Ocean Township Boys Soccer Advances in Central Jersey, Group 3 State Playoffs

Junior forward Santieno Harding and junior midfielder Andrew Shaw each scored a goal with an assist in the second half to lead top-seeded Ocean Township to a 2-0 victory over eighth-seeded Moorestown in the quarterfinals of the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 3 tournament in Oakhurst.

Ocean Township (18-3-1), which has won two straight and improved to 4-1-1 in its last six games, advanced to the sectional semifinals and will host fifth-seeded Moorestown (11-6-3) on Tuesday, Nov. 7.

The winner will advance to the sectional title game on Friday, Nov. 10, and will play the winner between third-seeded Northern Burlington (11-6-2) and se

 

cond-seeded Toms River South (15-5-2).

“The Shore Conference Tournament run was a grind for us.  We sustained some injuries in the process, and I’m happy we got through today’s game.  Freehold Boro is a quality team, one that pounded us, 5-1, earlier in the year.  It was pay-back today for our side, but they didn’t make it easy,” said Ocean head coach John Terlecsky. “It took us some time to figure out what was going to work for us and because they are so good at possession, we had to give up the center of the pitch a bit.  Their kid, Jake Brower, can play so slowing him down – and bypassing him really – was one of our objectives.”

Junior goalie Max Winters recorded 10 saves for Ocean Township.

“Max is 14-1-1 in net for us this season, and we have some competent defenders in front of him,” said Terlecsky. “The kid had 10 saves today and he really was aggressive in owning the box.  He took my assistant coach’s game plan and ran with it.”

Terlecsky was also impressed with Harding’s play.

“We have two dynamic forwards with Santieno (Harding) and Stevie Carton, and both of them have taken turns leading us.  Today was Santieno’s turn, with the goal and the assist, but they both open up space for each other and are a complete handful for the other team,” said Terlecsky. “We can rely on our defense to get the job done, and it’s a mutually beneficial system. Our defense keeps it out of the goal well enough, that a couple of goals can get the job done.”

 

 

 

 

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