Friday Sectional Finals
Last year, the Shore Conference had seven teams in seven games in the finals, but only three (Holmdel, Manalapan and CBA) advanced to the next round. This year, six teams are playing in five games, with CBA already advancing Thursday night. We know at least one more team (Howell or Manalapan) will join them, but let's take at exactly which teams might be joining CBA in next round.
#6 Manalapan at #4 Howell
Like I said when I previewed the SCT final, just saying "Howell-Manalapan" is enough. There's not much that hasn't already been said, but I'll try to say a little anyway.
Howell has proven itself as the best team in the Shore. They are loaded with talent, can play any style they choose, and if there was any mental block last year against Manalapan, it's gone after the SCT final.
Howell certainly got the better of play in that game, but it was still only 1-0. Manalapan has a keeper in Jake Grinkevich who can save quality shots on the goal and do so repeatedly to keep his team in the game. So while Howell might be getting the quality shots, Manalapan has someone who can save them.
Howell is going to play their game. They will move the ball, they'll get good looks and they will make life difficult for George Quintano. They are the team with the blowout potential because the quality opportunities will be there and it will be a matter of the Rebels finishing vs. Grinkevich stopping them.
The key is Quintano. Howell has done as good of a job on him as you can and if they do it again, they will probably win. Manalapan has other capable players, but the offense runs through Quintano. He'll need to, at the very least, take advantage of all the attention and find some holes in the Howell defense, if they exist.
It feels like Manalapan owes Howell one here, but it's also apparent that Howell is the better team on most days. Howell has a lot of players that can beat you, while Manalapan has a few players that have to play well for them to win. Quintano may finally break loose against Howell, but I'll take the safe pick.
The Pick: Howell 2-0
#12 West Windsor North at #3 Red Bank
I don't have as much to say about this one because I don't know much about the Knights. But both teams have a chance to win their first ever sectional title, so both will be extra pumped. Red Bank has won 4-1, 2-1 in OT, and 5-1 in their state games, so maybe they are due for another close one. That would make some sense because WWPN has played everyone tight, winning 3-2, 1-0, and 2-0. The 2-0 win over Neptune was even closer than the score, considering Neptune, by all accounts, had the better of play. Red Bank beat Neptune 3-1 this year, so that is the only frame of reference to work with between the two teams. Neptune got beat because WWPN had a forward that eventually got to a sporadic Fliers defense. Red Bank is a stronger defensive team than Neptune, and while they don't strike as quickly as Neptune, they can certainly create scoring opportunities. The defense will be the difference.
The Pick: Red Bank 1-0
#8 Shore at #2 Somerville
Somerville ended Raritan's season in the CJ II finals last year with a 3-1 win, and would like to take out another Shore Conference team in the sectional finals this year. Shore might be better in the field than last year's Rartian team, but Raritan had an outstanding keeper in Alex Wanless. Somerville has a well-rounded team that will put the ball in the net and not allow its opponent to do the same. Shore, meanwhile has struggled to stay consistent, but that's partly due to the fact that the Devils have struggled to stay healthy. Now at full force, Shore may be peaking based on the 144 straight minutes of shutout soccer they've played. They also have a player in Roberto Novoa that will probably be the best player on the field Friday, and he'll need to play like it for Shore to control the pace. Knowing what I know about Somerville, I think Novoa can make some noise, but I think Shore will have some trouble with them. They'll need to get on the board early, play good defense, and hope for a few mistakes on the other end. That might be asking too much.
The Pick: Somerville 3-1
#7 Point Beach at #4 A.P. Schalick
To recap the point I made in an earlier post, Point Beach plays a tougher schedule than these teams from the depths of South Jersey. That's a big help, but it's not everything, because over the last two games, the two teams have played similar competition. I can't say which team is better, but Beach has pretty good skill considering their Group I status and if that talent plays a good game against Schalick, I expect them to win. They already had two close victories with a PK win over New Egypt and a 1-0 win over Woodbury on a Henry Stuhler goal in the 72nd minute. P.J. Seggel is playing well in goal, and they have some scoring with Brian McElwee and Richie Baiata, so I see them winning a little more comfortably this time. After championship misses in 2005 and 2006, the third time is a charm for the Gulls.
The Pick: Point Beach 2-0.
#6 Manalapan at #4 Howell
Like I said when I previewed the SCT final, just saying "Howell-Manalapan" is enough. There's not much that hasn't already been said, but I'll try to say a little anyway.
