An autumn that culminated in four local teams reaching at least the state semifinals further established Section 1 as a boys soccer hub in New York. North Salem won a second consecutive state championship, while Harrison, Rye and Albertus Magnus each enjoyed their best season in decades.
Our preseason power rankings will lean to a degree on what was proven and accomplished last year along with an understanding that things have and will change.
Some of the familiar names have moved on and there will undoubtedly be players and teams that rise up in the coming weeks and months. And, in a competitive section, there likely will be some ebbs and flows even among the elite squads. We'll look to have those fluctuations reflected here each week.
Top 10 preseason power rankings
1. Rye:
The Garnets went two months between losses, rolling to the Class A state final for the first time since 1979. Expectations are high as they returned most of their core, including all-state stars Kasen Scarperi and Peter Wilmot, and top scorer Connor Dehmer. Last year: 1
2. John Jay-East Fishkill: They rallied from behind in the Class AAA section final and eventually beat New Rochelle in penalty kicks, advancing to the regional. Among the standouts expected to return are Justin Ortiz Hernandez, Wynn Boscarino and goalie Nick Naso. Last year: 2
3. New Rochelle: The Huguenots played through two overtimes with John Jay, earning a share of the Section 1 championship. New Rochelle graduated goalie Jero Velasquez, lohud's Westchester/Putnam Player of the Year, but Josemiguel Ayala and Adrian Medina are among several excellent players still there. Last year: 3
4. Harrison: After winning their first section title since 2008, the Huskies marched to the Class AA state semifinals, losing to eventual champion Garden City. Harrison lost some of its best players, including Mylo Langlais, but there still is plenty of talent on the roster — as evidenced by them repeating as Lakeland Summer League champs. Last year: 4
5. North Salem: Sure, it's a small school, but respect is paid to a program that has planted Section 1's flag atop the boys soccer mountain in two straight years. The Tigers lost some senior leadership and star power, but they've got a strong group in place that includes Liam Keegan and Juben Lazri. Last year: 5
6. Mahopac: After improving by eight wins from the previous season, the Wolf Pac dominated their playoff opponents to reach the Section 1 Class AA final. Michael Oteng and Nick Portanova are among the key returners who could have them in contention again. Last year: 8
7. Pleasantville: The Panthers excelled last fall, thumping most opponents and then pulling out gut-check wins in the playoffs to reach the Class A section final. Pleasantville returns the bulk of its core, including Nick Tassier and Jonah Aghen, and a shift to Class B likely will benefit them. Last year: 10
8. Albertus Magnus: They've got a new head coach and graduated two superstars, including Mile Zivkovic, after breaking through for the first section title since 2006. But the Falcons did establish a winning culture during their recent turnaround, and players like Liam Cunningham and Kevin Harrington should help them uphold that standard. Last year: 6
9. Scarsdale: The Raiders never seemed to be at full strength last season, and injuries eventually limited their potential. Still, they earned a No. 2 seed and reached the Class AAA sectional semifinals. Will McAllister returns healthy and is part of a talented nucleus that could have Scarsdale back near the top. Last year: 9
10. Mamaroneck: The Tigers more than doubled their win total from the previous year and the thinnest of margins (and tiebreakers) kept them from a top three seed entering the Class AAA playoffs. Mamaroneck returns a solid roster and could be poised for another step forward. Last year: N/R
Stephen Haynes covers sports for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rye, John Jay, New Rochelle top lohud boys soccer preseason rankings
