Soccer
Watch Monday 10.19 JSZ Soccer Highlights
We dip our toes into the soccer well to start the week as two of the winningest programs in the state keep it going. Stay tuned for all the highlights! Pennington 2 Hunterdon Central 0 | Girls Reigning NJSIAA Prep A Champions, Pennington defeated Hunterdon Central 2-0 to hand the Red Devils their first loss […] To access this post, you must purchase an All Access Pass. You can log in here or purchase an All Access Pass here. Become an All Access Pass Holder. You will be redirected to login or purchase page.
Watch Wednesday 10.14 JSZ Soccer Highlights
The action continues to heat up on the pitch as we approach the midway point of October. Check back throughout the night to watch all of the highlights! Oakcrest 6 Absegami 0 | Boys The reigning Cape-Atlantic League champs are off to another hot start this season, as the Falcons rolled the rival Braves on […] To access this post, you must purchase an All Access Pass. You can log in here or purchase an All Access Pass here. Become an All Access Pass Holder. You will be redirected to login or purchase page.
Watch Tuesday 10.13 JSZ Soccer Highlights
JSZ has a trio of exciting games for you. Enjoy the action! Monroe 3 East Brunswick 0| Boys A battle for first place in the Greater Middlesex Conference Red Division featured two undefeated foes that were likely to headline the county tournament, in Monroe and reigning back-to-back champions, East Brunswick. The Falcons, traveling on the […] To access this post, you must purchase an All Access Pass. You can log in here or purchase an All Access Pass here. Become an All Access Pass Holder. You will be redirected to login or purchase page.
Watch Thursday 10.8 JSZ Soccer Highlights
Before we turn to the gridiron over the weekend, the JSZ team has highlights from three in-conference matchups. Stay tuned for our coverage as it pours in! Rumson-Fair Haven 8 RBC 0 | Boys Luke Pentikis had three goals and an assist to lead a second straight dominating game by the Bulldogs. RFH had a […] To access this post, you must purchase an All Access Pass. You can log in here or purchase an All Access Pass here. Become an All Access Pass Holder. You will be redirected to login or purchase page.
Watch Wednesday 10.7 JSZ Soccer Highlights
Big-time midweek matchups highlight our Wednesday soccer coverage across the state. Stay tuned as our coverage pours in! Gill St. Bernard’s 2 Pingry 1 | Boys The rematch of last year’s Somerset County Tournament final did not disappoint. Micaah Garnette, the star striker who leads Gill St. Bernard’s, led the way for the Knights with […] To access this post, you must purchase an All Access Pass. You can log in here or purchase an All Access Pass here. Become an All Access Pass Holder. You will be redirected to login or purchase page.
Watch Tuesday 10.6 JSZ Soccer Highlights
The JSZ team once again has soccer action from all over the state. Watch four games of action courtesy of Jersey Sports Zone. Monroe 3 South Brunswick 0 | Boys Monroe starts the shortened Boys Soccer season 2-0 following a 3-0 win over Greater Middlesex Conference Red Division rival South Brunswick. The Falcons were led […] To access this post, you must purchase an All Access Pass. You can log in here or purchase an All Access Pass here. Become an All Access Pass Holder. You will be redirected to login or purchase page.
Watch Monday 10.5 JSZ Soccer Highlights
A new week begins with some tremendous games all over the Garden State. Enjoy the highlights! Delran 2 Rancocas Valley 1 (2OT) | Boys Andrew Grello scored the golden goal in double overtime to lift the Bears to a dramatic victory over rival RV in their season opener. The five-time defending South Jersey Group 2 […] To access this post, you must purchase an All Access Pass. You can log in here or purchase an All Access Pass here. Become an All Access Pass Holder. You will be redirected to login or purchase page.
Watch Thursday 10.1 JSZ Opening Day Soccer Highlights
The wait is over! The New Jersey soccer season officially kicked off with terrific action all over the state on Thursday. Check back throughout the night to watch all of the highlights! Ocean Township 2 Monmouth Regional 1 (OT) | Boys Michael Reid’s golden goal eight minutes into overtime gave the Spartans a season opening […] To access this post, you must purchase an All Access Pass. You can log in here or purchase an All Access Pass here. Become an All Access Pass Holder. You will be redirected to login or purchase page.
