The NYC Mayor’s Cup boys and girls soccer events will not be a tournament crowning a champion between senior all-star teams from the CHSAA, PSAL and private schools as initially planned, The Post has learned.
Due to its state rules, CHSAA players are prohibited from competing in more than one postseason all-star game, according to league boys soccer citywide chairman Paul Gilvary. Instead, the PSAL boys and girls senior all-star teams will play twice – against the CHSAA teams on Nov. 19 and the private teams Nov. 20, both at Poly Prep in Brooklyn.
The tournament format has been scrapped and no NYC Mayor’s Cup champion will be crowned.
“They were looking at it has having a semifinal and championship game,” said Gilvary, who was told by CHSAA state representative Tom Murray that the league could not play more than a single contest. “For us, that’s not really the objective of it, as far as we’re concerned. It’s a great event, but not for that purpose.”
Gilvary said the CHSAA would have been open to playing just the PSAL in a single game for bragging rights or even receiving a bye in a tournament and playing the PSAL-private schools winner. The PSAL teams were initially scheduled to earn the bye, which was going to rotate NYC & Company, the organization that runs the series of events, did not want to give the CHSAA the concession of getting a bye every year.
“We want to be as fair and equitable as possible to all leagues across the entire series,” the company said in a statement. … “We are very excited about the addition of a high school all-star soccer game to our NYC Mayor’s Cup series. While we are disappointed that all three leagues are not competing for the title of ‘Best in the City’ this year, we look forward to watching the city’s best male and female seniors from all five boroughs compete and encourage all soccer fans to head to Poly Prep Country Day School and show their support on November 19 and 20.”
CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens girls soccer chairman John Fayad said he hopes his league changes its stance next year and that most coaches would agree.
“Everyone should get a fair shot either way, but I guess it’s better than nothing,” said Fayad, who also coaches the girls at Christ the King.
The PSAL will be playing two games each and thereby selecting a larger roster. Beacon girls coach Kevin Jacobs, who will be coaching the PSAL girls squad, said it’s a shame the CHSAA and NYC & Company were not able to come to an agreement about a tournament format.
“Everyone wants to know exactly who’s better,” Jacobs said. “I feel a little bit bad for [the CHSAA] kids. I don’t know if they are selecting a smaller team as a result or if people are going to get fewer minutes.”
This is the first attempt at soccer for NYC & Company. The CHSAA has participated in the baseball Mayor’s Cup all-star game against the PSAL for two straight years and last spring played in the inaugural softball all-star game against the PSAL.
“[CHSAA baseball chairman] Wally Stampfel and the baseball guys have spoken very highly about it,” Gilvary said. “It’s better than anything we’ve had before and the kids really enjoyed it. This is all I’m looking for.”
Gilvary said past attempts at doing showcases and senior all-star games have “missed the mark” in the CHSAA boys soccer league. And he thinks a group of CHSAA all-stars competing against the PSAL on Nov. 19 at Poly Prep will drum up some interest.
Some coaches have already been fantasizing about dream combinations.
“It would be real cool,” St. Francis Prep boys coach Franco Purificato said of the potential roster. “Imagine [Iona Prep star keeper] Alex Kapp and [SFP sweeper] Christian Molano playing on the same team?”
But Purificato has no problem with the CHSAA not allowing its teams to play more than once. A tournament format, he said, isn’t something that’s necessary in his mind.
“I don’t know if that matters,” he said. “If we can showcase the kids, that’s what it’s all about.”