Wild state tournament dramatically changed the boys soccer Top 20.

The Top 20 gets one last twist before the state finals on Saturday.

The woman was crossing Route 9 in Freehold when she was hit by a sport utility vehicle, authorities said.

FREEHOLD - A 67-year-old township woman was fatally struck by a sport utility vehicle as she crossed Route 9 Wednesday night, authorities said. 

Marie Casalino was crossing Route 9 in front of the Freehold Mall just after 9 p.m. when she was hit by a 2017 Jeep Wrangler traveling northbound, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said in a statement.

Casalino was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:21 p.m., Gramiccioni said.

No charges have been filed against the driver, but the crash remains under investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office and the Freehold Township Police Department.

Authorities urged anyone with information to contact Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office Detective Eric Kerecman at 732-431-7160 or Freehold Township Police Department Officer Michael Smith at 732-462-7908.

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Highlighting 29 players still alive in the Group 1 or Group 2 playoffs who can be difference makers in the season's biggest moments.

Check out all you need to know about the four games this weekend at Kean University.

Find all the previews and picks for the state football semifinals with the NJ.com mega-coverage guide

ESSENTIALS 
• LIVE updates, results and links for sectional semifinals
• Complete, statewide semifinals schedule
• Statewide stat leaders for Week 10 of the HS football season
• Football playoffs 2017: Results and links for Round 1 games
• Statewide conference football standings
• Updated 2017 NJSIAA football state tournament brackets

SECTION SEMIFINAL PREVIEWS/PICKS
• North 1: Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 5
• North 2: Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 5
• Central: Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 5
• South:  Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 5
• Non-Public: Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4

RANKINGS 
• Top 20
• Group and conference

MUST-READ CONTENT 
• N.J.'s 1,000-yard rushers for 2017: Who are the 85 players to make the list (so far)?
• Small-school studs: 29 standout players still alive in N.J. football playoffs
• Ousted Verona coach blasts district over 'outrageous' investigation, defends coaching tactics
• Perennial powers Timber Creek, Delsea ready for showdown
• Latest rite of Fall: West Deptford vs. Cedar Creek in a big playoff game
• Salem faces Paulsboro in South Jersey Times Game of the Week
• Highland happily surprised to be around, facing Hammonton in South Jersey, Group 4 semifinals
• 14 bold predictions for sectional semifinal weekend
• 21 football players in the 20-touchdown club
• Are concussions up or down in N.J. football? Why nobody can answer that question
• The top 30 performances from the football quarterfinals
• Transgender policy gets overhaul by state athletic association
• Voorhees, North Hunterdon football gearing for NJSIAA playoff semifinals
• "Unsung Heroes" honored from Times of Trenton area football teams
• The 12th Man TD Club of Trenton announces weekly football honors (Week 10)
• South Jersey Touchdown Club honors Players of the Week, West Deptford's Paratore feels he belongs
• Hot takes from Round 1 of the football playoffs: Thrillers, blowouts and upsets
• From Asbury Park to zero-win teams: A-to-Z guide to the playoffs

RECRUITING 
• Rutgers offers preferred walk-on opportunity to South Jersey specialist Zachary Sterr
• How does Jaaron Hayek, Rutgers' newest commit, compare to his 2 brothers?
• DePaul 3-star OL Khris Banks being patient in deciding his 2nd time around
• What have N.J.'s top 50 high school football recruits been up to?

Joe Zedalis may be reached at jzedalis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @josephzedalis. Like NJ.com HS sports on Facebook.

Who are the players to watch in the group finals?

The state has slimmed down a $60 million plan to reconfigure Garden State Parkway Exit 109 in Middletown in an effort to stretch the project's budget.

The state has slimmed down a $60 million plan to reconfigure Garden State Parkway Exit 109 in Middletown in an effort to stretch the project's budget.

However, a project to provide 40 more spaces in a Park and Ride next to the exit will not be affected, said Tom Feeney, spokesman for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

Work on that project will start with the demolition of a former State Police building on December 1 and spaces should be ready for commuters on December 4, he said.

