Central Regional’s Cinderella Season

I did not get home until late last night so the task of greeting trick or treaters was left up to my wife.  She told me this morning that we had a lot of visitors to the house and just about ran out of candy. 

She also said the little ones and even the teenagers were well-mannered and just about everyone said “Happy Halloween” and or “thank you,"especially the kids who go the full size candy bars.

Shore Conference Tournaments have produced its share of surprising champions over the years and the Central Regional Girls Soccer team will look to cap a Cinderella ride Saturday night in Neptune when they face Red Bank Catholic in the championship game.  Despite only losing one game coaches obviously did not think that highly of the Central as they were seeded 13^th when the 23-team event began last week.

However, Coach Kristee Paknis’ Golden Eagles have knocked off three of the top five teams (Toms River North, Holmdel and top-seed Freehold Boro) on their way to the title game.   Junior Amanda Carolan has scored 7 of her 28 goals this season in the Shore Conference Tournament and the defense is anchored by goalie Lindsey Mahnken.

With only two division games remaining there are five teams that have a chance to grab a piece of the Class A South Football championship but only two control their own destiny.  Brick and Jackson Memorial enter the weekend tied atop the division standings with 4-1 records but both face tough challenges.  The Green Dragons visit Lacey tomorrow afternoon with a question mark surrounding the health of quarterback Carmen Scalfani, who injured his shoulder last week.

Meanwhile coming off a 62 point outing against Lacey, Jackson’s Jaguars head to Manahawkin to face Southern tonight in a game we will broadcast on the Shore Sports Network’s 105.7 The Hawk  The other big game in “A South” finds Toms River South visiting Brick Memorial with the winner staying in the title chase.

Don’t forget to fall back this weekend.  Before you go to sleep Saturday night turn your clocks back one hour and enjoy that bonus hour of sleep.  That’s the good news. The bad is that sunset Sunday is 4:53pm.