NJ HS Fall Sports Stays On Track for This Fall
After months of speculation, state lawmakers believe New Jersey is on track to have high school sports this fall. Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday afternoon that the decision to play fall sports will come directly from the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA), with support from his Office. “We know that NJSIAA is taking extremely seriously the need for protecting everyone in our school communities and will only pursue a sports schedule if they feel the proper health and safety requirements can be met,” Murphy said at his daily press briefing from Trenton. “I am encouraged that most of our fall sports…are played outdoors,” Murphy continued, citing football, soccer and cross country, among others. “Outdoor activities are increasingly safer than indoor ones.” Murphy was joined by Sen. Paul Sarlo – a member of the NJSIAA Executive Committee – and Assm. Benjie Wimberly, the head football coach at Hackensack High School. “These student athletes are extremely active individuals who need sports in their lives, not only from a physical well-being, but also for their mental and social well-being, as well,” Sarlo said. “With the challenges of COVID-19 nationwide and worldwide, and the racial unrest here in the country, we need that locker room camaraderie to bring our communities back together,” Wimberly said. The NJSIAA released a positive statement moments after the press conference. “NJSIAA appreciates the continued support of Governor Murphy, Senator Sarlo, and Assemblyman Wimberly,” the statement reads. “With their input, as well as continued guidance from our roster of experts, we look forward to announcing updates to our plans later this week.” Murphy and the NJSIAA updated their plans last week when it was announced that schools who opt for remote, out-of-school learning to start the fall, can play. Ultimately, it seems individual school districts will have the discretion to permit or cancel sports. That’s a far cry from the 12 other states nationwide who’ve already cancelled scholastic sports. So far, however, six school districts have announced their teams won’t be suiting up this fall. Those are Trenton, West Windsor-Plainsboro, Carteret, New Egypt and Piscataway. Sarlo said there are about 95,000 student athletes who participate in fall sports throughout the Garden State. Stay tuned with Jersey Sports Zone in the coming days for more information and announcements regarding how COVID-19 will impact the return to fall high school sports this season.
GSB Goalkeeper Forgoes HS, Now Chasing Pro Career in England
Gill St. Bernard’s sophomore Alex Borto was a fixture to the Knights’ successful 20-3 season in 2019 that brought them titles in Somerset County, Prep B and the Non-Public B tournaments. However, Borto will soon be competing for much more desirable championships. The 16-year-old native of South Plainfield is making the move from New Jersey to England after signing a professional contract with Fulham F.C. of the English Football League – just one step down from the English Premier League. JSZ’s Jay Cook has the story on Borto’s decision to forgo high school to chase his lifelong dream overseas:
Gov. Murphy Hopeful For Safe Return to NJ HS Sports
The Last Dance World Series accomplished plenty over its three-week stretch: seniors were given a final memory with their teams and a true state champion was crowned after spring sports were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the 222-team baseball tournament achieved another goal, as well. It’s now being viewed as a successful and potential blueprint for the safe return to high school sports in New Jersey. Prior to first pitch a the LDWS final, Gov. Phil Murphy and Sen. Paul Sarlo spoke with Jersey Sports Zone about how student-athletes can safely get back to playing scholastic sports in the fall and beyond. Both lawmakers are hopeful there will be official seasons. JSZ’s Jay Cook has the story from Trenton: Sponsor Shoutout! Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of the Last Dance World Series is brought to you by RWJ Barnabas Health – the tournament’s title sponsor.
BREAKING: NJ Fall Sports Season Pushed Back One Month
New Jersey high school student athletes very well may get the chance to hit the fields this fall, but it could be a much shorter season than they’re used to. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) officially announced Friday a plan for the fall sports season to begin on Oct. 1 and last until Thanksgiving weekend on Nov. 27-28. Athletes are still allowed to return to campus for the first time since March in the NJSIAA’s “summer recess” period which is set to begin Monday (July 13). The summer recess period is now extended through August 28. After that, there will be a two-week hiatus from August 29 through September 13 (only virtual meetings will be permitted). Official practices for fall sports will begin September 14 leading up to girls tennis opening September 28, football on October 2 and all other fall sports getting stated October 1. “High school sports are school-based, so we need to first ensure all is in order with the opening of our schools,” says Colleen Maguire, NJSIAA chief operating officer in a press release. “After that, we can begin playing sports. To be clear, our goal is to return to play – while making sure that health, safety, emotional well-being, and academics come first. We have a different model than some other types of programs that are far smaller in scale and operate independently. We have a duty to ensure that New Jersey’s schools and their more than 1.5 million students and teachers, including 283,000 high school student-athletes, can first return to school and their academics, and then participate in extracurricular activities like sports.” When it comes to high school football, the regular season has a six-game window and post-season play will be limited to just two weeks of play. Traditional Thanksgiving contests will still be able to be played past the November 22 end-date to the fall sports season. The NJSIAA Sports Advisory Task Force has identified the following eight guiding principles that will drive the decision-making process. 