Ryan Cupolo and third-seeded Beacon have a tough road to repeat as city champions. (Lauren Marsh)
PSAL boys soccer beat writer Zach Braziller breaks down the upcoming Class A playoffs.
SCHEDULE
FIRST ROUND
Saturday
2:30 p.m. – No. 26 Midwood @ No. 7 Tilden
Sunday
12 p.m. – No. 25 Martin Van Buren vs. No. 8 Bronx Science @ Randall’s Island
12 p.m. – No. 24 DeWitt Clinton @ No. 9 Tottenville
12 p.m. – No. 23 South Shore vs. No. 10 Stuyvesant @ Randall’s Island
12 p.m. – No. 22 Lab Museum vs. No. 11 FDR @ John Dewey HS
12 p.m. – No. 21 Lincoln @ No. 12 Columbus
12 p.m. – No. 19 Thomas Jefferson @ No. 14 William Bryant
2 p.m. – No. 28 Brooklyn International vs. No. 5 Aviation @ Francis Lewis HS
2 p.m. – No. 27 Petrides @ No. 6 Bayside
2 p.m. – No. 18 Long Island City @ No. 15 New Dorp
2 p.m. – No. 17 Cardozo @ No. 16 Evander Childs
3 p.m. – No. 20 John Adams @ No. 13 Sheepshead Bay
SECOND ROUND
Thursday, Nov. 3 (3:30 p.m. @ higher seed)
QUARTERFINALS
Monday, Nov. 7 (2:30 p.m. @ higher seed)
SEMIFINALS
Friday, Nov. 11 (10 a.m. and 12 p.m. @ New Dorp HS)
FINALS
Sunday, Nov. 13 (4 p.m. @ Randall’s Island)
FAVORITE
No. 1 Martin Luther King Jr.
The Knights are always the favorite, usually an overwhelming one, which is the case over the next few weeks. They went undefeated in the city’s top division, beat three quality non-league opponents – St. John the Baptist, White Plains and Newburgh Free Academy – and have a midfield featuring Ibrahim Diaby, Bryan Moya and Tarek Beckles that has no equal. MLK isn’t just loaded in the midfield and up front; sweeper Widmayer Jean is a factor in the back and keeper Irvin Barreto is more than capable in net. Last year’s semifinal loss to Beacon is still on its mind – nine starters were part of that loss – so the most talented team in the city also has added motivation. Not good for the rest of the field.
CONTENDERS
No. 2 Francis Lewis
Forever a contender, never a champion, the Patriots are still looking for that first crown. They’ve reached the city finals three of the last four years, falling in penalty kicks twice, once apiece to MLK and Beacon. Lewis was supposed to be challenged in Queens A East by Bayside this fall, yet cruised to another undefeated league season to extend its undefeated streak in the borough to 57 straight matches. While questions about the backline remain, central midfielder Danny Bedoya leads a potent attack which features three double-figure scorers – himself, Daniel Castro and Yiming Yang.
No. 3 Beacon
The Blue Demons have slowly hit their stride after a slow start. Northeastern-bound Max Brown is playing like the best keeper in the city, Fordham recruit Ryan Cupolo is a force in the middle of the field and junior striker Jeremy Hardy has emerged as a key weapon. Over the last week of the regular season, Beacon played MLK to a hard-fought 1-0 loss and smoked rival Stuyvesant, 4-0. Alec Mahrer’s club is still the defending champion and doesn’t seem ready to relinquish its crown, not yet anyway.
SLEEPERS
No. 4 Curtis
The Warriors returned to the top of Staten Island A after a two-year hiatus thanks in large part to their late-season, 7-0 drubbing of rival Tottenville. Edwin Zosayas has come on as a lethal striker and keeper James Lopez Navarro as gotten past a sluggish start to serve as a rock in net. Curtis won 10 in a row at one point, before falling to New Dorp in the regular season finale. A semifinal rematch with MLK, which has eliminated the Staten Island dynamo the last two years in the quarterfinals, would be fun as the two sides have developed quite the playoff rivalry.
