Holmdel, Shore Regional win NJSIAA boys soccer section titles
HOLMDEL -- For 73 minutes on Saturday, Manasquan gave top-seeded Holmdel all they could handle. There were spurts of chances for the Warriors, including countless corner and free kicks that landed threateningly in the box. But the Hornets' back line always cleared the danger.
And then with seven minutes left in the game, Holmdel found the deciding goal from their ever-reliable captain Frankie Brusco. The star senior was on the receiving end of a beautiful crossing pass from junior Stepan Kapranov, and Brusco finished the job with a clean shot into the net.
"I was on the opposite side of the ball," he said. "(Kapranov) kind of crossed the ball front post. Anything I could possibly get on the ball. Toe poke it, whatever I can. Back of the net."
More: Shore Conference football: Holmdel sees fantastic season come to end in loss to Camden
It was Brusco's 17th goal of the season, and the deciding score in Holmdel's 1-0 home victory over Manasquan. The Hornets have now won the Central Group 2 section title in back-to-back seasons.
"We had kind of been busting him a little bit for not being able to put the ball in the back of the net," said Holmdel coach Matt Isaacson. "He's always in the right place at the right time. He just works extremely hard and he deserves that goal there."
With their second consecutive section title under their belt, the Hornets now turn their attention to the ultimate prize: a state title.
"We're at the point in the season where this could be our last game at any moment," added Brusco. "So we've got to keep pushing as a team."
Back line 'stepped up tremendously' and Holmdel High School soccer escapes danger
Brusco delivering the winning effort certainly came as no surprise given his tremendous season, but his game-winning goal would have never been a reality if not for a spectacular defensive play from a hero nobody expected: sophomore Connor Paul.
With just under 15 minutes remaining, Manasquan was on a breakaway with only the goalkeeper to beat. And after an astute move to get past the final man, 'Squan was staring at an open goal. They never saw Paul coming.
The sophomore timed his tackle perfectly, blocking a surefire goal that would have drastically altered the outcome.
"Our back line stepped up tremendously this year," said Isaacson. "We had to replace three starters due to seniors who graduated. We had a kid go down who dislocated his finger and jumped right back out onto the field. And then we have Connor Paul, sophomore, who just started getting some time. And he's tremendous for us in the air, wins everything. We couldn't have got it done without that back unit today."
There was a separate instance in the first half when Holmdel's keeper was drawn out and the back line had to protect an empty net -- in addition to clearing the danger against a multitude of corner kicks.
"Manasquan, their front six is really good," said Brusco. "They are able to move the ball very well up top, so it was definitely a challenge. But a lot of hard work and heart just wins this game."
The final result is another heartbreaking blow for Manasquan. The Warriors' season came to an end last season against Holmdel in the section semifinals, and the team was no doubt looking to avenge that loss this season. Their first chance came back in September, but Holmdel prevailed in a 3-2 overtime victory.
Then six-seed 'Squan pulled off two playoff upsets on the road over South River and Governor Livingston just to have the chance to topple Holmdel. But after battling rigorously for more than 70 minutes, they just couldn't outlast the powerhouse Hornets.
"It was a battle. I thought we came out a little bit slow. Manasquan played incredibly well," said Isaacson. "We didn't want this game going into overtime. So Brusco stepped up, like he's been doing all season."
The Hornets will now wait to see who their first opponent is as they embark on a journey that will hopefully end in a state championship.
"They've got experience," added Issacson. "They won the section last year. We had a tough loss to Delran in the semis last season. But they want more. They want to win the overall state championship. And we're gonna be hungry for it."
Holmdel not the only section champ from the Shore
The Shore Conference was guaranteed at least one public school section champ between Holmdel and Manasquan. But with five league teams playing for four different public section titles Saturday, there was a chance for the deep conference to make its mark on the state brackets.
Shore Regional prevailed in the Central Group 1 section title game against underdog College Achieve Central, winning 1-0. As a three-seed, the Blue Devils were in prime position to win the bracket after one-seed Highland Park and two-seed Middlesex lost in the quarterfinals. Shore delivered and will now compete for a state title.
Toms River North suffered an early setback as one of their players was red-carded, reducing the Mariners to ten men. On the road against Washington Township in the South Group 4 section final, that disadvantage proved to be too much to overcome as Toms River North lost 3-0.
And lastly, a very promising Howell squad that battled through injuries through the postseason couldn't pull off the road upset against top-seeded Princeton. After falling behind 1-0 early, Nick Turturro got the equalizer off two great assists by Tye Maser and Bryce Ocholla. But Princeton responded with a goal to lead 2-1 at the half, and then ran away to a 5-1 victory.
More: How St. Rose boys soccer blew past a Shore rival in NJSIAA playoff opener
There will be more chances for the Shore to take home section titles on Tuesday. In the South Non-Public B final, St. Rose will go on the road as the try to knock off top-seeded Moorestown Friends. Then in the South Non-Public A bracket, Christian Brothers will look to win their third consecutive section title at home against Pingry.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore soccer: Holmdel, Shore Regional win NJSIAA section titles
