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Girls Soccer: 2014 Preseason top 10

Sherlon Christie, @sherlonapp 11:52 p.m. EDT September 3, 2014

The Caseys are the preseason No. 1 girls soccer team for the Asbury Park Press

1. Red Bank Catholic -- The Caseys return six starters from their 2013 Shore Conference Tournament Championship team and the defense will be led by goalie Jackie Robinson, who recorded 14 shutouts, 10 of which were 1-0 games, including the SCT semifinals and SCT final. Other key contributors should be Kiera Farley (Sr. D), Christina Balacco (Sr. M), Kelly Jacoby (Sr. M), Sabrina Graziano (Sr. M), Jenna Mucardo (Sr. M/D), Abby Shroba (Sr. D), Olivia Lucia (Jr. M), Emily Holtz (So. D) and Sophie Demurjian (So. F). Coach Frank Lawrence said this year's team is deeper than last year's 2013 SCT champs, which should scare every opponent in the Shore Conference.
2. Toms River South – The Indians made it to the NJSIAA Group III state finals last season and should once again be a contender for a state title in addition to an SCT title. Taylor Troutman (Sr. F) is the team's leader and she had 29 goals and 23 assists in 2013 and enters her senior year with career totals of 63 goals and 32 assists. Returning starters Samantha Bahr (Sr. D), Tori Babock (Sr. D), Charlie Slavick (Jr. M) and Taylor Dean (So. G), make the defending Class A South champion Indians the team to beat in Class A South again this year.
3. Central Regional --The Golden Eagles surprised everyone last season with their 19-3 record and that memorable run to the SCT final as the No. 13 seed. Underdogs no more, the Golden Eagles will depend on their two captains senior forward Amanda Carolan and senior midfielder Erin Trapp to lead them to potentially back-to-back Class B South titles and deep runs in the SCT and NJSIAA tournaments.
4. Freehold - The Colonials are now in the Class A North division, which translates into a little bit harder of a regular season schedule, and have seven key players returning including senior defender Sophia Duffy (committed to Seton Hall University), senior forward SarahGrace Johnson, senior defender Lindsay Cerio and senior goalie Meghan Hurler. The Colonials have been knocking on the door of the SCT title the last few years and are once again a contender for this year's title.
5. Freehold Township-- The Patriots, last year's Class A North champions, will have a difficult path to repeating as Freehold joins an already competitive division. Nevertheless, the Patriots have star players junior defender Caleigh Farrell (University of New Hampshire), senior forward/midfielder Maria D'Amico (Wagner College), senior defender Sam Lotti (Townson University) and junior midfielder Nicole Whitley back for their Class A North title defense.
6. Wall - The Crimson Knights return eight starters including Heather Arbachesky, Abigayle Musto, Danielle Gardner and Alex Panasuk from last year's team that went 18-5. Arbachesky is the team's leader as she had 19 goals and 9 assists last year and Gardner is committed to Townson University. Wall finished second in the Class B North division last year, so keep an eye on Crimson Knights as a contender for this year's Class B North division title.
7. Rumson-Fair Haven-- The Bulldogs are the reigning NJSIAA Group II state champions and have only lost one senior from last year's 16-7-1 squad. The Bulldogs have seven key returners that are seniors including senior midfielder Meagan McGurl (Lafayette College) and senior forward Janie DeVito. The NJSIAA title defense won't be easy but the Bulldogs will be prepared with a difficult Class A Central schedule.
8. St. Rose -- The Purple Roses made it to the NJSIAA Non-Public B State Final last season and return six key players including senior goalie Jordan Nash (21 starts, 0.71 GAA, 13 shutouts, 125 saves), senior defender Kathleen Dailey, senior center back Shannon Burns (4 goals, 5 assists), junior forward Seneca Kinn-Gurzo (10 goals, 9 assists), sophomore center midfielder Erin Dailey (4 goals, 3 assists) and junior center midfielder Ryan McCurry (1 goal, 5 assists). The Purple Roses tied with Mater Dei Prep for the Class B Central division title last season and St. Rose is the top contender for this year's division title.
9. Shore Regional - The Blue Devils forged a 1-1 double overtime tie with Glen Ridge to become the NJSIAA Group 1 state co-champions last year. But this year, Shore has its sights set on winning the Group 1 title outright. Shore returns talented players in Samantha McDonough (Sr. F), Katie Colaguori (Jr. G), Katie Stephens (So. F) and Devon McDonough (So. M). In addition, the Blue Devils will battle with St. Rose for the Class B Central division title this year.
10. Toms River North - The Mariners went 15-5 last year and finished second in the Class A South division behind Toms River South. Toms River North returns Alyssa Dell'Acqua (Sr. G), Ali Hicks (Sr. D), Kate Galagno (Sr. M) and Emilie Gilbert (Sr. F) as the Mariners, who won the 2012 SCT title, make another run for the SCT title this year and for the Class A South division title.