N.J. boys' soccer title games set

St. Augustine and Sacred Heart will compete in boys' soccer state title games tonight, and five public schools will attempt to earn a spot in this weekend's state championship games.

Here is a preview of tonight's Non-Public state finals and the public school semifinals:

Salem (20-3-1) vs. South River (15-7), at Toms River South, 5 p.m.

Salem earned three straight one-goal wins in the playoffs. Senior Steve Smith has 13 goals and seven assists, and classmate Randy Liddle has 11 goals and 10 assists. Junior Josh Smick, who scored both goals in the Rams' 2-1 South Jersey title win over Gateway, has 10 goals and four assists. South River's two most dangerous offensive players are senior Fabian Csombok (16 goals, five assists) and sophomore Michael Parillo (11 and 11).

Delran (16-4-1) vs. Middle Township (20-3), at Washington Township, 7.

Delran is a more defensive team, while Middle Township is known for its explosive offense. Senior sweeper Bob Allibone leads a Bears defense that has allowed two goals in four postseason games. Joe Kane has nine goals and four assists, and Joe Hackimer has six goals and 13 assists. Middle Township has scored 99 goals. Austin Johnson, who had two in the Panthers' 4-1 South Jersey title win over Cinnaminson, has 28 goals, and seniors Kevin Lombardo and Zach Todd have 25 and 19, respectively.

Moorestown (21-3-1) vs. West Windsor-Plainsboro North (19-1), at Toms River North, 5.

The Knights' only loss was against Princeton, which is coached by Wayne Sutcliffe, the brother of Moorestown coach Mike Sutcliffe. Windsor returned the favor by beating Princeton, 2-1, in overtime in a Central Jersey semifinal. Senior Scott Kelly leads a balanced scoring attack with 11 goals and 10 assists. Twelve others have scored for the Knights, and seven have at least six goals. They won their second straight Central Jersey title with a 2-1 win over Wall. Moorestown's Kevin Kirsh has 19 goals and 11 assists, with four goals in the Quakers' three playoff wins. John Taglienti is second on the team with 10 goals. The Quakers are the only team that has beaten Rancocas Valley.

Rancocas Valley (21-1-1) vs. North Brunswick (16-2-2), at the Summerfield School in Neptune, 7.

This game will be played on a wide pitch, and with players such as Ryan Finley (17 goals) and Blake Fink (28 goals), the Red Devils should benefit because they can break down defenders. Junior sweeper Emmanuel Payton has keyed a defense that has recorded 12 shutouts. North Brunswick scored an overtime goal by Anest Roberts to beat previously undefeated Hunterdon Central, 1-0, in the Central Jersey final. Roberts had missed the previous four games due to illness. Three of North Brunswick's four tournament wins have been by one goal.

Sacred Heart (18-2) vs. Gil St. Bernard's (16-3-2), at the College of New Jersey, 5:30.

Matt Bik has 33 goals for Sacred Heart after scoring twice in the Lions' 3-2 South Jersey title win over St. Rose. It was Sacred Heart's first sectional title. Gil St. Bernard senior goalie Jon Vnenchak has 13 shutouts, 43 for his career. This is a balanced scoring team; no player has more than 10 goals, and 11 have scored. Senior striker Roman Jablonskyj has eight goals and nine assists, and sophomore Tim O'Leary has eight goals and nine assists coming off the bench. Center midfielder Andy Bednarsky has six goals and nine assists.

St. Augustine (15-4-2) vs. Pingry (18-0-1), at the College of New Jersey, 8.

Pingry has 15 seniors. Strikers Will Stamatis and Brenden Burgdorf have combined for 32 goals, midfielder Matt Fechter has 15 assists, and Grant Palmer has 10 shutouts for a team that has allowed just eight goals. St. Augustine advanced with a 1-0 win over Christian Brothers on a goal by senior Devin Reilley in the South Jersey championship. Reilley has scored 14 goals, while classmate Glenroy Chapman has 21.