1. Ensure the health and safety of all student-athletes. 2. Re-engage all student-athletes as soon as possible for their social, emotional and mental well-being. 3. Maximize participation across all sports and all student-athletes. 4. Keep competition as local as possible for as long as possible. 5. Develop multiple return to play models to minimize the risk of a cancelled season. 6. Maintain the ability to pivot to back-up plans when deemed necessary. 7. Minimize potential impact on the spring season. 8. Minimize the importance of postseason, statewide championships. In a memo to NJSIAA member schools, the NJSIAA Sports Advisory Task Force said: “This plan is the first model to be provided in what will be a series of return to play models that will be in place for the 2020-2021 school year. The goal of the task force is to identify multiple back-up models that will be available as both school-related and health-related circumstances evolve.” The memo went on note: “This plan is intended to allow schools and leagues and conferences to start planning for a fall sports season. We all recognize the fluidity of the COVID-19 pandemic and realize the circumstances are changing regularly. We will provide updates to all potential plans as timely as possible to ensure schools and leagues and conferences have time to adapt to any pivots to a different return to play model.” New Jersey’s various scholastic leagues and conferences are strongly encouraged to revise schedules to emphasize local competition and minimize the number of different schools that come in contact with each other. Smaller divisions of schools for competition purposes is encouraged in order to facilitate communications and scheduling. The NJSIAA will strive to open postseason participation to any team wishing to participate. As with the regular season, the postseason will remain local, meaning a sectional championship or less. A seeding committee will be used by every sport in order to remove the reliance on power points, standings, and overall record. “By reducing the length of the season, student-athletes will have the opportunity for participation – but will also have more time to focus on their academic requirements,” says NJSIAA President Steve Shohfi. “A reduced season will naturally lead to a reduced amount of competition, which minimizes the risk of infection through exposure to many different teams and schools.” Denis Nelson, a member of the NJSIAA COVID-19 Sports Advisory Task Force and the athletic director at River Dell Regional High School notes: “Removing the possibility for statewide, postseason competition is intended to convey the specific message that the fall season is specifically about opportunity, engagement, and participation. It is not about winning championships. From a health perspective, it’s appropriate to keep sports as local as possible. From a competition perspective, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial but different impact on every school district. As a result, the playing field won’t be level this year, so it’s only fair not to crown statewide champions.”
HC’s Mason named Gatorade National Player of the Year
Hunterdon Central junior Emily Mason was named the 2019-20 Gatorade National Player of the Year. Watch her JSZ highlight that was one of the big moments of the 2019 New Jersey high school girls soccer season! Hunterdon Central junior Emily Mason was selected as the Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player for the 2019-20 season. The junior who is committed to Rutgers and is the only high school player on the US National Under 20 team led the Red Devils to a 21-1-1 record and a Group 4 state championship. Jersey Sports Zone was there for the biggest game of the season for HC when they upset #1 nationally ranked Eastern 1-0 on a goal by Mason. Here’s the press release from Gatorade with the formal announcement of Mason as the National Player of the Year In its 35th year of honoring the nation’s most elite high school athletes, The Gatorade Company today announced Emily Mason of Hunterdon Central Regional High School in Flemington, N.J. is the 2019-20 Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year. Mason won the prestigious award for her accomplishments on and off the field, joining an impressive group of former Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year winners who have gone on to have incredible success – they’ve combined for 17 gold medals and eight National Championships. Due to the ongoing situation with the coronavirus pandemic, Gatorade coordinated a virtual surprise, including a video call by Sky Blue FC’s Mallory Pugh to break the exciting news to Mason. The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Mason as the nation’s best high school girls soccer player. A national advisory panel comprised of sport-specific experts and sports journalists helped select Mason from nearly a million high school girls soccer players nationwide. Competition for the national award was fierce. Mason topped the list of 51 state winners in girls soccer who collectively boast an incredible list of accomplishments, including 21 First Team All-State selections, eight returning state Gatorade Players of the Year and 26 with a GPA of 4.0 and above Mason is now a finalist for the most prestigious award in high school sports, the Gatorade Female High School Athlete of the Year award, which is announced in July. “Emily Mason is relentless,” says United States U-20 Women’s National Team assistant coach Heather Dyche. “The