"(Exit) 109 is going ahead on schedule, but the scope of the project has been scaled back," he said. "We expect to award a contract in the spring."

The state is nearing the end of a $7 billion capital program, Feeney said. The capital program, which widened the Turnpike between Exits 6 and 9, and added a lane and shoulders to the Parkway between Monmouth and Atlantic Counties, was financed by a toll increase approved in 2008 and phased in over four years.

"Scaling back the 109 work was a way to stretch the budget," Feeney said.

The original plan for Exit 109 included improvements to some intersections on Newman Springs Road in Middletown and lengthening bridges that carry the Parkway over Newman Springs Road. However, that work is expected to be cut from the project when officials bring it to the public during a hearing in January, Feeney said.

Instead, the revised project will eliminate a jughandle at Half Mile Road, used by traffic from western Monmouth County to access the Parkway north, he said. A loop ramp and bridge over Newman Springs Road will be built to carry that traffic to the northbound Parkway. 

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A 30-year-old Sussex County man was charged wth aggravated assault and more arrests might be coming

Howell police have made an arrest days after four security guards were attacked by a group of people after removing a rowdy concertgoer from a hardcore show at GameStop World.

Charles F. Connallon, 30, of Hamburg, turned himself in to police Thursday and was charged with third-degree aggravated assault, police said. He was issued a summons and released.

Howell mayor 'satisfied' with GameChanger World

Police continue to investigate and said additional arrests are likely.

The violent incident at the show on Nov. 4 began when one attendee was creating a disturbance near the front of the stage while "moshing."

The security guards asked the man to leave, but he refused and had to be escorted out of the venue, Howell police said.

As the security guards were outside with the man, a guard was punched in the face before multiple people joined in and began punching and kicking security, police said.

One of the guards broke free and called 911.

NOV. 4TH // LOUD FEST '17 [?] [?] @despisedicon @knockedloose @InternalBLDNG & more * $25 ADV. TIX https://t.co/PtOmL1HfK7 pic.twitter.com/soGLQwAjim

-- GameChangerWorld (@GCWNJ) October 26, 2017

Guards suffered the following injuries: loss of teeth, lip and eye injuries, loss of consciousness, bruises, rib pain, dizziness, headaches, nausea and blurry vision.

Connallon was identified via anonymous tips. His role in the attack was corroborated by the police's investigation, Det. Sgt. Christian Antunez said. 

The show featured 11 hardcore punk and metal bands.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The graduating class represents 19 of New Jersey's 21 counties. Watch video

The New Jersey Department of Corrections (DOC) swore in 147 new officers Friday morning and Jynette Hernandez, was elected class president.

Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, who has attended 19 of 21 graduations since taking office, told the trainees-turned-officers: "Your families are supporting you. Someone should say thank you for that. I'm here to do it."

Guadagno reminded them that they are now part of another family. "That's the family of those that wear the blue uniform. She encouraged them to "be loyal to each other, to listen to each other, to have each other's back."

DOC Commissioner Gary M. Lanigan administered the oath of office to the new officers, Class 241.

Class 241 represents 19 of New Jersey's 21 counties.

The class includes 11 individuals who have served in the military, as well as 32 who come from law-enforcement families and 56 members of Class 241 have a college degree.

Michael Mancuso may be reached at mmancuso@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @michaelmancuso Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Didier Villagra attacked the girl in 2014

FREEHOLD -- An Asbury Park man was sentenced Friday for sexually assaulting a preteen girl, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office said.

In April 2014, Didier Villagra, 37, entered the bedroom of the 11-year-old victim and sexually assaulted her. The following morning, she told her mother, who contacted authorities.

Villagra, described as a member of the girl's household, was arrested shortly afterwards and was charged with aggravated sexual assault.