Howell has proven itself as the best team in the Shore. They are loaded with talent, can play any style they choose, and if there was any mental block last year against Manalapan, it's gone after the SCT final.
Howell certainly got the better of play in that game, but it was still only 1-0. Manalapan has a keeper in Jake Grinkevich who can save quality shots on the goal and do so repeatedly to keep his team in the game. So while Howell might be getting the quality shots, Manalapan has someone who can save them.
Howell is going to play their game. They will move the ball, they'll get good looks and they will make life difficult for George Quintano. They are the team with the blowout potential because the quality opportunities will be there and it will be a matter of the Rebels finishing vs. Grinkevich stopping them.
The key is Quintano. Howell has done as good of a job on him as you can and if they do it again, they will probably win. Manalapan has other capable players, but the offense runs through Quintano. He'll need to, at the very least, take advantage of all the attention and find some holes in the Howell defense, if they exist.
It feels like Manalapan owes Howell one here, but it's also apparent that Howell is the better team on most days. Howell has a lot of players that can beat you, while Manalapan has a few players that have to play well for them to win. Quintano may finally break loose against Howell, but I'll take the safe pick.
The Pick: Howell 2-0
#12 West Windsor North at #3 Red Bank
I don't have as much to say about this one because I don't know much about the Knights. But both teams have a chance to win their first ever sectional title, so both will be extra pumped. Red Bank has won 4-1, 2-1 in OT, and 5-1 in their state games, so maybe they are due for another close one. That would make some sense because WWPN has played everyone tight, winning 3-2, 1-0, and 2-0. The 2-0 win over Neptune was even closer than the score, considering Neptune, by all accounts, had the better of play. Red Bank beat Neptune 3-1 this year, so that is the only frame of reference to work with between the two teams. Neptune got beat because WWPN had a forward that eventually got to a sporadic Fliers defense. Red Bank is a stronger defensive team than Neptune, and while they don't strike as quickly as Neptune, they can certainly create scoring opportunities. The defense will be the difference.
The Pick: Red Bank 1-0
#8 Shore at #2 Somerville
Somerville ended Raritan's season in the CJ II finals last year with a 3-1 win, and would like to take out another Shore Conference team in the sectional finals this year. Shore might be better in the field than last year's Rartian team, but Raritan had an outstanding keeper in Alex Wanless. Somerville has a well-rounded team that will put the ball in the net and not allow its opponent to do the same. Shore, meanwhile has struggled to stay consistent, but that's partly due to the fact that the Devils have struggled to stay healthy. Now at full force, Shore may be peaking based on the 144 straight minutes of shutout soccer they've played. They also have a player in Roberto Novoa that will probably be the best player on the field Friday, and he'll need to play like it for Shore to control the pace. Knowing what I know about Somerville, I think Novoa can make some noise, but I think Shore will have some trouble with them. They'll need to get on the board early, play good defense, and hope for a few mistakes on the other end. That might be asking too much.
The Pick: Somerville 3-1
#7 Point Beach at #4 A.P. Schalick
To recap the point I made in an earlier post, Point Beach plays a tougher schedule than these teams from the depths of South Jersey. That's a big help, but it's not everything, because over the last two games, the two teams have played similar competition. I can't say which team is better, but Beach has pretty good skill considering their Group I status and if that talent plays a good game against Schalick, I expect them to win. They already had two close victories with a PK win over New Egypt and a 1-0 win over Woodbury on a Henry Stuhler goal in the 72nd minute. P.J. Seggel is playing well in goal, and they have some scoring with Brian McElwee and Richie Baiata, so I see them winning a little more comfortably this time. After championship misses in 2005 and 2006, the third time is a charm for the Gulls.
The Pick: Point Beach 2-0.
posted by Matt Manley at 7:18 PM
6 Comments:
fuck you shore is gona fuckin win baby
nice mouth on that shore fan must be a kid
i dont think novoa is that good. the only thing that stands out is how he doestn make mistakes. he cant take over a game though like other players. your alwasy saying he is the best player on the feild. but i dont think he has the ball enough. thats his teammates fault though. give him the ball more
shore lost sorry anonymous #1 with the gutter mouth
Thank the lord...SHORE LOST.
I think Shore had a nice run in this tournement all of you people who are trashing them are just jelous because you dont get how they can always produce competitive teams all I am saying is get ready for next football season Shore Regional Blue Devils Central Jersey Group 1 State Champions
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