game doesn’t faze her. She doesn’t go through any high highs or low lows. If you’re in a tie game, she’s saving balls off the line. If you’re up 3-0, she’s saving balls off the line. She was the youngest player on our team by far at the 2020 CONCACAF tournament and she really held her own. Emily has an incredibly bright future. She’s a great kid, too.” The 5-foot-9 junior defender and midfielder led the Red Devils to a 21-1-1 record and the Group 4 state championship this past season. Mason recorded nine goals and three assists, including the lone score in a 1-0 win over unbeaten Eastern Regional High in the state semifinals. She also anchored a defense that surrendered just nine goals in 23 games. A member of the U.S. Soccer Under-20 Women’s National Team, Mason was a starting fullback in February as the U.S. team qualified for the 2021 Under-20 Women’s World Cup. The 2019 NJ.com State Player of the Year, she is ranked as the nation’s No. 3 recruit in the Class of 2021 by TopDrawerSoccer.com. A participant in the Hunterdon Outreach Program supporting special needs children through athletics, Mason has volunteered locally on behalf of the Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, including mentoring in the church’s Children’s Liturgy of the Word initiative. “Emily Mason is the best player we played against all season,” said Kevin Ewing, head coach of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. “We faced them twice and each time she was a major reason we could not do much offensively. She is physically dominating on the field and has a good first touch and excellent field vision.” Mason has maintained a B average in the classroom. She has made a verbal commitment to play soccer on scholarship at Rutgers University beginning in the fall of 2021. “Even with many sport seasons canceled or cut short this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, we are continuing to honor incredible student-athletes like Emily Mason through our Gatorade Player of the Year program,” said Gatorade Senior Vice President and General Manager Brett O’Brien. “Mason rose to the top of our list of nearly a million student-athletes who play girls soccer due to her athletic performance, success in the classroom and devotion to her community.” Each year a selection committee evaluates the nation’s top talent in the District of Columbia and all 50 states, choosing national winners in 12 different sports: football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, baseball, softball, boys and girls soccer, and boys and girls track and field. From the 12 national winners, one male and one female athlete are each named Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year. Since the program’s inception in 1985, Gatorade Player of the Year award recipients have won hundreds of professional and college championships, and many have also turned into pillars in their communities, becoming coaches, business owners and educators. Previous winners include a distinguished list of athletes, such as Peyton Manning, Abby Wambach, Karl-Anthony Towns, Derek Jeter and many other sports icons. To learn more about the Gatorade Player of the Year program, check out past winners or to nominate student-athletes, visit www.Gatorade.com/POY, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GatoradePOY or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Gatorade.
Fall Sports Season May Start on Time, NJSIAA Says
Since the COVID-19 pandemic forced the state to cancel the high school spring sports season in May, the focus of scholastic athletics in New Jersey has shifted to whether or not there will be a fall sports season. Well, it looks like we could have an answer. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) announced today its plan to create a “summer recesses period” this summer while it plans to have the fall sports season start on time. The “summer recesses period” is essentially a timeframe to open summer workouts, which the NJSIAA says could begin on July 13. Guidelines from numerous state entities should be released in a week, on June 19. That’s big news for high school athletes and fans all around the Garden State. “NJSIAA has established direct communication with the governor’s office, the state departments of health and education, and other state associations that are in similar situations regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Colleen Maguire, NJSIAA chief operating officer. “While we’re hopeful school-based athletics will start soon, the public needs to understand that high school sports are unique in that, unlike recreational programs, they must be in sync with our schools. Scholastic sports are part of the curriculum; they don’t operate independently.” For weeks, the state athletic association has been working with its Medical Advisory Task Force to determine how, and when, it will be safe for all New Jersey student-athletes to return to the playing field. “We believe it’s essential to the physical and mental well-being of high school students across the state to return to physical activity and athletic competition in a safe and phased manner,” says Dr. Damion Martins, medical director of Sports Medicine at Atlantic Health System, New York Jets team physician, and member of the NJSIAA Medical Advisory Task Force. “Our guiding principles include the need to screen for symptoms, promote appropriate social distancing and hygiene practices, and decrease potential exposure to respiratory droplets.” The return to high school athletics around the country has become a hot topic, as other states have already cleared a path for students athletes to play in the late spring. However, Gov. Phil Murphy has said that high school athletics can return no earlier than June 30. Stay tuned with JerseySportsZone.com as we continue to update you on the latest new surrounding a return to high school athletics in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
