Sports

PSAL boys soccer rankings

The PSAL boys soccer season is just a few weeks old, but this Wednesday may as well be mid-November as our top four face-off in huge rivalry matchups.

Bitter rivals Martin Luther King Jr. and Beacon will not only decide the leader in Manhattan A, but also the top spot in rankings while Bayside looks to snap Francis Lewis’ stranglehold atop the borough in Queens A East.

There were two major surprises this week as Tottenville fell to McKee/Staten Island Tech and Columbus shocked Bronx Science, creating changes in the back half of our rankings. The rest of the action in PSAL boys soccer is detailed below.

1. Martin Luther King Jr. (4-0-0) (Last week: 1)

No Ibrahim Diaby, no problem. Even without the star midfielder, MLK blasted talented Stuyvesant, 4-1, on Saturday, though Wednesday’s grudge match with Beacon will be a step up in class. Emotions will be high for the Knights at Riverside Park against the team it felt took their title away from them in last November’s PSAL Class A semifinals.

Next: No. 2 Beacon (Sept. 21, 4 p.m. @ Riverside Park )

2. Beacon (3-0-0) (2)

The Blue Demons’ offense has yet to find its drive, but the back line is in playoff form. Even without star keeper Max Brown, Beacon has yet to concede a goal as backup, sophomore Alex Coste, has pitched a pair of shutouts. Coach Alec Mahrer said he didn’t see one star goal scorer on his roster and true to his word, his club’s three goals have been scored by three different players: Gideon Rosenthal, Amel Dervisevic and Anthony Casagranda.

Next: No. 1 Martin Luther King Jr. (Sept. 21, 4 p.m. @ Riverside Park )

3. Francis Lewis (3-0-0) (3)

The Patriots unbeaten streak is now at 48 matches (41-0-8), but it will be very much in jeopardy Wednesday against on-the-rise Bayside. Lewis didn’t seem like a team in danger of faltering, however, in Saturday’s 5-0 demolition of rival Cardozo.

Next: No. 4 Bayside (Sept. 21, 4:30 p.m.)

4. Bayside (3-0-0) (4)

Santiago Moore, Danny Babar and company have pointed to this match since last year ended, the day the Commodores could finally surpass Francis Lewis. Talking about beating the Patriots and actually doing so are two different things entirely. Remember, Bayside nearly beat Lewis in each of the two regular-season matchups last year, only to falter late. We’ll see if one added year of experience is the difference. We know one thing: The showdown is a can’t-miss.

Next: @ No. 3 Francis Lewis (Sept. 21, 4:30 p.m.)

5. Columbus (2-1-1) (NR)

There are two Columbus teams, the one that started 0-1-1 and the one that has gone 2-0-0 since with Monday’s impressive 1-0 win over rival Bronx Science. The difference? The return of standout midfielders Jordan Scarlett, Shaquan Bailey and Abdoulaziz Soumare. The three make a huge difference, at both ends of the pitch, for the Explorers.

Next: @ DeWitt Clinton (Sept. 23, 4 p.m.)

6. Bronx Science (5-0-0) (5)

Julian Gilbey is making everyone forget Eric Labourdette, the former Bronx Science star now playing at Georgetown. Gilbey, a fourth-year starter, already has five goals and two assists, big numbers to lead the Wolverines to an impressive 4-1-0 start. He’s more than filled the void left by Labourdette as Bronx Science looks to repeat as Bronx A champion.

Next: @ Walton (Sept. 28, 4 p.m.)

7. Stuyvesant (3-1-0) (7)

Freshman Ethan Lochner continued his blazing start with a goal in Saturday’s 4-1 loss to top-ranked Martin Luther King Jr. He now has four goals and three assists – in the first four matches of his high-school career. Can you say all-city?

Next: Julia Richman (Sept. 23, 4 p.m.)

8. John Adams (3-0-1) (10)

Meet Kiyo Scott, the best player nobody talks about. The John Adams junior has moved into an attacking midfielder position this fall and has already responded with four goals and three assists, helping the Spartans to a 3-0-1 start. Adams may lack the star power it enjoyed in the past, but with Scott and coach Alex Navarrete, it has the inside track to a third straight Queens A West crown.

Next: Aviation (Sept. 28, 4 p.m.)

9. Curtis (3-1-0) (8)

Take away the misplay in net against Tottenville by keeper James Lopez Navarro and Curtis has allowed one goal in four PSAL matches. Navarro has rebounded very well from that misplay with the help of an improved backline anchored by experienced sweeper Dogo Cooper.

Next: @ McKee/Staten Island Tech (Sept. 21, 4 p.m.)

10. Tottenville (3-1-0) (6)

The Pirates played with fire in narrow early-season victories over Curtis and New Dorp and were finally burned last Friday, falling to McKee/Staten Island Tech. The Tots rebounded on Monday by knocking off Port Richmond, but now find themselves tied atop Staten Island A with Curtis and New Dorp.

Next: Susan Wagner @ College of Staten Island (Sept. 23, 4 p.m.)

New: Columbus (2-1-0)

Dropped out: William Bryant (1-0-2)

On the bubble: Aviation (2-0-1), Evander Childs (3-1-0) FDR (4-0-0), McKee/Staten Island Tech (2-0-2), New Dorp (3-0-1), Sheepshead Bay (3-1-0), Thomas Jefferson (3-0-0) and William Bryant (1-0-2)

zbraziller@nypost.com