No. 6 Bayside
The Commodores were seeded too low – their only crime was losing twice to Francis Lewis – but that doesn’t mean they aren’t capable of getting past the quarterfinals for the first time in coach Joe Corrado’s tenure. Bayside has one of the league’s top playmakers in junior Santiago Moore, several other weapons, and a sturdy senior keeper in Constantine Pougiouklidis. The biggest question is the back line, which was supposed to be a strength with sweeper Mario Reyes and center back Danny Babar, but struggled in two matchups against Lewis and a surprising draw opposite Cardozo. Bayside can score against anyone; keeping the opposition’s attack at bay is the question.
No. 8 Bronx Science
The Wolverines were decimated by injuries during the regular season. At different points, they lost keeper Marc Choueiri, sweeper and backup keeper Kyle Maer and even star midfielder Julien Gilbey. Bronx Science, however, managed to fill the losses and repeat as Bronx A champion. What it lacks in technical skill and size it makes up for in toughness. A run to the quarterfinals is certainly a possibility.
No. 10 Stuyvesant
Nobody faces a tougher schedule year-in and year-out than Stuyvesant. Four times Stuy has to face superpowers MLK and Beacon. It took care of the rest of the division, winning its other eight contests. The skilled, young team has a manageable draw – Brooklyn A Central champ Tilden likely awaits in the second round – and no matter who they face, it won’t be MLK, though a quarterfinal matchup with Francis Lewis is far from desired.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
M Ibrahim Diaby, Martin Luther King Jr.
The uber-talented senior missed six games, but still finished the year with 13 goals and four assists. Blessed with arguably the strongest leg in the city, Diaby is a lethal weapon on set pieces and works well off fellow talented midfielders Bryan Moya and Tarek Beckles. He took the semifinal upset hard last November, blaming himself, and has promised coach Martin Jacobson history won’t repeat itself.
M Danny Bedoya, Francis Lewis
The Patriots’ quarterback, Bedoya makes their attack go with his precise passing, technical skill with the ball at his feet and finishing ability with 12 goals. He could’ve scored 20 times if he wanted to, but the unselfish senior, who has interest from St. John’s, Clemson and Penn State, prefers to set up others, as his 11 assists indicate.
GK Max Brown, Beacon
Last year’s playoff hero with his brilliant performances against Martin Luther King Jr. in the semifinals and Francis Lewis in the championship game, Brown is ready to repeat his postseason magic. Headed to Northeastern next fall, the 6-foot-3 keeper uses his length well and is quick from post to post. He was offered a two-year contract to play for Manchester City’s U18 Academy team but FIFA (the governing organization of international soccer) rules prevent non-English citizens from competing on the academy club. After being held out a few games back at Beacon, he has thrived, compiling five clean sheets for Beacon in seven starts.
F Edwin Zosayas, Curtis
The diminutive yet explosive junior came out of nowhere to lead Staten Island A in goals with 17. He was a holding midfielder a year ago, but was moved up front with the graduation of Christian Aldaz and has made coach Joyce Simonson look like a genius for the position switch.
M Santiago Moore, Bayside
Speedy, skilled and fearless, Moore can turn a match with one touch. He is dangerous on set pieces, but can also create with the ball at his feet, for himself and others. Despite an ankle injury, he led Queens A East with 17 goals and 13 assists, impressive numbers he would like to see continue into the postseason.
M Julien Gilbey, Bronx Science
As tough as he is potent, Gilbey is the linchpin to Bronx Science’s attack. The attacking midfielder, who had 11 goals and five assists during the regular season, is looking to end his productive, four-year career with a bang. He was part of last year’s team, which disappointingly fell to Bayside in the second round.
F Roody Pierre, Tilden
The rest of the city gets to find out what Brooklyn A Central has known all year – Pierre is an impressive talent. The junior forward scored an ‘A’-leading 26 goals and added nine assists, keying Tilden’s undefeated run through Brooklyn A Central.