NJSIAA Lays Out Plan For When HS Sports in NJ Can Return
It’s been nearly three weeks since officials closed New Jersey schools for the remainder of the 2019-2020 year to curb the spread of COVID-19. That effectively put an end to the spring sports season in 2020. Now the conversation turns to when high school sports in the Garden State can actually resume. New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) executive committee president Mary Liv Ivans penned a letter Friday laying out that plan in detail. It’s all centered around having a fall sports season this year. Ivans will chair the newly-formed NJSIAA COVID-19 Medical Advisory Task Force, a collaboration of professionals tasked with the goal of making sports safe for New Jersey high school athletes this fall. “The goal of the task force is to identify and implement both general and sports-specific modifications that will be required by NJSIAA member schools,” Ivans wrote. “In the short-term, our efforts will be focused on returning the fall athletes to their sports for the 2020 season.” The formation of this new group comes only days after the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) released a 16-page guideline depicting how high school athletes can be kept safe when a return to sports is made. The NJSIAA’s new task force will look to “identify and implement both general and sports-specific modifications that will be required by NJSIAA member schools,” wrote Ivans. “The fewer cases there are today, the greater the likelihood we will play in the fall. And as we navigate the next few months, it is important that we prepare to be flexible with a new normal. Of course, the timing of our return to school will ultimately be determined by the State of New Jersey. And, it’s important to keep in mind that going back to our school buildings won’t necessarily guarantee an immediate return of athletics. It’s possible that some sports will follow different schedules than others,” she continued. The state athletic association announced members signed onto the task force. They are Kathy Whalen, NJ Department of Education; Dr. Lakota Kruse, medical director, NJ Department of Health, Division of Family Health Services; Dr. Jack Kripsak, chair of the NJSIAA Medical Advisory Committee; Dr. Damion Martins, team physician and director of Internal Medicine to the New York Jets and a member of the NFL COVID Taskforce; and Dr. Rob Franks, a team physician for USA wrestling and team consultant to the Philadelphia Phillies. NJSIAA assistant director Tony Maselli will serve as the NJSIAA liaison. “Many obstacles remain,” Ivans concluded. “Hard work, patience and flexibility will be required, and at times some may feel deflated. But I’m confident that together, we will help get our kids safely back in the game.” For the latest on how the COVID-19 pandemic will impact high school sports in New Jersey, continue to follow along with us here at JerseySportsZone.com.
How North Jersey Athletes Are Giving Back During COVID-19 Pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has hit the United States hard and New Jersey is the second-most impacted state in the country. As the end of April nears, the Garden State has 116,264 positive cases and 6,770 deaths. High school sports in New Jersey have been shut down for over a month but that doesn’t mean student-athletes have stopped working to support their communities. Indian Hills senior Vicki Enright and Don Bosco Prep senior Christian Schmidhauser are just two of the hundreds of high school athletes going the extra mile to help aide frontline healthcare workers during this trying time all across the state. JSZ North Jersey MMJ Jay Cook highlighted the pair as their initiatives have helped supports nurses and doctors across North Jersey: Other North Jersey Teams and Athletes Giving Back Great job @CPHS__Soccer Staff!#NJThanksYou #RedRaiders #BL16 https://t.co/usAc2Vk9Tt pic.twitter.com/Lq9pIcYtpu— CPHS Athletics (@CPHS_Athletics) April 29, 2020 The softball team will be conducting a fundraiser to support The Valley Hospital Foundation 💜 if interested in purchasing a shirt or mask please follow the link below!https://t.co/tBPD1brdeJ pic.twitter.com/uuknoSUife— NorthernHighlandsSoftball (@NorthernHighla1) April 29, 2020 Excited, Proud, and Fortunate to be a part of helping the community that ALWAYS helps us…Ramsey Softball donates 1K to Ramsey Strong. Here’s to helping the local restaurants and first responders who are making a difference 🙏💙🥎💛🐏🙏 #RamseyStrong #RamseyPride pic.twitter.com/GWmRtssdfg— Ramsey Softball (@RamseySoftball) April 29, 2020 SW#5 with another big thanks to first responders and healthcare workers for their UNMATCHED dedication and sacrifice #team #together #FirstResponders #HealthcareHeroes pic.twitter.com/QQTGV6huzr— Westwood Card Hoops (@wwrsdboyshoops) April 29, 2020 We are partnering with ‘Feed it Forward.’ This group seeks out people who are unable to access meals in our and nearby communities. We will buy food locally to support our restaurants. If you would like to make a donation, pm us. Thank you and stay safe:) @whillsathletics pic.twitter.com/YhluE36wPq— Wayne Hills Track and Field (@WayneHillsTFXC) April 24, 2020 Our program was able to donate meals to the St. Barnabas ICU today. So happy to help out the brave men and women fighting on the front lines of this pandemic. Thank you to our parents & families for their generous donations and Fresco Market & Catering for providing the food! pic.twitter.com/fE5i7jIEOt— West Essex Boys Lacrosse (@WEBoysLax) April 25, 2020 Sponsor Shoutout! JSZ wants to thank its loyal sponsors for supporting New Jersey high school athletics so we can continue to tell meaningful stories during the coronavirus pandemic. Thanks to Rothman Orthopaedics for sponsoring our coverage in North Jersey!
