Finally, someone challenged Mamaroneck — actually, more than one someone last week challenged the Tigers, who spent the weekend playing in the Max Field Hockey National Invitational Tournament.
The weekend ended in a one-goal win that followed an OT loss — Mamaroneck's first setback of the year. But don't discount how playing at that level may boost Mamaroneck's performance.
As it is, this week's Journal News/lohud field hockey rankings begin as they first began and have continued to appear with Mamaroneck in the catbird seat.
The rankings follow below.
Note: Records reflect games played through Sept. 20.
1. Mamaroneck (6-1) — The Tigers eked by Horace Greeley 1-0 before traveling to Pennsylvania for the national tournament. Mamaroneck suffered its
first loss of the season, 4-3 in overtime, to Maryland's Leonardtown High before bouncing back with a 2-1 win over State College Area High of Pennsylvania. This week, the Tigers will enjoy some downtime with only one game and they'll be favored in that. Previously: 1
2. Lakeland (7-0) — Lakeland's toughest game of the season to date ended in a 2-1 win over John Jay-Cross River, which has certainly gained momentum after a poor showing against talented Yorktown early. That game was the only non-blowout the Hornets had last week. They also routed Clarkstown 9-0 and disposed of ranked Bronxville 7-1. This week should be super interesting. In between two games that should be wins, Lakeland will face Horace Greeley on Thursday. It was the Quakers who ended Lakeland's amazing sectional championship streak last year and it's Greeley, which, despite proclaiming it's in a rebuild, has look pretty well built with only last week's 1-0 loss to No. 1 Mamaroneck anything close to resembling a negative. This game has the potential to be later regarded as one of the best of 2026. Previously: 2
3. Horace Greeley (5-1) — Here's the thing about the Quakers: They weren't expected to be this good — at least not this soon after graduating a bunch of talent. But when your only loss is by a goal to 2023 and 2024 Class A state champion and 2025 Class A state runner-up Mamaroneck, well, you're darned good. This team has always been special defensively and that continues as the 1-0 Mamaroneck game shows. This week Greeley is scheduled to play three games. Two should be wins. Lakeland? In light of the Mamaroneck game, does anyone have a coin to flip? Previously: 3
4. Yorktown (5-1) — Yorktown, whose only loss was by a goal to Greeley, kept rolling along last week with three more wins. There should be two more by week's end. Previously: 4
5. John Jay-Cross River (3-3) — Two things stand out about the Wolves from last week. One: During its 6-0 win over Pelham, it put 23 shots on the cage. Pelham had one. Two: It only lost 2-1 to undefeated Lakeland. These are the things that make it easy to dismiss the Wolves' so-so record. They're the No. 5 team because they've earned that. The Wolves could finish this week at 6-3. Previously: 5
6. Rye (1-3) — So what's a 1-3 team doing in the top 10, let alone just outside the top five? Easy answer: Not every loss is equal, just as not every win is equal. The Garnets, whose schedule game against Long Island's Garden City was canceled, lost to No. 2 Greeley 2-1 in overtime last week. After a weak first quarter, Rye played well and had some good chances to score. The loss was its second straight — and by the same score and in OT. The first was to John Jay-Cross River. So Rye is a bounce here or there from being 3-1. Previously: 6
7. Bronxville (4-1) — Any shot at an undefeated season went out the window in a 7-1 loss to Lakeland. The loss was not unexpected, given Lakeland's skill. In their other game, the Broncos blanked Nanuet 3-0. This week, the Broncos will be favored in two of their three games with Yorktown probably too much of a reach. Previously: 7
8. Somers (5-1) — The Tuskers took down then-No. 8 White Plains 3-0 last week. Their only loss to date was 2-1 to Mahopac. Somers has two games this week and if it can be competitive vs. John Jay-Cross River that will help keep it in the top 10. Previously: Not ranked
9. White Plains (3-2 ) — The Tigers fell by three to Somers but had two nice wins, including 1-0 over former No. 9 John Jay-East Fishkill, which also fell 1-0 to Section 9 Rondout Valley. Previously: No. 8
10. Rye Country Day (2-0) — The Wildcats routed Hopkins 6-1. They have two games this week, the particularly fun one for local fans being against longtime rival Hackley in a possible preview of the New York State Association of Independent Schools final. Previously: 10
On the bubble: Hackley (1-1-1), John Jay-East Fishkill (4-2), Mahopac (3-3), North Salem (4-1), Pearl River (5-1), Suffern (3-2)
Nancy Haggerty covers sports for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: With opposition tough, Mamaroneck stays atop field hockey rankings
