A-North boys soccer title still undecided
BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer
The coronation was put on hold. The Marlboro High School boys soccer team had the chance to wrap up the Shore Conference A North Division overall title on Oct. 13, but Christian Brothers Academy's 2-0 victory over the Mustangs at the Marlboro Recreation Center not only delayed the Mustangs' championship, it put three teams back into the hunt for the division title.

ERIC SUCAR staff Marlboro's Billy Majeski (11) and CBA's Chris Thorsheim battle for the ball during the first half of the Colts' 2-0 win over the Mustangs on Oct. 13 in Marlboro. For more photos, visit the GMN Photo Galleries at www.gmnews.com.

Marlboro remained in first place with a 9-2-1 record, but the loss to the Colts meant Coach Dave Santos' Mustangs would have to win its final two games in order to claim the division title.

Last week's storm postponed the Mustangs' match at Middletown South. The match was played on Oct. 19 in Middletown. On Oct, 20 the Mustangs played at Howell. Both games occurred after the deadline for this week's paper.

Santos was not happy with his team's "lack of focus" on the defensive end, especially in the first half, when CBA scored twice. The only positive outcome was that Marlboro still controlled its destiny.

CBA kept its hopes of winning the A North title alive with the road victory in Marlboro. CBA then beat Colts Neck, 3-2, on Oct. 17 to eliminate the Cougars from the A North title chase.

Colts Neck finished its A North season with a 7-4-3 mark.

CBA improved to 9-2-2 with one match remaining.

Defending division champion Freehold

Township got new life from CBA's triumph over Marlboro. The Patriots improved to 9- 4 in division play after beating Middletown South, 3-0, on Oct. 17.

CBA and Freehold Township played in Lincroft on Oct. 19 in what was an elimination game for both teams. The winner would still has a chance to win the division title while the loser would be out of the running. A tie would not help either team, although CBA could still win at 9-3-2 if Marlboro lost both of its games this week.

CBA's victory over Colts Neck put the pressure on Marlboro to win out. The Mustangs needed a pair of wins to get to 11-2-1 to secure the division title. If Freehold Township beat CBA to get to 10-4 in the division, Marlboro would need just one victory to claim the title. The Mustangs could win it at 10-3-1, but two losses this week would leave them at 9-4-1 and open the door for the Patriots to win A North at 10-4.

The Shore Conference Tournament will get under way this week. Teams had to be at or above .500 at the end of play on Oct. 19 to qualify for a spot in the conference tournament.

Marlboro (10-2-1), Freehold Township (10-4), Colts Neck (7-4-3) and Freehold (12-0) qualified for the conference tournament.

The conference tournament semifinals will be played on Oct. 29 and the championship match will be played on Oct. 31 at Memorial Field, Neptune.

Something to look out for in this year's conference tournament is to see if the Freehold Regional High School District can retain its stranglehold on the championship. FRHSD teams have won the last three conference tournament titles, Manalapan (2006), Howell (2007) and Freehold Township (2008). Last year, Freehold Township defeated Marlboro in the finals.

The deadline to be at or above .500 and qualify for a spot in the NJSIAA state tournament is the end of play on Oct. 23. Freehold Township, Marlboro, Colts Neck and Freehold have qualified.

Howell began the week at 6-7 and hosted Marlboro on Oct. 20 in what would have been a must-win for the Rebels and a likely must-win for the Mustangs in their chase for the A North crown.

The boys state soccer tournament will run from Nov. 3-21.