The Ocean Township High School Spartans’ Aidan Tisony is the picture of determination. Ocean downed Monmouth Regional 2-1 in overtime in boys soccer in Shore Conference Class A Central in the regular-season opener for both teams. Ocean won the match on a header by Michael Reid off an assist from Brian Mirando in the eighth minute of overtime. Teammate Shane Foster tied the match at one in the 74th minute. Aiden Hicks staked Monmouth to a 1-0 lead in the 64th minute.Ocean downed Monmouth 4-2 in the second match of the season between the teams in Class A Central. Peter Baillergeu led the Spartans with two goals. Tisony added one goal and two assists. Reid contributed one goal and one assist. Monmouth’s Kaan Pehlivan and Ryan Kuldanek netted one goal each.
Photo credit:Ocean Township High School boys soccer team
By CHRIS CHRISTOPHER
The following are the previews of the Asbury Park, Ocean Township, Neptune, Monmouth Regional and St. Rose high school teams.
Last season’s individual statistics are in parenthesis.
ASBURY PARK
BOYS SOCCER
Head coach: Frank Nunez, first season
Assistant coach: Roberto Perez
Last season’s record: 8-10
Returning players: Senior midfielder Woodley Cagilus, senior defender Yael Garcia, junior midfielder Davenson Joinvilmar, senior forward Jaquan Lungsford, senior forward Chefetson Simeus, senior forward Jean Roody Solomon, senior goalkeeper Eduardo Vargas, senior goalkeeper Edgar Zuniga-Olivera, senior captain-defender Asion Muchison
Key newcomers: Sophomore midfielder Elijah Simmons, sophomore midfielder Luckerson Pierre, sophomore midfielder John Wesley Lavarin, sophomore defender Bryan Cararsco, sophomore defender Milton Jordan Gutierrez
Outlook: The Blue Bishops figure to field a strong team.
“We should be a very competitive team,” Nunez said. “We are young, talented and coachable.”
JUNIOR VARSITY GIRLS SOCCER
Head coach: Felix Flavien, first season
Last season’s record: 0-8
Returning players: Junior defender Rocio Vasques, junior defender Mitiana Theodore, freshman forward Jennifer Ruiz, freshman forward Julissa Pacheco, junior forward Ariadne Garcia, junior defender Gillian Bedward, junior defender Leslie Garcia, junior captain-forward Rose Carme Joseph, sophomore captain-defender Keyli Lopez-Rosales
Key newcomers: captain-junior midfielder Jennifer Olivera-Riano, freshman midfielder Karla Aparicio, junior midfielder Dulce Riano-Cruz, junior defender Angeles Lazo-Garcia, freshman goalkeeper Braelle Paul, freshman defender Laysha Cajero
Outlook: The second-year Blue Bishops hope to win their first match in school history.
“This team is young,” Flavien said.
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Head coach: Christina Miller
Key returners: Junior Dakim Randolph, junior captain Stevens Cajulus, junior Ahmir Hare
Key newcomers: Freshman Future Jones, senior Daiquan Bridges
Outlook: Miller hopes for a fast pack.
“We should be a very competitive team,” she said. “We are young, talented and coachable.”
OCEAN TOWNSHIP
FOOTBALL
Head coach: Don Klein, 14th season
Career record at Ocean: 76-52-1
Last season’s record: 8-1
Assistant coaches: R.J. Read (offensive coordinator), Phil Greene (defensive coordinator), Jim Simonelli (special teams coordinator, linebackers), Sam Kinningham (offensive line, defensive line), Rich Read (offensive line), Cornell Key (running backs, defensive line), Dean Athans (freshman team), Jimmy Nottingham (freshman team)
Athletic trainer: Katelyn Zimmerman
Offensive formation: Spread
Defensive formation: Multiple
Projected starters on offense (RS=returning starter, 3RS=third-year returning starter): Sophomore quarterback Tyler Douglas (6-1, 170), junior running back Christian LaRosa (5-9, 165), junior running back Nick Martinez (5-8, 150), sophomore running back-wide receiver C.J. Flannigan, sophomore tight end Shane Garrett (6-2, 220), senior tight end Austin Canavan (5-10, 190), junior tight end Ethan Brandimarte (5-11, 175), senior wide receiver Chris Carasia (3RS, 6-1, 190), senior wide receiver Evan Peters (RS), junior wide receiver Nick Martinez, senior left tackle Johnny Aldarelli (3RS, 5-10, 215), junior left guard Nick Atchison (6-1, 190), freshman center Nick Caruso (6-2, 225), senior right guard Ean Shamrock (RS, 5-10, 260), senior right tackle Joe Teresi (3RS, 6-2, 280)
Projected starters on defense (RS=returning starter): Sophomore end Shane Garrett, senior tackle Joe Teresi, senior tackle Johnny Aldarelli, senior end Eddie Aldarelli (RS), 6-0, 210), senior outside linebacker Ryan Savage (5-11 165), senior inside linebacker Anthony Pontecorvo (RS, 5-9, 185)), senior outside linebacker Evan Peters (RS, 6-1, 175)), senior cornerback Chris Carasia (RS), senior cornerback Logan Bianchi (6-0, 185), sophomore strong safety C.J. Flannigan, junior strong safety Nick Martinez, sophomore free safety Tyler Douglas
Special teams: Sophomore kicker Tyler Douglas, sophomore punter Tyler Douglas
Outlook: Teresi was a first-team Shore Conference All-Patriot Division selection last season. Another first-team all-division selection a year ago was Carasia, who averaged 25 yards per catch and scored six touchdowns. He caught 13 passes for 326 yards. Carasia, who has verbally committed to Lafayette College of the Patriot League, scored on two interceptions of more than 90 yards in 2019.