Villagra, who was convicted by a jury in June, was sentenced to 20 years on the assault charge. He was also sentenced to 10 years on a charge of endangering the welfare of a child, which will be served concurrently.

Villagra must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before earning parole eligibility under the No Early Release Act.  

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Team and individual highlights from HS football semifinals weekend

Check out all the top stories from the last day of the girls soccer season.

GROUP FINALS

Glen Ridge vs. Shore, 10 a.m.
Group 1 Final
• Live updates
• Game report
•  Photo gallery
• Box score
• Preview

Westwood vs. Wall, 12:30 p.m.
Group 2 Final
• Live updates
• Game report
•  Photo gallery
• Box score
• Preview

Middletown South vs. Allentown, 3 p.m.
Group 3 Final
• Live updates
• Game report
•  Photo gallery
• Box score
• Preview

Ridge vs. Freehold Township, 5:30 p.m.
Group 4 Final
• Live updates
• Game report
•  Photo gallery
• Box score
• Preview

LINKS FROM THE GROUP SEMIFINALS
• Bailey Aaron comes through for Ridge in 1-0 win (PHOTOS)
• Seniors lead Freehold Township in wild win (PHOTOS)
• Middletown South takes down No. 1 team (PHOTOS)
• Pascarella's early goal gets Allentown rolling (PHOTOS)
• Wilson makes difference for Westwood in 1-0 win (PHOTOS)
• Wall comes through in penalty kicks, avoids upset (PHOTOS)
• Feenaghty capitalizes, lifts Glen Ridge to OT win (PHOTOS)
• Shore wins, advanes to 6th straight final (PHOTOS)

Brandon Gould may be reached at bgould@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrandonGouldHS. Like NJ.com HS sports on Facebook.

All the news and information on the playoff semifinals in one place.

 ESSENTIALS 
•  Brackets for all 23 sections  
• Round 2 mega-coverage guide 
• Previews, picks for all Round 2 games  
• NJ.com football Top 20, Nov. 12: New teams burst in after Round 1 
• Championship games schedule, locations, dates and times (matchups TBD)

ROUND 1 RECAP
• Results and links for Round 1 games
• Hot takes from Round 1: Thrillers, blowouts and upsets
• The top 30 performances from the football quarterfinals

PLAYOFF PREVIEWS
• Bracket-by-bracket previews  
• An A-to-Z guide to the playoffs
• Predicting all 23 sectional champions
• Dark horses: 19 dangerous low seeds 
• 35 players worth the price of admission 

ALSO: Top photos from semifinals 

SATURDAY LIVE COVERAGE
• No. 1 Bergen Catholic vs. Delbarton, 1
• No. 3 St. Joseph (Mont.) at No. 9 Pope John, 1
• No. 8 Montclair vs. Ridgewood, 1
• No. 11 Westfield vs. Elizabeth, 1
• Bridgewater-Raritan at Piscataway, 1
• Gateway at Penns Grove, 1
• Salem at Paulsboro, 1 

SATURDAY'S FEATURED COVERAGE 
No. 1 Bergen Catholic vs. Delbarton, 1
• Live updates
• Box score

No. 3 St. Joseph (Mont.) at No. 9 Pope John, 1
• Live updates
•  Photo gallery
• Box score

No. 8 Montclair vs. Ridgewood, 1
•  Live updates
•  Photo gallery
• Box score

No. 11 Westfield vs. Elizabeth, 1
•  Live updates
•  Photo gallery
• Box score

Bridgewater-Raritan at Piscataway, 1
•  Live updates
•  Photo gallery
• Box score

Haddonfield vs. Cinnaminson at Cherry Hill West, 1
•  Photo gallery
• Box score

Gateway at Penns Grove, 1
•  Live updates
•  Photo gallery
• Box score

TOP 20 SCOREBOARD
• No. 1 Bergen Catholic vs. Delbarton, 1
• No. 3 St. Joseph (Mont.) at No. 9 Pope John, 1
• No. 8 Montclair vs. Ridgewood, 1
• No. 11 Westfield vs. Elizabeth, 1
• No. 15 St. Joseph (Hamm.) vs. Immaculata, 1
 