Saint Rose guard commits to Lafayette
Abby Antognoli has been a fixture in the Saint Rose girls basketball machine over the last three years. The point guard has given a verbal commitment to play in the Patriot League. Watch her JSZ highlight reel now! Saint Rose point guard Abby Antognoli has given a verbal commitment to play Division I basketball at Lafayette. Antognoli averaged 10.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.4 steals a game in her junior season for a Purple Roses team that went 22-8. Abby has been a key contributor for one of New Jersey’s most powerful girls basketball programs over the last three years. She made her commitment official on Saturday via social media: 120% COMMITTED🐆🏀 pic.twitter.com/8LXGyVPrWk— Abby Antognoli (@abby_antognoli) April 11, 2020 Watch Jersey Sports Zone’s highlight reel of the Purple Roses guard:
NJ High School Athlete Speaks Out About Having Coronavirus
Red Bank Regional’s Liva Helt made headlines when the Division I soccer talent played football as a kicker for the Bucs football team last year. Now, the Columbia University commit very well could be the first high school athlete to test positive for the Coronavirus. Jersey Sports Zone talks with Liva about how she’s dealing with being an early example in this worldwide pandemic The Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is now in the thoughts of everyone around the world but that wasn’t the case just a couple of weeks ago. On March 9, 27-year old Little Silver native Emil Helt tested positive for the coronavirus after attending a BioGen Conference in Boston. Shortly after, Emil’s 17-year old sister, Liva, a senior at Red Bank Regional tested positive as well. RBR would shut its doors and shift to virtual learning days before the rest of the state followed suit. Liva is a Division I athlete who is set to play Ivy League soccer at Columbia University and made headlines last year when she was the junior varsity kicker for the Bucs football team. She returned to the soccer pitch for the RBR girls soccer team scoring ten goals and helping the team reach the second round of the state playoffs. Helt took time to talk to Jersey Sports Zone’s Rich Chrampanis updating her condition and delivers a powerful message on how to deal with this worldwide crisis: In case you missed it, JSZ’s Jay Cook profiled Liva’s time as a junior varsity football kicker with the RBR Bucs: A special thanks to Ryser’s Landscape Supply in Little Silver for supporting JSZ’s coverage of Red Bank Regional all year long
Vote Now for the JSZ 2019 Soccer Plays of the Year
The 2019 New Jersey soccer season has come to a close. The JSZ cameras have been able to capture some amazing moments from every part of the state. We have our nominees in five different categories – watch all the incredible goals and saves and cast your vote. We’ll keep the polls open until Tuesday at 2:00 pm. The winners will be presented with plaques from Jersey Sports Zone. Thank you again for the support and kind words from the soccer community throughout the 2019 season! Tuesday UPDATE Thank you to everyone who voted for the JSZ Soccer Plays of the Year. Our polls closed after 2pm due to overwhelming votes. Because of this, we will be awarding two plaques to the Boys Soccer Goal of the Year and Boys Soccer Save of the Year due to the voting being so close. We thank you for taking the time vote and the great passion showed by the New Jersey soccer community! Take Our Poll Take Our Poll Take Our Poll Take Our Poll Take Our Poll
Watch 11.17 Championship Soccer Highlights
It’s the final day of the 2019 high school soccer season in the Garden State and four teams from the public ranks will be crowned as champions at Kean University. Follow along with JSZ throughout the day as we’ll have all the highlights right here! Millburn 0 Wall 0 | Millburn (3-2) in PK’s | Group 3 Final It may have taken over 100 minutes, but the Millburn Millers are one of the happiest teams in New Jersey. Keeper Zach Barr was stellar in goal all afternoon long, snagging nine saves through regulation and overtime and then two more in PK’s to help seal the win. JSZ’s Jay Cook has all the highlights and interviews: JSZ’s coverage of the state playoffs is made possible by QuickChek! Clifton 0 Hunterdon Central 0 | Clifton (5-4) in PK’s | Group 4 Final Clifton capped off their best season in recent history with a Group 4 State Championship. The Mustangs finish 22-0 thanks to a huge game from goalie Eryk Dymora who not only had nine saves, but scored two penalty kick goals in double overtime. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has all the highlights: JSZ’s coverage of the state playoffs is made possible by QuickChek! Glen Ridge 2 Bound Brook 1 (OT)| Group 1 Final The Ridgers scored on an own goal 2:51 into overtime to win the Group 1 state championship. Trailing 1-0 at the half, Travis Burnett fed Lucas Costa to level the match. JSZ’s Kenneth Bradley has the highlights from Kean University: Bernards 2 Delran 0| Group 2 Final Sophomore Nico Botti and freshman Greg Ferreira scored goals in the second half to give the Mountaineers their 5th state championship in school history. Botti scored off a corner kick that went off a Delran defender’s hand and Ferriera scored on a direct kick from 45 yards out. For Bernards coach Joe LaSpada he is a perfect 5-0 in state finals during his 40 year coaching career. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights from Kean University:
Mountain Lakes Claims First Group 1 Championship!
