-Eric Mackin, Monmouth
F-George Quintano, Manalapan
F-Ian Martin, TR South
F- Brian Thomsen, Donovan
M-Cody Calafiore, Howell
M-Brandon Zeller, TR East
M- Hunter Gorskie, Marlboro
M- Adam Rice, Manalapan
D- Jim Lannon, CBA
D- Tito Nurundeen, Jackson Mem
D- Andrew Smith, Brick
D- Billy Kappock, Howell
GK- Alex Morgans, Jackson Mem
This is pretty preliminary, and a guy like Smith might be a stretch because he plays so much midfield. But Brick plays him a lot at sweeper, so he qualifies for now. In addition, there are usually only 12 all-shore spots, so one of the position players will likely be cut.
I like numbers, but I don't have the stats right in front of me as I write this, so I'm going on memory and generalities. Nevertheless, we move on.
Midseason Top 25
1. Howell (9-2)
2. Manalapan (8-2)
3. Toms River East (8-2)
4. Jackson Mem. (8-2-1)
5. Freehold Twp. (6-3-1)
6. CBA (6-4-1)
7. Monmouth (6-2-1)
8. Toms River South (6-4)
9. Brick (6-3-2)
10. Rumson-FH (7-1-1)
11. Monsignor Donovan (9-2)
12. Red Bank (6-2)
13. Toms River North (5-5)
14. SJ Vianney (6-2-2)
15. Midd. North (5-5)
16. Wall (5-3-2)
17. Ocean (5-3-1)
18. Manasquan (6-3-1)
19. Lakewood (5-3)
20. Central (5-3-1)
21. Point Beach (6-3)
22. Shore (7-2)
23. Raritan (4-2-2)
24. Point Boro (5-3-3)
25. Neptune (4-4)
Realistically, all of the teams in A North are in the Top 25 "best teams" but records have to count for something. Brick Mem., Colts Neck, Marlboro, and even Lacey should all be considered among the top 25 in terms of talent, but they're all under .500. The only .500 team I left off the list is Pinelands at 6-3-1. They started well, but got blown out by Lakewood and MonDon and had to go to overtime to beat Jackson Liberty, and now have one of their top scorers, Antonio Scotto Di Carlo on the shelf with a leg injury.
Player of the Half-Year
Eric Mackin, Monmouth - Mackin is not only near the top with 29 points, but has been in the middle of every big Monmouth goal this year. There is a disclaimer to this pick though: Mackin needs to make some noise in the Shore Conference Tournament against the Conference's best. Monmouth has not defeated, or even played, a top 10 team this year so he'll need to do it against good competition. He's definitely good enough to do that, so, he's the front-runner.
Also in the mix: Cody Calafiore (Howell), Ian Martin (TRS), Alex Morgans (Jackson Mem), George Quintano (Manalapan).
Co-Coaches of the Half-Year
Ted Gillen, TRE and Rich Yuro, Howell - I know, this is a total cop-out, but it's only October. I'll make a choice when I have to. Both Gillen and Yuro have dealt with their fair share of issues en route to two-loss records. Gillen lost eight starters to graduation but has his team clicking after a 3-2 start. Yuro, meanwhile has turned Kyle Bethel's injury into a positive (if that's possible) by gettign contributions from a lot of different sources and turing Bethel into the Shore's best decoy.
First Team All-Shore Mid-Season
F-Eric Mackin, Monmouth
F-George Quintano, Manalapan
F-Ian Martin, TR South
F- Brian Thomsen, Donovan
M-Cody Calafiore, Howell
M-Brandon Zeller, TR East
M- Hunter Gorskie, Marlboro
M- Adam Rice, Manalapan
D- Jim Lannon, CBA
D- Tito Nurundeen, Jackson Mem
D- Andrew Smith, Brick
D- Billy Kappock, Howell
GK- Alex Morgans, Jackson Mem
This is pretty preliminary, and a guy like Smith might be a stretch because he plays so much midfield. But Brick plays him a lot at sweeper, so he qualifies for now. In addition, there are usually only 12 all-shore spots, so one of the position players will likely be cut.
posted by Matt Manley at 5:48 PM
16 Comments:
By the end of the week, If Shore can Win Thursday and Friday I think your Top 25 will look much different.