FRIDAY'S FEATURED COVERAGE 
STATE PLAYOFF SEMIFINALS

NON-PUBLIC
GROUP 4
No. 2 St. Peter's Prep 42, Paramus Catholic 19
• Marauders book return trip to MetLife
• Look back at live updates
• Box score

SOUTH JERSEY
GROUP 5
No. 10 Lenape 63, No. 19 Howell 28
• JoJo Kellum, Lenape run into final
•  Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Box score

GROUP 3
Delsea 41, No. 4 Timber Creek 30
• Rally ends 25-game winning streak
•  Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Box score

CENTRAL JERSEY
GROUP 5
No. 20 South Brunswick 21, Old Bridge 10
• Justin Shorter provides points on both sides of ball
•  Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Box score

NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 1
GROUP 5
Union City 35, Bloomfield 0
• Union City finally breaks through to final
•  Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Box score

GROUP 4
Mount Olive 21, West Morris 16
• Turnaround leads to title game
•  Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Box score

GROUP 1
Hasbrouck Heights 10, New Milford 0
• Game ends in controversy
• Box score

NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 2
GROUP 4
No. 13 Phillipsburg 21, Irvington 20
• Stateliners survive on missed 2-pointer
•  Photo gallery
• Box score

GROUP 4
No. 18 North Hunterdon 29, Sayreville 7
• Lions closer to 1st title in 42 years
•  Photo gallery
• Box score

GROUP 3
West Essex 28, Rahway 14
• Resilient Knights win 9th straight
•  Photo gallery
• Box score

GROUP 3
Voorhees 24, Parsippany Hills 19
• Last-second drive dies at 1-yard line
• Box score

GROUP 2
Hackettstown 47, Caldwell 27
• Christian Maciak had 3 picks, scores 2 TDs
•  Photo gallery
• Box score

GROUP 1
Shabazz 27, Roselle Park 6
• Showdown set up with Weequahic
• Box score

CENTRAL JERSEY
GROUP 4
Freehold Borough 35, Brick Township 28
• Ashante Worthy gets his revenge
• Box score

GROUP 2
Point Pleasant Boro 27, Manasquan 6
• Cipriano runs, receptions add up to 4 TDs
• Box score

GROUP 1
Middlesex 41, Burlington City 20
• Ground game churns out 6 TDs
• Box score

SOUTH JERSEY
GROUP 5
Rancocas Valley 15, Millville 14
• RV overcomes 14-0 deficit
• Box score

GROUP 4
Hammonton 27, Highland 21, OT
• Six seed beats seven in see-saw affair
•  Photo gallery
• Box score

GROUP 2
West Deptford 28, Cedar Creek 20 
• Blocked PAT, Gismondi's 2 late INTs seal it
• Box score

TOP 20 SCOREBOARD
• No. 2 St. Peter's Prep 42, Paramus Catholic 19
• Delsea 41, No. 4 Timber Creek 30
• No. 17 Rancocas Valley 15, No. 5 Millville 14
• No. 6 Manalapan 63, Freehold Township 22
• No. 7 DePaul 42, No. 14 St. John Vianney 21
• No. 10 Lenape 63, No. 19 Howell 28
• No. 12 Old Tappan 42, Wayne Hills 7
• No. 13 Phillipsburg 21, Irvington 20
• Mater Dei 35, No. 16 Holy Spirit 34
• No. 18 North Hunterdon 29, Sayreville 7
• No. 20 South Brunswick 21, Old Bridge 10

PLAYOFF SCOREBOARDS
Non-Public, Group 4 

Non-Public, Group 3  

Non-Public, Group 2 

North Jersey, Section 1, Group 5

North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4 

North Jersey, Section 1, Group 3 

North Jersey, Section 1, Group 2 

North Jersey, Section 1, Group 1 

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 5 

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2 

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 

Central Jersey, Group 5 

Central Jersey, Group 4 

Central Jersey, Group 3 

Central Jersey, Group 2 

Central Jersey, Group 1 

South Jersey, Group 5 

South Jersey, Group 4 

South Jersey, Group 3 

South Jersey, Group 2 

South Jersey, Group 1 

Woody's Roadside Tavern will continue its blackout of NFL games until all players stand during the national anthem.