Mountain Lakes 4 Shore 2 – Girls – Group 1 Final Mountain Lakes Girls Soccer made history by claiming the program’s first ever State Championship with an exciting 4-2 win over Shore in the NJSIAA Group 1 Tournament Final. The underdog Lakers went ahead 3-0 at halftime thanks to a pair of assists from Henna Andacin who would finish with three total. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the highlights: Thank you to RYPT Training for sponsoring our Shore Regional coverage. Jersey Sports Zone’s playoff coverage is proudly sponsored by Quick Chek.
Watch 11.14 JSZ Boys Soccer State Semifinal Highlights
Sectional champions squared off on Thursday night for the right to advance to Sunday’s state finals at Kean University. Check back throughout the night for all of the highlights! Clifton 3 Elizabeth 2 (2OT) | Group 4 Semifinal This head-to-head matchup of two undefeated teams delivered one of the most wild, roller-coaster games there’s been in 2019. After battling to a 2-2 score late in the second half, a fight broke out with :01 remaining in regulation. Each team had a player ejected after red cards were doled out. Clifton, however, battled through the adversity and came out with the win courtesy of a Danny Tobon golden goal (96′). The Mustangs will face Hunterdon Central in the Group 4 title game Sunday afternoon. JSZ’s Jay Cook has the highlights from Franklin High School: JSZ’s coverage of the state playoffs is made possible by QuickChek! Hunterdon Central 2 Toms River North 1 | Group 4 Semifinal The Red Devils fell behind 1-0 early before storming back to take down the Mariners. Ali Baish opened the scoring for Toms River North, before Central’s Brady Mullins tied the game before halftime. Marc Costa gave the Red Devils the lead early in the second half, and they hung on for the victory. Hunterdon Central will face Clifton in the Group 4 state final on Sunday at 12:30. JSZ’s Mike Frankel has the highlights from Washington Township: Wall 1 Triton 0 (OT) | Group 3 Semifinal Nico DellaPietro’s half-volley five minutes into overtime gives Wall a spot in the state championship game for the first time in 15 years. The Crimson Knights girls’ soccer team reached Kean University on a golden goal one day earlier and now the boys are heading to Union as well. Wall picks up its 16th shutout of the season. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights from Toms River North: Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Triton is made possible by Cooper University Health Care Millburn 1 Montville 0 | Group 3 Semifinal Millburn advanced to the Group 3 State Championship for a second consecutive year following a close 1-0 battle with Montville. The Millers scored in the 58th minute when Malcolm Migoya found brother Alex for the games only goal. Keeper Zach Barr finished with 12 saves. Millburn will look to take home their first title since 2012 after falling to Ocean Township in the big game last season. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the highlights: Delran 2 Rahway 0 | Group 2 Semifinal Frankie Taylor scored twice in the first six minutes to give Delran a spot in the Group 2 state championship and a matchup with Bernards in the state finals this Sunday at Kean University. Delran lost in the state semifinals the previous four years, but the fifth time is the charm. JSZ’s Kenneth Bradley has the highlights from Hopewell Valley High School: Thanks to Quick Chek for sponsoring JSZ’s state playoff coverage! Bound Brook 4 Lindenwold 1 | Group 1 Semifinal The Crusaders trailed 1-0 midway through the first half before going on a 4-0 scoring run to close out Lindenwold and advance to the Group 1 Final. Marco Martinez scored twice for the Crusaders, including the go-ahead goal late in the first half. Bound Brook faces Glen Ridge in the Group 1 Final on Sunday at Kean University. JSZ’s James Mooney has the highlights from Paul VI: Coverage of the NJISAA Playoffs is brought to you by QuickChek.
