Preseason Top 30 Shore boys soccer team rankings - with an inside look at the No. 1 team
Introducing the 2023 Shore Boys Soccer Preseason Top 30 rankings. We start with a look at No. 1 Christian Brothers Academy. The full Top 30 is below the story.
MIDDLETOWN - It’s a legacy never taken for granted. Christian Brothers Academy had another spectacular set of boys soccer accomplishments a year ago but there’s always some trepidation about what a next season is going to look like.
But senior striker Dylan Millevoi and his teammates are feeling better and better about whether they can meet the program’s usual high standards this fall.
“I mean, I think we’ve been looking really good this week. I didn’t know how we would be at the start of the summer,” Dylan said last Thursday night at the school’s Daniel Keane Turf field, where a large number of supporters checked out a workout session. “But I think this week has definitely shown that we can be a top team.”
The senior returns as a leading scorer from 2022 with 11 goals and three assists and is among five starters back from a team that swept Shore Conference Tournament and Non-Public A titles and lost one just game.
Both Millevoi and fellow senior Christian DeOliveiro said the players work on building a discipline and competitive edge.
“Discipline. We're definitely very disciplined. We're gonna play a lot through our midfield this year and I'm excited for that,” DeOliveiro said. “Our midfield is gonna play a big role in our success this year. And there’s definitely healthy competition.”
The other returning starters are goalkeeper Miles Gallagher, defender Lawrence Mancino and midfielder Dimitry Corba, all seniors.
More: Preseason Top 30 Shore girls soccer team rankings, including a team in national rankings
Years of success make CBA 'a target'
All those titles over the years – the conference tournament championship was the 12th for CBA – makes the team a target, coach Tom Mulligan said.
“Other teams typically have CBA circled on their schedules. And it’s gonna be a highlight of their season if they can defeat us or tie us,” said Mulligan, entering his 32nd year at CBA and his eighth as head coach.
CBA is competitive and the Colts practice the same way they play – hard. But Mulligan sees a difference once actual opponents take to the field.
“You never know until the competition and the whistle blows and the kids compete for real. Who can handle that little bit of extra pressure?” Mulligan said. “As coaches we try to mimic the competition environment of a game. But it's not the same as when you have seniors from another school wearing different colors on their jerseys, trying to beat you and trying to make their season.”
CBA parted with 12 seniors from last year’s title team. Mulligan said the defensive and midfield play is the foundation for this year’s roster, hoping to fill in for departed offensive pieces with a possession-heavy game.
“We're gonna have to develop and work on some creative ways to figure out the final third, the offensive third of the game this season. That's gonna be a challenge,” the coach said. “We have a lot of depth all over the place, to be honest with you. But who’s gonna actually compete for those prime time spots…”
Chemistry in the middle for CBA
“This year it's gonna be a lot different 'cause we don't have that speed anymore. But we've definitely had a lot more chemistry in the middle. We can play through the middle and get up the field that way,” Dylan said.
The season goes by in a flash – only about six weeks covers the regular season – but maintaining the preseason hype and overall health is not an easy task.
“Everybody starts the season with the same enthusiasm and energy. Especially the seniors, this will be the last time they’re gonna play in a competitive environment,” Mulligan said. “We just hope that they stay healthy and they put forth that effort every single day when they’re out here. And they treasure it, because the season goes quickly once it gets started.”
“The coaches are both very hard on us and they have a level of fun, but it's also a level of seriousness every year. And I think that's why we were so successful last year,” Dylan said. “That's what we want… to be the best team in the state.”
2023 Shore Boys Soccer Preseason Top 30
1. CBA
For the second time since 2016, CBA last year finished a season with just one loss, a Class A North division championship, a Shore Conference Tournament championship and the Non-Public A championship. The Colts are returning five starters.
2. Holmdel
The high-scoring duo Stephan Kapranov and David Weiner will have to make it work without five graduated starters from last year’s team.
3. Toms River North
Advanced to the sectional quarterfinals but ran into eventual Group 4 champion Cherokee.
4. Manasquan
A good chunk of the starting lineup and what was a deep bench are back.
5. Freehold Township
Patriots will be vying for their 20th straight winning season but graduated 17 seniors and 8 starters. The younger players are led by sophomore defender Michael Gorman, who provides experience in the back and is a threat on set pieces.
6. Marlboro
Mustangs were the only team to solve CBA last year.
7. Colts Neck
The Cougars will be on a mission to pick up their postseason game and have Kyle Moore and Sam Gershon returning as quality juniors.
8. Long Branch
Chris Lopez, Nick Danhi Borges and several quality defenders return.
9. Wall Township
The Crimson Knights were Central Group 2 finalists but will have to go it without midfielder Nick Damiano, who will miss his senior season because of an injury.
10. Point Pleasant Borough
John Witkowski, who went from three goals to 13 as the Panthers won their first division title since 2017, is the top returning scorer as a senior.
11. Howell
Howell wasn’t in our preseason Top 10 in 2022 and made it to the Shore Conference Tournament final so we’re expecting nothing short of a repeat.
12. Shore Regional
Winner of a sectional title returns seven starters including a young star in Cooper Attaway, who scored 13 times as a freshman.
13. Rumson-Fair Haven
Leading goal scorer Ronan Hogg has left the program to focus on academy soccer. Declan Fry is a four-year varsity player entering his senior year and will help solidify the midfield.
14. Jackson Memorial
Jaguars look to be competitive within a tough A South division with 18 seniors on the roster including some who’ve been starters for three seasons.
15. St. Rose
The Purple Roses won out their division schedule and lost on penalties to Gill St. Bernard’s in the Non-Public B final.
16. Middletown North
The Lions just made a trip to the SCT semifinals for the first time since 2004.
17. Manalapan
Grinded through an OK regular season but failed to get postseason rewards.
18. Southern Regional
Forgettable start followed by a 9-3 run, advancing in both SCT and NJSIAA Tournament.
19. Raritan
Best win last year: Shore Regional
20. Toms River East
Division co-champs in Class A South last year but have to replace Kajus Matazinskas’ finishes.
21. St. John Vianney
Young team under coach Ryan Tetro that has a lot of varsity playing experience; should be competitive in B Central with a real chance to compete for a division title. Eight core returning players include junior defender Jack Scheuin, who’s in his third year as a starter and is a strong, organized intelligent defender.
22. Toms River South
Under new coach Mike Conover there are only four returning starters but there are several players with varsity experience that are ready to make a jump up.
23. Ocean Township
Three quality wins in ’22 (Neptune, Long Branch and Middletown South).
24. Middletown South
Also notched three big-time wins last year.
25. Matawan
Roster took hits from graduation.
26. Neptune
The Scarlet Fliers are hit hard by losses including Ernst Louisius, who recorded 43 goals and 18 assists over his career.
27. Monmouth Regional
Schedule was too salty last season, better results expected.
28. Central Regional
Tallied four goals in SCT opener but gave up more than that.
29. Manchester
Beat St. Rose and Raritan.
30. Ranney
Gets the nod for final spot over Central Regional, Freehold Borough and Jackson Liberty in a close call.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore boys soccer preseason Top 30 team rankings led by CBA
