It was an eventful week, one filled with significant league matchups and games that likely will factor heavily in playoff seeding. And it did, of course, result in some shifting within these rankings.
Mamaroneck, which opened at 10th in our preseason poll, has rocketed up to No. 2, eking ahead of New Rochelle and Scarsdale in what's the most evenly-matched trio of rivals we've got. Mahopac and Fox Lane also improved their standing as we begin the penultimate week of the regular season.
Records are as of the morning of Oct. 13.
Boys soccer power rankings
1. Rye (14-0)
The Garnets are finishing up a regular season that, to this point, is even better than their campaign last season. Rye last week had decisive wins over Pelham, Peekskill and even Byram Hills, an opponent against whom it typically
battles in tight one-goal games. They also beat Cornwall, the Class AA state runner-up, in the Section 1 vs. Section 9 Challenge on Monday. Last week: 1
2. Mamaroneck (12-0-2)
Mamaroneck pulls itself atop the hierarchy of elite Class AAA teams after a week in which it beat Scarsdale for the second time and tied New Rochelle for a second time. Scarsdale, in that span, beat New Rochelle. So in this "If P then Q..." equation, the undefeated Tigers get the slight edge over both. Last week: 3
3. New Rochelle (9-2-2)
The defending Section 1 Class AAA co-champs drop a spot in the ranking after a 2-0 loss to Scarsdale last Tuesday. New Rochelle did rebound with dominant wins over White Plains and Mount Vernon, then played to another 1-1 draw with Mamaroneck on Monday. Last week: 2
4. Scarsdale (9-2-1)
The Raiders' losses have come against Mamaroneck, but they also had a huge 2-1 win over New Rochelle last week. They'll square off again on Friday in a match that could factor heavily in determining playoff seeding. Last week: 4
5. Mahopac (11-1-1)
They've won seven in a row, and that stretch includes statement victories over Walter Panas and Lakeland. Mahopac has made a strong case for itself as the title favorite in Class AA. As the regular season winds down, they've got a measuring-stick match, hosting Rye on Wednesday. Last week: 6
6. Harrison (9-2-3)
The Huskies bounced back after a disappointing loss to Horace Greeley last week, reeling off shutout wins over John Jay-Cross River, Yorktown and Port Chester. Harrison is a championship-caliber team, but it's averaging 1.6 goals per game. That offensive production will have to improve against a stacked playoff bracket in Class AA. Last week: 5
7. Walter Panas (8-2-1)
They've won three straight since a narrow loss to Mahopac, and the Panthers have made it clear they're a legitimate title contender in Class A. Even their 6-4 loss to Rye last month was relatively competitive. Last week: 7
8. Lakeland (10-3-1)
The Hornets took a 6-0 loss to Mahopac — shut out for the second time this season by that rival — and it calls into question how much of a gap there is between the teams. They also lost to Beacon in the Section 1 vs. Section 9 Challenge on Monday. But it doesn't dim Lakeland's light entirely; this still is a talented group having an excellent season. Last week: 8
9. Fox Lane (7-2-4)
The Foxes climbed a spot in the ranking despite finishing last week with a 1-0 upset loss to John Jay-Cross River. But in the days leading up to that, Fox Lane scored key wins over Eastchester and Horace Greeley, propelling itself into that "contender" grouping in Class AA. Last week: 10
10. Eastchester (7-2-3)
They sputtered a bit last week, sandwiching their first two losses of the season around a tie with Yorktown. But they've got a big opportunity ahead of them, facing Harrison on Wednesday. Last week: 9
On the bubble: Pleasantville (10-1-1), Albertus Magnus (11-3), Tappan Zee (8-3-2), Briarcliff (11-1-2), Horace Greeley (6-3-3)
Stephen Haynes covers sports for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Mamaroneck, Mahopac move up in Oct. 13 boys soccer rankings