Watch 11.13 JSZ Girls Soccer State Semifinal Highlights
The state championship matchups are set in New Jersey high school girls soccer. The weather forced games to go from neutral sites to home fields around the Garden State. JSZ has action from four state semifinals. Hunterdon Central 1 Eastern 0 | Group 4 Semifinal Emily Mason’s header on a corner kick from Maddy Brennan in the 13th minute was the game’s lone goal as the Red Devils avenge last year’s overtime loss to the Vikings and end a 42 game unbeaten streak by the current #1 ranked team in the national polls. Mason, a junior committed to Rutgers, was able to crash the net after Brennan’s corner hit off the crossbar. Hunterdon Central will play Scotch Plains-Fanwood in the state title game this Saturday at Kean University. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights from the upset Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of the Eastern Vikings is made possible by Cooper University Hospital Wall 2 Haddonfield 1 (OT) | Group 2 Semifinal After battling back from a 1-0 deficit in the second half, Wall senior forward Mackenzie Tranberg hammered home a golden goal with :47 seconds left in the first overtime period to punch the Crimson Knights a ticket to the Group 2 championship game. Freshman Kiersten Brown also scored for Wall in the win. Wall will face Parsippany Hills in the Group 2 final on Saturday. JSZ’s Jay Cook has the highlights from Wall: Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of all Haddonfield athletics is proudly brought to you by NJM Insurance. Shore Regional 6 Audubon 0 | Group 1 Semifinal Julia Eichenbaum had a hat trick, the seventh of her senior season as Shore avenged a loss to the Green Wave in last year’s state semifinal. Barbara Grimm got the scoring started in the 5th minute and Lauren Sapanaro gave the Blue Devils a 2-0 halftime lead. Sydney Sears had three assists including a cross to Meli Pekmezian to make it a 3-0 game before Eichenbaum closed out the scoring with three straight to give her 34 for the year. Shore will face Mountain Lakes in the Group 1 state championship this Saturday. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights from West Long Branch: Why did we have highlights from Shore’s huge win in the state semifinal? Because of the support of Reach Your Potential Training who is our partner on Shore Regional coverage on JSZ. The Shore girls soccer team trains at RYPT and it showed! Ocean City 1 Hopewell Valley 0 | Group 3 Semifinal After a dominating 23-1-1 season Ocean City advanced to their first ever Group 3 Final with a close 1-0 win over Hopewell Valley. The Red Raiders got a lift from Summer Reimet who found net in the 70th minute for the games only score. Ocean City more aggressive on offense won the shots on goal 14-8 and goalie Abbey Fenton finished with eight saves. They will take on Rampo at Kean University on 11/16. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the highlights: Thank you to Princeton Orthopaedic Associates for sponsoring our Hopewell Valley coverage.
Watch Sunday 11.10 JSZ Championship Soccer Highlights
Championship Sunday at Kean University features four exciting soccer matchups to determine who are the garden state’s best Non-Public teams. We have coverage from all four finals on Sunday. Come back throughout the night and enjoy the highlights! Seton Hall Prep 1 St. Augustine 0 (2OT) | Boys Non-Public A Final It took 91 minutes and a battle against one of the state’s best defensive squads, but Seton Hall Prep is state champions for the first time in a decade. A 50/50 service into the box was contested by Seton Hall Prep’s Lucas Ross early in the second half – that pass ultimately went through the keeper’s hands into the back of the net. JSZ’s Jay Cook has the highlights: Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of the state playoffs is sponsored by QuickChek! Gill St. Bernard’s 3 Moorestown Friends 0 | Boys Non-Public B Final Micaah Garnette scored twice to reach the 30 goal mark and the Blue Knights won their second straight Non-Public B state title. Garnette scored in the 5th minute to set the early tone and ten minutes later Jordan Canica weaved around three defenders to find the net for his 17th of the season. Garnette sealed the title in the 76th minute on a penalty kick. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights and post-match reaction from Kean University: Thanks to QuickChek for partnering with Jersey Sports Zone to bring you state championship coverage! Pingry 6 DePaul 0 | Girls Non-Public A Final For a second straight year Pingry was crowned Non-Public A Champions following a dominating 6-0 win over DePaul Catholic. Big Blue was led by Columbia University Commit Madisyn Pilla who scored twice in the first half. Pilla has reached 48 goals this year with 11 of those coming in the postseason. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the highlights: Thank you to Quick Chek for sponsoring all of our 2019 postseason soccer coverage! Rutgers Prep 2 Saddle River Day 0 | Girls Non-Public B Final The Argonauts put the finishing touches on the greatest season in program history with an impressive 2-0 win over the Rebels. Shots came early and often for Rutgers Prep, who dominated possession all afternoon, but could not get on the board in the first half. Micah Livingston scored in the 46th minute to break the tie scoreless. Asia Hankerson followed up in the 47th minute with a rocket that beat Livia Davidson. JSZ’s James Mooney has the highlights and reaction from Kean University: Thank you to QuickChek for sponsoring all of our 2019 postseason soccer coverage!