Week in Sports: Lady Pats Take Home SCT Crown

Boys' Soccer

After an improbable run, the sixth-seeded Holmdel Hornets fell, 4-0, to Christian Brothers Academy in the Shore Conference Tournament final Sunday afternoon. The loss lead way to a busy week in the opening round of state tournaments across Monmouth County.

Holmdel fired back, toppling 14th-ranked Ewing, 2-1, in the first round of the Central Jersey Group II tournament. They advanced to the second round, where they will take on Red Bank Regional on Friday.

Second-seeded Freehold Boro beat (15) Lawrence in their first round game of the Central Jersey Group III state tournament, 2-1. They advance to the second round, where they will see Long Branch on Friday afternoon.

, 4-1, and will take on Rancocas Valley in the second round, which will be played on Friday.

Girls' Soccer

beating out Wall, 1-0, for the win.

Moving into the state tournament, Holmdel, seeded sixth, fell to Bordentown, 5-0, in the first round of the Central Jersey Group II tournament.

(4) Freehold Boro beat out Jackson Liberty, seeded 13, 5-1, to advance to the second round of the Central Jersey Group III tournament, where they faced-off against Hightstown on Thursday. The Colonials shut out Hightstown, 1-0.

Fifth-seeded Freehold Township kept winning, taking down (12) Steinart, 2-0, to advance to round two. The lady Pats defeated East Brunswick Thursday, 3-2.

Manalapan, seeded 11, upset Jackson Memorial, 3-0, and took down West Windsor-Plainsboro South, 1-0, on Thursday in the second round of the Central Jersey Group IV state tournament.

The lady Mustangs of Marlboro also advanced with a major upset, toppling (2) Middletown South, 1-0. They kept the trend alive, defeating Old Bridge on penalty kicks on Thursday.

Football

The Matawan Regional Huskies are hopeful to enter the playoffs on a high note Friday night, when they travel to take on New Brunswick. Matawan sits at 5-2, and are coming off a bye last week, in hopes to finish the season strongly and enter the playoffs.

The Manalapan Braves slid past Brick Memorial last Friday, ensuring their role in the Central Jersey Group IV playoffs. This week, the Braves will host Toms River North, looking for their seventh win this season, with the intention of having a home game in the first round of the playoffs.

Featured Athlete

Manalapan freshman place-kicker Mike Caggiano missed an extra point in the first quarter against Brick Memorial, but finished the game on the high-point of his young career, burying a 37-yard field goal to lead the Braves to the come-from behind win.

The field goal capped off a drive that won the game for Manalapan, less than two minutes after Brick Memorial had taken a late lead.

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Do you want to nominate someone for next week's Featured Athlete? Email columnist Brian Deakyne at the top of this article. Be sure to send pictures of any Monmouth County players or teams for a chance to have your photos featured in the column.