Collegiate’s Ray Voelkel is The Post’s All-City soccer Coach of the Year. (Lauren Marsh)
It was back to business for national powerhouse Martin Luther King Jr.
A year after not making the PSAL Class A championship game, the Knights won their 13th city title in 16 years.
St. Francis Prep got a bigger monkey off its back, winning its first CHSAA Class AA intersectional title since 2006 after not being victorious as the favorite last year. Fordham Prep won its first-ever CHSAA Class AA state title and Collegiate took home a second straight NYSAISAA championship.
All-City boys soccer Player of the Year: Ibrahim Diaby, Martin Luther King
It was the header that will always be remembered at MLK.
With nationally ranked Martin Luther King Jr. and Francis Lewis dead even late in the PSAL Class A title game, Diaby scored on a memorable header in the far corner in the 69th minute, sending the Knights to their 13th title.
“He’s the best player in the city,” MLK coach Martin Jacobson said then. “For him to get that is fantastic.”
After last year’s disappointing defeat in the semifinals, Diaby pledged he would get MLK back to the top of the PSAL mountain and did so, scoring 17 times and adding 10 assists despite missing seven games with an abdominal strain. As the title-winning goal illustrated, the central midfielder with lightning in each foot was at his best in the season’s semifinal moments.
As his teammates mobbed one another and posed for photos with the championship trophy, Diaby was doubled over on the turf overcome by emotions.
“Like I said from the beginning of the year, it was our duty to take the championship and we did it,” he said.
All-City boys soccer Coach of the Year: Ray Voelkel, Collegiate
If Ray Voelkel is coaching, odds are Collegiate is winning. The longtime coach, who has guided the boys basketball team to four straight NYSAISAA and New York State Federation Class B crowns, is building a dynasty on the pitch as well.
He led the Dutchmen to their second straight NYSAISAA crown this fall – their first two such titles, in fact, in the 12 years the tournament has been held – despite a series of injuries to starters such as sweeper Elias Bresnick, striker Weller Hlinomaz and central midfielder James Fisch.
“The team has been very strong and he’s brought out the best in us,” Bresnick said.
As he is in basketball, Voelkel likes to deflect the credit, to his players and his assistant coaches. But his imprint was all over this team, from getting the best out of reserves to knowing what buttons to push with the team’s stars.
“He always knows what to tell us,” senior forward Anthony Evans said. “He gets us going.”
FIRST TEAM
M Tarek Beckles, Martin Luther King
His 16 goals – four in the playoffs – and 20 assists helped the Knights win their 13th overall title. But it was his maturation, on and off the pitch, which was his greatest accomplishment. With another year of eligibility left, look for Beckles to be the next great talent at MLK next fall.
M Danny Bedoya, Francis Lewis
Lewis’ orchestrator and quarterback in the middle of the field, Bedoya scored 16 goals and added 14 assists, numbers that enabled the Patriots to extend their unbeaten streak in Queens to a hard-to-fathom 57 matches (50-0-7) and reach the PSAL Class A final for the fourth time in five years. The ultra-skilled central midfielder has drawn high Division I interest from St. John’s, Clemson and Penn State.
GK Max Brown, Beacon
The Northeastern recruit actually made Manchester City’s U18 Academy team in the summer, but FIFA rules prevented him from inking a contract. So he returned to Beacon, was brilliant with seven shutouts and further established himself as arguably the city’s top keeper.
M/F Dylan Cope, Fordham Prep
The skilled senior stepped it up when it counted most. He had three goals in the CHSAA Class AA intersectional quarterfinals, one in the semis and another in the state championship match to help Fordham win its first state title.
F Weller Hlinomaz, Collegiate
His transformation from a finisher into a playmaker was integral to Collegiate’s run to a second straight NYSAISAA crown. In the 4-0 championship match win over Rye Country Day School, he didn’t score, but dominated the match, setting up teammates for a pair of goals.
M Chris Joseph, St. Francis Prep
Lightning quick with the ball at his feet, Joseph finally achieved his career-long goal. The talented senior helped St. Francis to its first CHSAA Class AA intersectional title since 2006 with his leadership, facilitation and finishing ability.
D Mark Kramarchuk, Fordham Prep
The big, strong and athletic senior wasn’t just an absolute rock in the back at sweeper. When Kramarchuk came up to the opposition’s third of the field, he was just as dangerous as any striker with his head as well as his feet.
D Christian Molano, St. Francis Prep
Defense was the key in St. Francis Prep’s run to its first CHSAA Class AA intersectional title since 2006. And the Terriers’ ‘D’ started and finished with Molano, their athletic and strong sweeper who was a stonewall in the back.
M Bryan Moya, Martin Luther King
He was often overshadowed by MLK’s other star midfielders, Ibrahim Diaby and Tarek Beckles, though the technical Moya (eight goals, 17 assists) made the Knights’ dynamic attack go with his pinpoint passing and deft touch. Just ask coach Martin Jacobson, who repeatedly praised Moya’s consistency, smarts and high IQ without being prodded.
M Roody Pierre, Tilden
Determined, skilled and a team leader, Pierre led Tilden to an undefeated league season in Brooklyn A West and PSAL Class A quarterfinal finish – one of the best years in school history. The explosive junior midfielder finished second in the PSAL with 26 goals, added six more in the playoffs and tallied 14 helpers.
GK Constantine Pougiouklidis, Bayside
Known for its quick striking attack during the regular season, Bayside’s offense took a hit in the playoffs because of injuries. Still, the Commodores reached the PSAL Class A semifinals for the first time in coach Joe Corrado’s tenure, and much of the credit goes to the senior keeper, who led Bayside to back-to-back dramatic playoffs wins in penalty kicks.
SECOND TEAM
M Peyton Atteloney, Christ the King
M Peterson Barreau, Tilden
M Ryan Cupolo, Beacon
F Jason Gonzalez, St. Francis Prep
F Yankuba Janneh, Evander Childs
F Toby Lee, Horace Mann
M Santiago Moore, Bayside
F Ryan McLaughlin, Regis
F Alex Presciutti, Xavier
GK Mark Rajovic, Fordham Prep
F Edwin Zosayas, Curtis
HONORABLE MENTION
D Alessandro Binder, Xavier
F Sebastian Choinski, Aviation
M James Fisch, Collegiate
F Julian Gilbey, Bronx Science
F Nick Matusewicz, Archbishop Molloy
M Greg McNamara, Fordham Prep
M Sebastian Palomino, Fordham Prep
F Anton Porter, Mount St. Michael
F Bobby Santariello, Regis
M Andrew Silberstein, Horace Mann
F Yiming Yang, Francis Lewis