Garrett is a large specimen at 6-foot-2, 220-pounds. The offensive line returns three of five starters from last season’s Patriot Division championship team and is the club’s most experienced group.
“I believe we will have a competitive team,” Klein said. “We are healthy and hungry entering the season and our senior class is motivated to continue to add to our tradition of success. We are low on numbers, though, and with the physical nature of the game and the COVID-19 guidelines we must remain healthy and not lose any players to either injury or illness.
“Our team will be successful if we stay healthy and get consistent production out of our running game. We need to generate big plays. We have a good balance of returning experience at the skill positions and on the lines.”
Ocean will be without the graduated Trebor Pena, now a 6-foot, 185-pound wide receiver at Syracuse University. Pena last year led the Shore Conference in rushing, shredding defenses for 1,550 yards and 19 touchdowns, averaging 11.4 yards per carry. He caught two touchdown passes.
At safety, Pena made 66 tackles and picked off six passes, returning one for a touchdown. He blazed with a punt for a touchdown and was a force to contend with as a kick returner. His 23 total touchdowns and 138 points scored tied for the most in the Shore Conference.
Another key skill position player lost to graduation was three-year varsity starter Robbie Nungesser, now a quarterback at Franklin Pierce University. The Spartans will also miss Tyrell Wigfell and Tye Brookins, both William Paterson University freshmen.
Ocean was second in the Shore Conference in points per game at 35.2. The Spartans were third in the Shore Conference in fewest points allowed at 10.8 per game.
GIRLS TENNIS
Head coach: Jeffrey Reisler, seventh season
Last season’s record: 17-4
Shore Conference division: Class A Central
Returning players: Junior first singles player Jocelyn Assael (24-2 overall, including 21-0 in match play at first singles), senior second singles player Emma Barofsky (17-4 last year at third singles), senior third singles player Skylar Katz (18-3 at first doubles), senior first doubles player Sofia Oliveira, sophomore first doubles player Grace Martel (teamed for a 10-2 record at second doubles), senior second doubles player Emily Grande, sophomore second doubles player Samantha Brannen, senior second doubles player Madelyn Walsh
Outlook: Ocean moves into a new division after winning Class B North in 2014, 2016 and 2018.
“We’re moving to a difficult new division with Holmdel (a traditional state power), Rumson-Fair Haven Regional, Red Bank Catholic, Shore Regional, Raritan and Monmouth Regional,” Reisler said.
Assael suffered her losses in the semifinals of the Monmouth County Tournament and in the second round of the NJSIAA Tournament. She was a first-team All-Shore selection. Barofsky, a four-year varsity starter, also competed at third singles in 2018. Katz played the last two seasons at first doubles and was a second-team All-Shore honoree a year ago.
The Spartans’ captains are Barofsky and Katz.
NEPTUNE
GIRLS SOCCER
Head coach: Kevin Juska, fifth season
Shore Conference division: Class B North
Key returners: Senior defender Laura Deuchar, senior midfielder Cassandra Ferguson, senior goalkeeper Lauren Hagerman, senior midfielder Laila Kendle, senior midfielder Emily Kerwin, senior defender Alena Totten
Key newcomer: Kaitlyn Hankins
Outlook: Juska hopes the Scarlet Fliers make noise in Class B North.
“We want to be competitive in Class B North,” he said.
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Head coach: Dawn Bowles-Boone, 12th season
Assistant coach: Ryan Rafferty
Shore Conference division: Class B North
Key returner: Senior Molly Silva, sophomore Jaydon Destouche
Outlook: The Scarlet Fliers have few veterans.
“My team, made up of mostly sophomores, is very young,” Bowles-Boone said. “I’m looking to build upon their strengths and speed and look forward to individual success.”
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Head coach: Dawn Bowles-Boone, 12th season
Assistant coach: Ryan Rafferty
Shore Conference division: Class B North
Key newcomers: Sophomore Montez Swartz, sophomore Benjamin Balaoing
Outlook: Swartz and Balaoing are out for cross country for the first time.
MONMOUTH REGIONAL
GIRLS TENNIS
Head coach: Al Aloisi, eighth season
Assistant coach: Lisa James
Key returners: Senior first singles player Alexa Muller, sophomore second singles player Olivia Boles, sophomore third singles player Kaitlin Hintelman, junior first doubles player Sarah Vladu
Outlook: Aloisi hopes the Falcons improve.
“We are a work in progress,” he said. “We’re improving each year.”
ST. ROSE
BOYS SOCCER
Head coach: Simon Muckle, first season
Assistant coach: David Restiano
Key returners: Senior center midfielder Matt Kirkpatrick, senior right midfielder Morgan Fahy, junior center midfielder Kyle Corrigan, junior center midfielder Luke Hamill
Outlook: Muckle likes the Purple Roses’ attitude.
“The boys are a hard working, blue collar group,” he said.
GIRLS TENNIS
Head coach: Jerry Joyce
Roster: Katie Breuche, Angelina Daltrui, Emma Williams, Nadia Chiarella, Gabriella Gaeta, Lily Rogers, Clare Dolan, Caroley Downey, Isabella Costello, Sam Urspruch, Abby Urspruch
Outlook: Joyce said the team has impressive numbers.
“We had a great turnout,” he said. “We have a host of new players.”
Contact Chris Christopher at cchristopher1259@gmail.com. Follow Chris on Twitter (@cchristophernj) and Facebook (Chris Christopher).
