It makes perfect sense that the PSAL soccer season begins with Martin Luther King Jr. and Beacon, at Riverside Park.
These were the two sides that ended last season too, MLK winning its 11th title in 13 years by outlasting Beacon in penalty kicks. The premier programs in the PSAL, both ranked nationally by ESPN Rise’s Fab 50 soccer rankings, the Knights No. 12 and Blue Devils No. 37.
“It made the preseason that much more meaningful,” Beacon coach Alec Mahrer said, “to have this game the day school started. I think the rivalry is going to be as strong as ever.”
The city final was remembered more for how it began – with MLK fullback Emilio Haughton taking down Beacon striker Baimba Freeman with what the officials terms a legal slide tackle – than how it ended. Freeman hobbled his way through the match, but was far from 100 percent. It was later revealed he had suffered small fractures in his right ankle and knee.
If he was healthy, Beacon, who entered last year as the favorite and top seed, courtesy of its undefeated regular season, likely prevails. Freeman had tormented the Knights during the regular season, compiling a goal and an assist.
This is a different year, and MLK is the favorites, if you listen to coach Martin Jacobson. The MLK coach is certain his starting lineup is head and shoulders above the entire city, a nod to his talented center midfielders Sebastian Ramirez and Diego Montaleza, quick strike ability up front with Souleymane Kone and Moriken Sangary, and a dynamic sweeper in Alex Zorrilla.
“We have the better athlete,” Jacobson said.
Beacon, however, isn’t working with an empty deck. Although Mahrer’s club graduated stalwarts like Freeman, center midfielder Caetano Sanchez, and sweeper Will Condon, they return seven starters, not to mention blue chip sophomore keeper Max Brown.
As Mahrer points out, MLK hasn’t beaten Beacon the last five times the two sides have met other than via penalty kicks. Plus, the Knights don’t have the human eraser – Malick Faye – who singlehandedly won those shootouts, around anymore.
“I feel we’re always prepared and I’m really looking forward to playing them three times,” Mahrer said. “They have to worry about us.”
It is just the first of three games between the bitter rivals, the next Sept. 12 at East River Park, and the finale Oct. 18 at Newtown in Queens. One result won’t mean more than an extra point or two when November rolls around. Beacon seemed wholly superior last fall until that autumn day at Long Island University, when Faye proved indomitable yet again.
But it is an opportunity for each side to send the first salvo. What a way to start the season.
