Boys soccer: New team takes over No. 1 spot in North Jersey Top 25 rankings after one week
Ridgewood coach Aidan McCluskey may have been on to something.
The Maroons turned in the biggest shocker of the opening week by downing preseason No. 1 Ramapo, 4-3, on Tuesday to avenge a loss from the Bergen County championship last October. It was the first regular season loss for the Raiders since their opening game in the COVID-shortened 2020 year.
That turn of events has shaken up the North Jersey rankings with Clifton taking over at No. 1, Bergen Catholic moving up to No. 2 and Ramsey climbing to No. 3.
McCluskey predicted that his team would be better after a roller-coaster season, and the return of 16 varsity players has certainly helped. Brothers Aidan and Cameron Linnington both scored in the victory over Ramapo, Jacob Marcovici found the back of the net and Niko Martirossian picked up his first varsity goal.
Top 25 rankings
Clifton 1-0-1
Bergen Catholic 1-0-2
Ramsey 3-0
Ridgewood 2-0
Old Tappan 2-0
Ramapo 0-1
Tenafly 1-0-1
Cliffside Park 1-0-1
Demarest 1-1
Don Bosco 1-0-1
Pompton Lakes 1-0
Rutherford 1-1
Waldwick 0-1
Pascack Valley 0-1
Wallington 3-0
Glen Rock 0-1
Garfield 1-0
Emerson 2-0
Passaic Tech 2-0
Lyndhurst 0-1-1
Mahwah 3-0
Lakeland 3-0
Wood-Ridge 2-1-1
Secaucus 1-0
Kennedy 0-1
(Records through Wednesday.)
Week 1 winners
Lakeland moved into the North Jersey rankings after knocking off its first three opponents. Senior John Gurrieri etched his name on the scoresheet in all three matches while totaling five goals and an assist. This is the best start in Wanaque since 2016 when the Lancers went on to reach the North 1, Group 2 final.
Mahwah is making a case to be the most improved team in North Jersey. The Thunderbirds have already won more games than the last two seasons combined and matched their scoring output from a year ago. Seniors Jalal Khalifeh and Leandro Sanchez have fueled the turnaround with three goals apiece heading into their match Thursday in Cliffside Park. Goalie Dylan Stark is another one of nine senior starters for coach Tommy Schultz, who's been impressed by his team's drive to succeed.
"We've had some new additions to the program," Schultz said. "Young sophomores step up too. They've all bought in. Whatever it is we've done. Practice. Film. Whatever. They want to put Mahwah back on the map. And we're taking steps towards doing that."
Pompton Lakes took over as the favorite in the NJIC Colonial division with a 2-0 victory on Wednesday over Glen Rock. Senior Andrew Armstrong buried his 52nd and 53rd career goal to get some payback for a state tournament loss a year ago.
Wallington has not skipped a beat after a darkhorse run to the sectional final last November. The Panthers swept their first three opponents under new coach Robert Kruk by beating Park Ridge (1-0), Harrison (1-0), and St. Mary (7-1) in consecutive fashion. It's the second straight year that Wallington has beaten the Hudson County power Blue Tide.
Wallington has locked it down in the back with Samuel Stanko stopping 24 of 25 shots against. His defense core has three newcomers with Victor Wacyra joined by senior Jakub Dolecki and sophomores Matthew Fidalgo and Silas Preinfalk.
"It was definitely a team effort on the defensive side with substitutes giving crucial key minutes," Kruk said.
Kruk, a former Wallington assistant, is a 2007 Bergen Tech grad who played under Nelson Ramirez.
Wood-Ridge is ranked for the first time in eight years after toppling rival Hasbrouck Heights on an overtime goal by Salvatore Catanzaro, who has a team-high four goals. Senior Brian Harasek also has four for the Blue Devils, who fell in overtime to No. 18 Emerson and tied 20th-ranked Lyndhurst.
"I think so far the best thing is that we are finding ways to weather the storms in games better than we have the last three years," coach Alberico De Pierro said. "Our veterans are stepping up in the key moments and our keeper is showing great maturity."
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ boys soccer: Top 25 rankings, big winners from opening week
