Undefeated Shore Regional Boys Soccer on Course For Best Season in Program History

Photo above: J.T. Kessler heading ball in last year’s semifinal

WEST LONG BRANCH – Last season the Blue Devils buzzed through Class B Central competition going 13-0-1 on the way to winning the division for the fifth time in six season going 22-3-1 overall while also reaching the Shore Conference Tournament quarterfinals. But what made last season the most successful season in 16 years was winning the programs first NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I championship since 1998.

This year’s team –ranked No.2 in the most recent Asbury Park Press top 10 poll - hasn’t missed a beat and is off to a blazing 8-0 start including a huge out of division 3-1 victory over fifth-ranked Ocean Township, a team that had outscored its previous three opponents by a combined score of 21-1.

Although the Blue Devils did lose six starters to graduation, including All-Shore defender Jake Friedland, they brought back their two top scorers from a year ago and a strong nucleus of players with starting experience or having had extended playing time.

Senior forward J.T. Kessler recorded a Shore Conference-best 39 goals along with 14 assists a year ago and after scoring a team-leading 14 goals so far this season, is currently 30 goals shy of 100-career goals. He’s first on the team in assists as well with eight up to this point.

Also back for the Blue Devils and playing tremendous soccer is third team All-Shore junior midfielder Dante Montesinos who added 15 goals and 12 assists of his own last season. He’s now second on the team with 13 goals scored while chipping in with four assists – third on the team. The tandem of Kessler and Montesinos rates with any two combination of players in the Shore Conference and could quit possibly be the best the Shore Conference has to offer.

Junior midfielder Stevie Johnson emerged as a key component last year when he scored five goals and added nine assists. He’s a third scoring option when the Blue Devils are on the attack and has assumed that role admirably scoring two goals and assisting on three others.

Senior Evan Coffey is back in goal for the Blue Devils after turning away 95 shots last season with a Shore Conference- leading 14 shutouts. He’s recorded three shutouts already while allowing just six goals in eight games while making 36 saves this season.

Shore Regional has never had a problem reloading as their non-starters often get lengthy playing time with numerous games played to lopsided outcomes within the division and this season’s replacements have again contributed mightily to their early success; as is expected.

Junior midfielder Matthew Dutra and senior midfielder Brett Norman played significant minutes last season and have made a smooth transition into starting roles. Norman has contributed three goals and assisted on four others while Dutra has added two goals and four assists.

Donte’s freshman brother, Leonardo has stepped into a starting role and has become an important cog scoring three goals – including one in the Blue Devils win against Ocean – and registering two assists. Another freshman, midfielder Ryan Bongarzone, has chipped in with a goal and an assist this season and in their 4-1 win versus Asbury Park (2-4, 2-3) freshman Mike Adams scored his first career goal to cap the scoring.

Junior defenseman Dave LaPorta has been solid in the back and has added an assist in the process as has junior midfielder Matthew Quesada.

With their early season success, the Blue Devils are poised to make a deeper run in the Shore Conference Tournament with the hope of breaking into the final four or if things fall right, the finals. At the same time, Shore will be taking aim at the overall Group I title piggybacking off of last year’s success.

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