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TOMS RIVER – Entering Tuesday’s Shore Conference Tournament first-round game against Wall, the Mariners (13-3) were ranked No. 7 in the Shore Conference but were coming off a hard-fought 4-2 loss to division rival Southern – ranked third in the Shore and 20th in the state – that clinched the division title for the Rams.
Prior to their loss to Southern (18-1), Toms River North had reeled off five straight wins but they now had to quickly put that loss behind them and focus on the upcoming Shore Conference Tournament.
However, as the luck of the draw would have it, the sixth-seeded Mariners were paired in the same bracket as long-time Shore Conference power Wall – who surprisingly was given a low No. 11 seed – in their first round game.
In that game, Wall (11-3-1) jumped out to a 2-0 lead on two first-half goals by Wall ace Zelda Wagner. Toms River North junior Brittney Szigeti closed the gap to one, scoring at 18:52 of the second half but that’s all the Mariners could muster in a disappointing 2-1 loss that eliminated from the tournament.
Last season Toms River North advanced to the quarterfinals as an eighth seed before falling to No. 1 seed and ultimate champion Rumson-Fair Haven. The Mariners have been to five SCT finals winning three championships (1985, 1987 and 1994) in program history. Its most recent trip to the final was in 2004 when they lost to Shore Regional, 3-1, during the Blue Devils’ reign of 15 straight titles.
It’s a bitter pill to swallow but the Mariners must now set their sights on the upcoming NJSIAA playoffs. They’ll attempt to win their second state championship and first since 1987 and first sectional title since 2004 and fourth overall.
The NJSIAA 2017 state tournament seeding’s were announced Thursday with the Mariners awarded the No. 1 seed in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV bracket. They’ll face the winner of No. 9 West Windsor South at No. 8 South Brunswick next week.
Szigeti’s goal in the SCT gives her eight for the year with four assists after scoring 13 goals and assisting on four others a year ago as a sophomore.
Last season’s leader in goals scored and assists, Maggie Downs, has had another solid year scoring 14 goals and assisting on 10 others so far this season after netting 19 goals and 13 assists a year ago.
Another junior, Noelle Bisogno, has been a pleasant surprise scoring 15 goals with four assists this season after putting in two goals with two assist last season.
Senior Mia Porter has been her steady self this season adding three goals and six assists following a junior year when she scored eight goals and five assists. Fellow senior Tara Flavin has taken a step forward this season scoring her first six goals of her career while adding five assists.
Senior Franses Cardena (two goals), junior Alexandra Mahon (two goals) and freshmen Lauren Cagliostro (one goal, three assists) and Gianna Onofretti (one goal) have all contributed as well.
Junior Gabby Gibson has been solid in goal for the Mariners while turning back 84 shots on goal in her second year as a starter in the nets.
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