A week into the boys soccer season and there has already been somewhat of a shakeup in the rankings. New Rochelle went up a rung, as did Mahopac, and Scarsdale makes a significant jump on the strength of its first two victories.
With several premier matchups throughout the season — including this week — there likely will be frequent shifting and sliding of the teams in this hierarchy. We'll look to reflect the teams’ performances and trends here each week.
Records are as of the morning of Sept. 8
Top 10 preseason power rankings
1. Rye (1-0)
After a scoreless first half, the Garnets scored three goals in a shutout of Sleepy Hollow to open their season. Rye returned most of its core after reaching the Class A state final last November. They've got a couple big games this week, hosting Class AA
state semifinalist Harrison on Tuesday and then Arlington on Thursday. Last week: 1
2. New Rochelle (1-0)
It's about as good a start as they could've hoped, opening the season with a 2-1 win over John Jay-East Fishkill, the team that edged them in penalty kicks in the Section 1 Class AAA final. That victory was a step toward getting over the heartbreak of last fall and it certainly offers an early boost of confidence. Last week: 3
3. John Jay-East Fishkill (1-1)
The defending large-school champs opened with a 2-0 win over Section 2's Shaker, a team that lost only once last season. The Patriots have another big rematch on Tuesday, visiting Section 9's Newburgh, the team that beat them in the Class AAA subregional. Last week: 2
4. Harrison (0-0)
Despite losing several standouts after winning their first section title since 2008, Harrison still has a strong roster and is expected to remain among the title favorites. They'll get tested right off the bat, though, facing Rye on Tuesday and New Rochelle on Thursday. Last week: 4
5. Mahopac (2-0)
The Wolf Pac rolled through the regular season and reached the Section 1 Class AA final last fall, and there is an internal belief that it might've been a building block. There aren't as many well-known names, but this still is a talented group. Mahopac showed it last week with dominant wins over Yorktown and Brewster. They'll face Harrison next week in a section final rematch. Last week: 6
6. Scarsdale (2-0)
They jump three spots from their preseason ranking after an impressive opening week. The Raiders beat Section 2's Shaker, then scored a 4-2 win over North Rockland on Labor Day. Both teams were sectional semifinalists in Class AAA last season and likely will be among the best large-school teams again. They'll host John Jay-East Fishkill on Wednesday. Last week: 9
7. Mamaroneck (1-0)
The Tigers opened with a solid 1-0 win over Arlington. Jordan Charalambous and Michael Zambrano lead a talented crew looking to build on its 11-4-2 season. They're back in Dutchess County this week, visiting Ketcham on Tuesday. Last week: 10
8. Pleasantville (1-1)
They opened with a 1-0 loss to Briarcliff in the Mount Pleasant Cup tournament, but did rebound with a 3-2 win over Westlake. The Panthers reached the Class A section final last season and will be among the favorites this fall in Class B. Last week: 7
9. North Salem (1-1)
The Tigers lost their opener to Carmel, but did bounce back with a 2-1 win over Rye Neck in which Adrian Ortiz scored the winner late. North Salem has established itself as a small-school giant and is in pursuit of its third consecutive state championship. Last week: 5
10. North Rockland (1-1)
They graduated a significant chunk of their core, but this program typically produces solid teams. Their loss to Scarsdale last week was a hit, but the Raiders should improve throughout the season. They've got another early-season test with New Rochelle on Thursday. Last week: N/R
Stephen Haynes covers sports for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: New Rochelle, Mahopac, Scarsdale climb in Sept. 8 boys soccer rankings
