In five days, the CHSAA ‘AA’ regular season will be all over. But there is plenty of wiggle room in a tight race in the Archdiocese.
Iona Prep, Fordham Prep, Regis and Xavier are separated by only eight points and almost all of them play each other this week. Iona-Regis, Fordham-Xavier and Regis-Xavier are all on the slate, making every game incredibly important with playoff positioning up for grabs.
Not to be forgotten, the Ivy Prep League is anyone’s to claim, too, with Horace Mann and Collegiate the top contenders.
For more on this and this week’s rankings, check out below:
1. St. Francis Prep (11-0-1) (Last week: 1)
The lone blemish on St. Francis Prep’s record – a tie to rival Molloy – happened all the way back on the first day of the season. Now we’re entering the final week of league games and the Terriers are the unquestioned CHSAA ‘AA’ favorite. Brooklyn/Queens was locked up long ago and this should be a week of rest for the Terriers before the playoffs arrive.
Next: Archbishop Stepinac (Oct. 18, 4 p.m.)
2. Fordham Prep (7-1-4) (2)
The Rams have left some points out there lately, tying Regis and losing to Molloy. But make no mistake: Fordham is one of the teams to beat heading into the final week of the regular season in the CHSAA. Pete McNamara’s boys still have a chance to win the division title – they are just four points behind Iona Prep – and games this week against Xavier, Christ the King and St. Francis will be huge.
Next: No. 6 Xavier (Oct. 18, 4:30 p.m. @ Aviator)
3. Iona Prep (9-2-2) (3)
Alex Kapp was outstanding in net and assisted on Cesar Ceja’s game-winning goal Thursday against Xavier. But the injury bug has continued to hit Iona Prep hard. Ceja, the Marist-bound superstar striker, found out early this week that he has a broken orbital bone from a collision on that goal and it’s unclear if he’ll miss the rest of the season.
Next: No. 4 Regis (Oct. 18, 4:30 p.m. @ Randall’s Island 51)
4. Regis (6-2-4) (5)
There’s a very difficult week ahead, but Regis has a real chance to nab second place in the CHSAA Archdiocesan, as it trails Fordham Prep by just three points. The Raiders are going to need their top-level game Tuesday against Iona Prep and Thursday versus archrival Xavier. The makeup game against Christ the King on Friday will wrap up their regular season.
Next: No. 3 Iona Prep (Oct. 18, 4:30 p.m. @ Randall’s Island 51)
5. Horace Mann (8-2-0) (4)
The Lions responded well to Saturday’s shocking loss at Poly Prep by blanking Fieldston for the second time in five days. Senior striker Toby Lee has now scored three times in two matches, a great sign for Horace Mann considering his recent struggles finishing.
Next: Hackley (Oct. 19, 4:30 p.m.)
6. Xavier (6-4-3) (7)
The Knights had their chance to get at least a point against Iona Prep on Thursday, but could not finish the job. Xavier finds itself behind Fordham Prep by four points in the CHSAA Archdiocesan in second place – the spot that gives teams the all-important bye into the quarterfinals. A chance to make up ground remains this week against Fordham and rival Regis.
Next: No. 2 Fordham Prep (Oct. 18, 4:30 p.m. @ Aviator)
7. Archbishop Molloy (5-3-5) (6)
Molloy is an enigma wrapped in a riddle this year. The Stanners have beaten Fordham Prep and tied St. Francis Prep, but they’ve also lost to Archbishop Stepinac and tied Christ the King last week. A relatively light schedule awaits this week and there’s no doubting Andy Kostel’s bunch will be a tough out in the postseason.
Next: Holy Cross (Oct. 18, 4 p.m.)
8. Collegiate (8-2-2) (8)
The Dutchmen are in position to win their second Ivy Prep League title in four years, tied in the loss column with Hackley and Horace Mann. To get there, Collegiate will need to exact revenge against the Lions on Friday – coach Ray Voelkel’s club lost the first meeting back on Sept. 16, though it was shorthanded.
Next: @ Trinity (Oct. 19, 5 p.m.)
9. Christ the King (5-5-2) (NR)
The speedy, athletic Royals are really a team to watch the rest of the way. The young group is playing its best soccer of the season as a tie against Molloy last week would attest. Federico Curbelo has yet to show his whole arsenal – the playoffs could be his time to shine – and Calogero Curcuru has been consistent throughout the season.
Next: @ Xaverian (Oct. 18, 4 p.m.)
10. Mount St. Michael (8-1-1) (NR)
Break up the Mountaineers. There’s no team hotter in New York City than Mount, which has won eight in a row, including Monday’s 4-0 thumping of rival Cardinal Spellman, the defending CHSAA ‘A’ champion. Mike Boyle’s club hasn’t won a division title since 2003, but certainly has the inside track right now.
Next: Salesian (Oct. 19, 4 p.m.)
New: Christ the King (5-5-2) and Mount St. Michael (8-1-1)
Dropped out: Fieldston (5-3-1) and Stepinac (4-6-3)
On the bubble: Fieldston (5-3-1), Dalton (8-5-0), Cardinal Spellman (5-1-3), Monsignor McClancy (7-1-2), Blessed Sacrament (6-1-2), St. Joseph by the Sea (3-1-6), Cardinal Hayes (5-1-3), LaSalle (6-2-0), Poly Prep (6-6-0) and Packer Collegiate (12-1-1)