I think one of the FHTS midfielders should be in on the mix for First Team (Clark or Noesges) Both have just as much skill as those chosen.
i don't understand why the Wall sweeper and the monmouth midfielder wouldnt be considered for best in the shore. They are the two best players in that BNorth division.
First off the midseason report is excellent stuff.
I just have one question...why does mackin get so much love. Dont get me wrong he is a good player but I dont think hes player of the year quality. He probably isnt even the best player on his team.
kid from north has scored a bunch of goals, and hes listed as a defender, i dont know his name but if north turns it around he should get some consideration for all shore
#2 - Noesges is right up there with the 4 middies I named, but like you said, he has just as much skill. Not necessarily more either. Zeller, Calafiore, Gorskie, and Rice had slightly better numbers at the time, although Noesges' hat trick puts him up there in that regard too. He's played great so far, and now the numbers are coming around too, so it may be hard to keep him off.
Regarding Mackin - He has 12 of his team's 22 goals this year and many of those turned out to be huge goals. Most B North coaches share my belief that he's the best player in the division, but I understand why one might like Dutra more.
Mackin is a tentative choice because he hasn't done it against the same level of competition that Martin, Calafiore, or Quintano have. Ultimately, Mackin will face some better competition at some point and how he plays will be a strong determining factor on his player of the year chances.
teams from b central like RFH, Point Beach, and Shore have good records but is that just because of the weak division or are they legit threats?
Matt why dont you go to a shore game and take a look at the talent. Have you seen Roberto Nova play (goal Scorer)? As far as a pure midfielder Taylor Scarpino has the tools (speed, ball movement, Foot skills)-Its not all about scoring goals. How about Stephen Kahle- Strong Striker that can Finish. I think you would be impressed.
B Central is for real. RFH has played with the big boys and won. Although Shore needs an attitude adjustment they are nasty. Beach is very solid defensively and I love how their sweeper plays. Shore is better than Beach, but RFH is the class of the division.
Solid work as always. Obviously guys are going to be missed and things will be cleared up come SCT and States. Just a few other guys to watch out for...
Dutra (Mid- Monmouth)
Smith (Def- Freehold Twp)
Russo (Def- Manalapan)
Lowy (Mid- Ocean)
Fitzsimmons (Mid- TRE)
and of course, it goes without saying Kyle Bethel has yet to be heard from.
To the Shore fan(s) - I'm tentatively going to the Rumson game tomorrow, so hopefully I do get my first look at you guys.
The five players listed by the last annonymous poster were all on the radar. I like Dutra and Lowy a lot, and Fitsimmons is the best pure goalscorer on the team that looks like its going to win A South. As far as the defensive guys go, you have to look at that crop of Freehold senior defenders, not the least of which is Logan Smith. I've seen a lot of Russo over the last year and a half, and he's definitely All-Shore caliber. If I put four defenders on the team and Andrew Smith of Brick is not one of them, Russo takes the spot.
Bethel is obviously a unique case because heading into the year, a healthy Bethel figured to be a shoo-in. He looked much better in the Manalapan tie and scored his first meaningful goal of the year against CBA.
If Manasquan beats RBR and wins more than half of the rest of their games could they finish in the top 10 at the end of the season?
For Manasquan to be in the Top 10: Likely scenario would be to win A Central (or at least tie), make it to somewhere near the SCT quarters and probably get to and maybe win Central Group II finals. They have three losses already and no big wins, so they'd have to get to work. They have been an excellent postseason team though, so I wouldn't rule it out.
how about shore's mid-fielder roberto novoa in the top 10, he has a lot of goals and assist, he had amazing goals against rumson on friday, the free kick, and the bicycle shot were unbelievable, you should take a look at that kid, or taylor scarpino, as well as connor mackenzie, hes a freshman and hes on varsity and doing an amazing job,
You should consider South's coach, Ed Leibe, as Coach of the Year. Everyone, including you, counted South out at the beginning of the season and they've turned into a team to be reckoned with. Aside from Ian Martin, you've got Leissing and some good defenders as well.
seriously have to consider rumson coach, john reynolds, as coach of the year. completely turned around their program. first time in 11 years RFH has won division in his first season
also rumson players such as pahler, portman, and guistiani
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