South Jersey Group 3 Playoff Preview (Boys)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2025 NJSIAA state playoff tournament is almost here. Check out our preview of which teams from the South Jersey, Group 3 bracket have the best chance to win their section and potentially punch a ticket to the state finals. <strong><em>NOTE:</em></strong> The public state tournament officially starts on Tuesday, November 4. The seeds will not be official until after the state seeding meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, the 29th. <em><strong>(The top-seeded teams in the bracket are not expected to change)</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Seeds</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>1- Moorestown (15-3)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>2- Toms River East (14-6)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>3- Shawnee (10-4-2)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>4- Toms River South (12-4-2)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>5- Ocean City (12-6-1)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>6- Delsea (12-5-1)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>7- Absegami (10-6-1)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>8- Mainland (9-6-2)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>9- Deptford (11-4-1)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>10- Lacey (9-10)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>11- Camden Tech (9-7-1)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>12- Timber Creek (8-10)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>13- Hammonton (5-11-1)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>14- Cherry Hill West (7-9-1)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>15- Winslow (7-11)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>16- Clearview (6-11)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Favorite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Moorestown (15-3): </strong>Under first-year head coach Chip Witte, Moorestown has had an impressive season this fall. Defensively, the Quakers have seven shutouts. 13 of their 15 wins have been one-score contests. In what has been a balanced offensive attack with 11 players recording multiple goals, junior forward Nate Rivera leads the Quakers with seven goals and four assists. A divisional matchup with Camden Catholic awaits on Thursday before the start of the tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Contenders</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shawnee (10-4-2):</strong> The defending Group 3 state champs earn the top contender spot in this bracket. The Renegades have won five of their last seven games and were one of only three squads to knock off top-seeded Moorestown this season in a 2-1 overtime victory back on Sept. 17. Senior forward Cooper Adinolfi has been the heart of the Renegades offense, netting 10 goals and seven assists this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Toms River East (14-6): </strong>Toms River East started the season with a 9-0 record and has a 5-6 record since, but the Raiders are still a top team in this bracket. As the second seed, the majority of teams will have to take a minimum one-hour ride to the Shore to face the Raiders. Senior forward Aiden Reis has a team-leading 13 goals and 10 assists for the Raiders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Underdog:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ocean City (12-6-1):</strong> After finishing with a below .500 record in 2024, the Red Raiders have been a pleasant surprise team across the region. Ocean City has earned the fifth seed in this bracket, and the Red Raiders have been on fire as of late. They stunned Moorestown with a 2-1 overtime victory in the first round of the Coaches Cup on Friday, and narrowly fell to Non-Public state power St. Augustine, 2-1 in overtime on Oct. 20. Senior forward Chase Bowman has fueled the offensive attack with 16 goals. The Red Raiders are going to be a tough challenge for everyone else in this bracket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->