FARMINGDALE -- The bar that decided to boycott NFL games last weekend in honor of Veterans Day Weekend has decided to extend its blackout until football players stop their protest of police brutality during the national anthem.

Woody's Roadside Tavern in Farmingdale said on its Facebook page it was continuing its protest of the NFL until every player stood during the anthem. 

"We have decided to continue to stand with our military moving forward and not show the NFL games at Woody's until ALL the players stand to honor our anthem and flag," Woody's wrote on its page. 

Woody's held a fundraiser for veterans last Sunday instead of showing the games. More than $8,000 was raised, according to their Facebook page. 

Co-owner of Woody's told NJ Advance Media last week the idea came from a customer who was a veteran and upset by players taking a knee during the anthem.

"They're 100 percent behind the right to protest, that's one of the greatest thing about our country but they just feel like (the players) take the national anthem, our flag, to a whole other level," co-owner Rob Johnson previously said. "If you want to protest, that's fine. But veterans hold (the flag) in such a revered place in their hearts."

Calls to the bar on Saturday went unanswered. A message left for the bar owners was not immediately returned. 

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook. 

Anyone with information about the crash asked to call police.

COLTS NECK -- A passenger died after the car he was riding in veered off Route 18 and crashed into a tree in Colts Neck early Saturday, authorities said.

Mina Salib, 46, of East Brunswick, was in a 2006 BMW X5 when the car went off the southbound road and hit a tree on the passenger side shortly before 5 a.m., near the Normandy Road Bridge, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

Salib was pronounced dead at the crash scene, the prosecutor's office said.

The BMW driver suffered non-life threatening injuries and was being treated at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune.

Police closed the road from 6:30 to 10 a.m. as authorities worked at the scene. Investigators with the prosecutor's office and Colts Neck police continued to probe the wreck.

Anyone with information can call Morgan Savage of the Colts Neck police at 732-780-7323.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc and on Facebook. 

Have information about this story or something else we should be covering? Tell us: nj.com/tips

New Jersey traffic deaths remain under investigation.

Four people were killed and another woman was left in critical condition within less than 24 hours through early Saturday in separate traffic-related incidents on roadways around New Jersey.

The deadly toll came days before Thanksgiving, one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. No charges were announced in any of the cases and authorities said investigations were continuing.

Janina Grzelczak, 69, of Brooklyn, died after she was struck by a 2008 Ford Explorer traveling east on Washington Road in Sayreville around 6:15 p.m. Friday, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.

Grzelczak was trying to cross the road in the middle of a block and not at a crosswalk when she was hit, the prosecutor's office said.

Also on Friday evening, an 80-year-old woman was hit by a vehicle as she walked across New Hampshire Avenue in Toms River, according to township police. The woman remained hospitalized in critical condition as of Saturday.

At least three people died in crashes within hours early Saturday.

In Monmouth County, Mina Salib, 46, died after the BMW he was a passenger in veered off Route 18 in Colts Neck and struck a tree near the Normandy Road Bridge authorities said. The East Brunswick resident was pronounced dead at the scene.

The BMW driver was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, which was investigating along with local police.

Old Bridge Police Sgt. Bryan Doel confirmed one person died in another single-vehicle wreck on Route 18, near James Avenue, in the Middlesex County township around 1:30 a.m. Police have not yet released more information on that crash.

A driver was ejected from a vehicle and died at the scene of a one-car crash in Paterson around 4:45 a.m., according to Passaic County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Michael DeMarco. City police were investigating and did not immediately release details.

