In the CHSAA ‘AA,’ a league where there’s a tough game just about every Tuesday and Thursday, St. Francis Prep, Iona Prep and Fordham Prep just keep winning – or at least not losing. Those three are clearly the elite as we get closer to the midway point of the season.
Archbishop Molloy fell to Archbishop Stepinac last week, but the Stanners remain No. 4 because of their solid résumé – and because everyone else keeps getting tripped up. Horace Mann keeps winning in the Ivy League and the Lions move up to No. 5. Fieldston, which has won three straight in the Ivy, makes its debut in this space.
The rest can be seen below:
1. St. Francis Prep (5-0-1) (Last week: 1)
It wasn’t St. Francis Prep’s best week, but the Terriers came away with six points nonetheless, beating Holy Cross and Xavier by a combined two goals. We’ll find out over the next few days how good SFP really is. St. Francis welcomes Fordham Prep on Thursday and travels to Iona Prep on Friday.
Next: St. Peter’s (Sept. 27, 4:30 p.m.)
2. Iona Prep (4-0-2) (2)
The dynamic duo of Cesar Ceja and Stephen Elias is the most lethal striking combination in New York City. Ceja had two goals Thursday against Christ the King and Elias had a goal and a pair of assists. Those two and Boston College-bound stud keeper Alex Kapp will make a bid for No. 1 this week against Archbishop Molloy on Tuesday and St. Francis Prep on Friday.
Next: No. 4 Archbishop Molloy (Sept. 27, 4 p.m. @ Alley Pond Park)
3. Fordham Prep (3-0-3) (3)
Consider that early-season funk – three straight ties – long over. Dylan Cope has rounded into form after missing the first two games due to a red card suspension and the Rams are rolling. Are they ready to take that next step and become the CHSAA’s best team? We’ll find out Thursday against St. Francis Prep.
Next: Monsignor Farrell (Sept. 27, 4:30 p.m.)
4. Archbishop Molloy (3-1-2) (4
The Stanners were the first team of the top four to stumble, falling 1-0 last week to Archbishop Stepinac. Their reward for slipping up? One of the toughest weeks of the season: Iona Prep on Tuesday, Xavier on Thursday and Regis on Friday. This is a bad time for Molloy to not be at its best.
Next: No. 2 Iona Prep (Sept. 27, 4:30 p.m. @ Alley Pond Park)
5. Horace Mann (4-1-0) (7)
The Lions bounced back nicely from their first loss of the year, on the road at Hackley, by routing rival Riverdale, 7-0. Next Monday’s match with Dalton will be a far stiffer test for Horace Mann, which is tied atop the Ivy Prep League with Hackley and Fieldston in the loss column.
Next: Dalton @ Randall’s Island Field No. 37 (Oct. 3, 4:15 p.m.)
6. Regis (3-1-2) (6)
The Raiders drew first blood last Tuesday against Xavier only to see the rival Knights come back to win a physical game, 2-1. It got ugly afterwards when Regis junior Cal Mullan and Xavier senior Jack Kane, who was issued a red card, seemed to get into it. A difficult week is forthcoming – Christ the King and Molloy on Thursday and Friday, respectively.
Next: Xaverian (Sept. 27, 4:30 p.m. @ Verrazano Complex)
7. Christ the King (3-3-0) (5)
After starting off 2-0, Christ the King has lost three of its last four games – mostly because of a significant increase in competition level. The Royals scored three times against Iona Prep on Thursday, but gave up five goals. Coach Ovid Cusu will try to patch up his team’s defense with Xavier (Tuesday) and Regis (Thursday) on the slate this week.
Next: No. 9 Xavier (Sept. 27, 4:30 p.m. @ Juniper Valley Park)
8. Collegiate (4-2-1) (8)
For the Dutchmen to even be near the top of the Ivy Prep League is impressive considering they have yet to have the services of top striker Weller Hlinomaz (groin) and versatile midfielder Imran Hassan (knee). Collegiate enjoyed an impressive 3-0 week, which included a win over Poly Prep, before it was shutout by Dalton, 2-0, on Monday.
Next: Hackley @ Randall’s Island Field No. 10 (Oct. 3, 4:30 p.m.)
9. Xavier (2-3-1) (9)
Alex Presciutti continued his all-city caliber season Thursday with two goals in a loss to St. Francis Prep. The scoring responsibility will fall on his shoulders even more now that Ed Wagner is out for at least six weeks with a knee injury he sustained in a physical encounter with Regis. Xavier will get senior defender Jack Kane back from a red card suspension Thursday against Molloy.
Next: No. 7 Christ the King (Sept. 27, 4:30 p.m. @ Juniper Valley Park)
10. Fieldston (3-1-0) (NR)
The Eagles have been somewhat of a surprise in the early going, knocking off Dalton and defending Ivy Prep League champion Hackley after losing its opener to Collegiate. Fieldston was supposed to get tested the last few days, but scheduled matches against Horace Mann and Poly Prep were pushed back.
Next: Riverdale (Oct. 3, 4:30 p.m.)
New: Fieldston (3-1-0)
Dropped out: Poly Prep (3-3-0)
On the bubble: Dalton (4-3-0), Poly Prep (3-3-0), Archbishop Stepinac (2-3-1), Monsignor McClancy (4-0-0), Mount St. Michael (2-1-1), Cardinal Spellman (1-0-2), Bishop Ford (2-1-1), St. Joseph by the Sea (1-0-2) and Packer Collegiate (7-1-1)