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Shore Regional Girls Soccer on Track for 7th Straight Group I Title By Eric Braun

September 25, 2018

WEST LONG BRANCH – For a program that has won three consecutive NJSIAA Group I titles, no one would think differently of the Blue Devils girls soccer program if they took a step backwards this season and got a little complacent. Thankfully for Coach George Moutis, that is not the case. Anchored by 11 returning players from last season, nine of whom are seniors, this group is as hungry as ever and building for another NJSIAA Group I run and the elusive Shore Conference Tournament crown.

The level of excellence over the past seven seasons for Shore Regional has been one that may never be topped again, once and if this success ever stops. Everyone knows that Shore has won three straight coming into this season but the Blue Devils are working on a streak of seven straight NJSIAA Group I championship game appearances.

In 2012, Glen Ridge handed Shore a 2-0 defeat. In 2013 the Blue Devils and Glen Ridge battled through overtime to be co-champions with a 1-1 draw. The Blue Devils returned the following season and fell, 2-0, to Kinnelon in 2014. Since then, Shore Regional has been on the winning side of three straight NJSIAA Group I championships – all over Glen Ridge – winning, 2-1, in 2015; 3-2, in 2016; and 5-4, last season.

Led by seniors Frankie McDonough, Hannah Birdsall, and Marissa Desantis, as well as junior Julia Eichenbaum, this Blue Devils team is poised for another state run. Already this season the Blue Devils are off to a 5-1 overall record and 2-0 A Central record. Their lone loss came at the hands of Hunterdon Central, 7-1. McDonough and Eichenbaum are leading the way in goals for Shore Regional with six apiece, while McDonough and Birdsall lead the way with four and three assists, respectively. Leading the way in net for the Blue Devils is senior Julia Valinoti who has 37 saves and three shutouts.

Shore Regional opened the season with a 5-2 win over Freehold Township with five different scorers – Mia Agresti, Birdsall, Eichenbaum, Eliza Ford and McDonough. The Blue Devils improved to 2-0 with a win over Saint John Vianney, 1-0, with McDonough the lone goal scorer and Valinoti with the shutout. They improved to 3-0 with a 2-0 win over Brick Township with Eichenbaum scoring both goals and Valinoti picking up another shutout.

Shore would improve to 4-0 with a 9-2 win over Monmouth Regional with goals from Agresti, Birdsall, Sasha Davison, Eichenbaum, a hat trick from McDonough and two from Lauren Mendillo. The Blue Devils took one on the chin against a tough Hunterdon Central losing, 7-1, with the lone goal from McDonough. Shore then rebounded with a 3-0 win over Manasquan to improve to 5-1 with goals from Eichenbaum (with two) and Chloe Wollman and another shutout for Valinoti.