'Proud to be from Shore Regional': Blue Devils win first boys soccer state title in OT

SOMERSET - The defining trait of Shore Blue Devils' soccer is simple: patience.

"I started a couple of freshmen, a lot of sophomores," said Shore coach Christian Pontier earlier this week. "You just have to be patient. Let these guys get accustomed to the difference in high school soccer. I said, if you're positive (and) you remain positive, we'll come out on top."

On Saturday the patience paid off. Five minutes into the sudden death overtime, Stephen Molnar followed his coach's instructions as he delayed his run until the perfect moment. When the ball squirted through traffic and landed in front of the goal, the junior hit the easy tap in to beat Brearley (of Kenilworth in Union County) 1-0 and win the NJSIAA Group 1 state championship at Franklin High School. It is the first boys soccer state title in Shore Regional history.

"I'm always telling him, 'Don't go too far in. Stay back, stay back. And then attack," said Pontier. "He did it right to perfection."

It was only Molnar's third goal of the season, but his timing has always been impeccable. He had the game winning score when Shore went on the road and upset reigning Group 3 state champion Robbinsville.

"Maxx (Eichenbaum) got the ball off the throw in and he turned his man and put it back and the goalie missed it," said Molnar. "It just came right to my foot. It was amazing."

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What it means

It was the ultimate pay off for a program, and a community, that could never quite get over the hump. Last year, Shore made an incredible postseason run en route to a section championship before losing 6-3 to Haddon Township in the semifinal. Nearly a decade earlier in 2014, it was the same story as the Blue Devils fell to Haddon 1-0 in the semifinal. And decades before that, Shore lost four straight state semifinal games in the 1990s.

Alumni from those teams were present for this year's breakthrough victory. JT Kessler, the school's all-time leading goal scorer and a member of the 2014 team, spoke to the team before the game. And the team received a special sendoff as they departed for championship in Somserset.

"We actually got a police and fire truck escort out of there," said Pontier. "It's just a special place. People are proud to be from Shore Regional. And when everyone is behind one another and part of the community, it makes things easy. I'm just so happy for the guys, all of them."

Kevin Barfield, Ty Jackson, and senior leadership as the foundation for Shore Regional historic soccer win

As was the case in Shore's semifinal win over Palmyra, goalkeeper Kevin Barfield was the unsung hero. The senior captain was unwavering as he made several astonishing saves, including a clutch grab with 30 seconds remaining in regulation.

"I have no words right now. It feels to surreal to win it for my boys," he said. "I just love this team so much. And to go out on top means everything to me."

He was the key piece of Shore's 2-0 victory over Palmyra on Wednesday, and his stature within the Blue Devils community was clear as the student body swarmed the field. His classmates surrounded him and repeatedly proclaimed him as the best goalie in the Shore Conference.

"It means everything to this community," Barfield added. "I'm just happy to bring it home."

Barfield and fellow captain Ty Jackson set the example for the resilient group of players with their unshakable defense.

"We've all grown closer to each other. Even me and Kevin, we're really close friends now," said Jackson. "This year, it feels like a brotherhood. We're doing everything for each other."

And the senior had a bold proclamation as he spearheaded a defensive group that only allowed one goal throughout the NJSIAA playoffs.

"From the start of the tournament, I told everyone on the team that it is my fault if we lose and I will not give up one goal throughout the tournament," said Jackson. "We gave up one to Roselle Park, but one is good enough because we won. But I mean, (we're) very resilient. We haven't been able to score the ball as much as we can in the last few games. But I told the defense, it's our job."

And that example of accountability set the standard for the rest of the team.

"We stick together," said Molnar. "We don't put each other down. We give each other confidence. And you know, they gave us confidence to score and to win today."

The young Blue Devils are hungry for more. 'Hopefully we can come back next year,' says coach Christian Pontier

Even as Pontier stood in the afterglow of his team's historic win, it was hard not to consider the bright future ahead for a program with a strong culture and a multitude of returning starters. First and foremost, Molnar will be back to finish off what has already been a stellar career.

"(He has) two of the biggest goals probably in our program's history," said Pontier. "Obviously I'm super happy for him. He'll be back next year."

He also pointed out the incredible contributions from underclassmen such as junior Grant Hess and freshman Jackson Motzenbecker, the latter of whom played the entirety of Saturday's victory. He noted two other freshmen who played key minutes in Silvio Pessoa and Andreas Barrett.

The future is bright in West Long Branch, but it shouldn't detract from the elation of the Blue Devils realizing a decades-long goal and reaching the pinnacle of New Jersey soccer.

"Hopefully playing in these big games will keep the momentum rolling and hopefully we can come back next year," added Pontier. "But we'll enjoy the moment now."

Non-Public A final: Seton Hall Prep 3, Christian Brothers 0

Christian Brothers Academy's bid for a second consecutive state championship came up short when Seton Hall Prep won the Non-Public A Boys title Friday night 3-0.

Seton Hall Prep senior and Rutgers commit Eddie Krupski scored two goals, starting with a tally a bit over eight minutes into the game.

The Pirates (19-2-1) found their groove in the second half with Krupski and Benjamin Mills, from a free kick, putting the ball into the net.

CBA (17-3-1) played until the very end and walked off the field visibly discouraged by the finals loss.

“Tonight didn’t go our way and I told them, ‘It hurts because it means something,’” said CBA head coach Tom Mulligan. “‘And that’s why we celebrate when we win because it’s meaningful. And the guys that are devastated is a good thing because that means it meant something to you.’"

-- Kevin Perrington-Turner

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey soccer: Shore Regional beats Brearley for NJSIAA Group 1 title