Sayreville police took to Facebook to urge drivers to take precautions after what the department said was "a long night of accidents."

Police reported three rollover crashes overnight, but none with serious injuries.

"These next seven days are some of the busiest of the year for us. Unfortunately, we started today off with several serious accidents," Sayreville police said in a social media post, which included a photo of a vehicle on its side from one overnight crash scene. 

"Please, please, please slow down, be aware, be awake and of course don't drink and drive," the post added.

Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said city police would be cracking down on drunk driving during the holiday season, part of a state grant-funded effort.

"Just last evening a police sergeant was injured after his vehicle was struck by a drunk driver," Ambrose said.

"We will continue to arrest people who think they are going to drink and drive in the City of Newark - especially during the holiday season, when celebrating individuals may attempt to drive drunk."

Karen Yi, Taylor Tiamoyo Harris and Allison Pries contributed to this report.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc and on Facebook. 

Have information about this story or something else we should be covering? Tell us: nj.com/tips

Carmelo Fazzolari, of Manalapan, and Bernhard Wright, of Oslo, Norway were charged with arson and other offenses

HAMDEN, Conn. -- Two students at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut have been charged with setting fires in a dormitory.

Carmelo Fazzolari, of Manalapan, (left) and Bernhard Wright, of Oslo, Norway  

Carmelo Fazzolari, of Manalapan, and Bernhard Wright, of Oslo, Norway were charged with arson and other offenses in the early Friday fires, police said.

Police said the men set the fires in The Commons dormitory, which houses nearly 500 students. Several students witnessed the fires and reported them.

Investigators determined the fires were intentionally set in two trash cans and several bathroom stalls. Authorities say a student was burned while trying to move a burning trash can.

The school says the students have been suspended pending a "conduct meeting."

Wright and Fazzolari are free on $1,000 bail. It's unclear whether either defendant has an attorney who can comment.

Dogs and cats throughout New Jersey await adoption in shelters and rescues.

Pets Plus of Delran hosted a grand reopening on Nov. 19 to celebrate its transition from selling commercially-raised puppies to only offering rescued shelter dogs and puppies for adoption.

The dogs will come from the Hub City Humane Society in Mississippi, Animal Aid USA and St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in New Jersey, Homeward Trails Animal Rescue in Virginia, the Humane Society of Raleigh County in West Virginia, the Heart of Louisiana Humane Society in Louisiana, Natchez-Adams County Humane Society in Mississippi, Oktibbeha County Humane Society and other shelter partners.

The store will join more than 2,600 other pet stores around the country that have signed the Puppy Friendly Pet Stores pledge of The Humane Society of the United States, making it their official policy not to do business with puppy mills.

The Pets Plus Natural pet store chain has converted all of its stores to the new humane model.

"The Humane Society of the United States applauds Pets Plus of Delran for improving the community's pet adoption rate and taking a stand against inhumane puppy mills," said John Moyer, corporate outreach manager of the Stop Puppy Mills campaign for The HSUS.

Pets Plus of Delran is located at 1321A Fairview Blvd.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find Greg Hatala on Facebook.

The lake boat didn't belong in the Raritan Bay, officials said

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued four boaters Sunday who were stranded in the Raritan Bay in a 22-foot-lake boat that was "unseaworthy," officials said. 

The Sandy Hook heavy weather boatcrew pulled the men off a vessel that was disabled off Keansburg around noon, the Coast Guard said in a statement.

Winds were 30 knots and seas were 3-to-5 feet.

None of the boaters were injured, but their craft had to be left behind because it was unsafe to tow it back to shore. A commercial savage vessel will tow it when conditions allow, the Coast Guard said.

"This type of boat was designed to be operated on lakes, not the ocean," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Jennifer Smith, a crewmember at Station Sandy Hook. "Before leaving the dock, you should always check the weather, file a float plan, check your lifesaving equipment and ensure your vessel is safe to be out on the water."

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.