SIMA FAB 50: Eastern takes over girls No. 1

by Sheldon Shealer

October 1, 2019

McDonogh School (Md.) built a national schedule in a bid for a third SIMA FAB 50 title in the past six seasons.

However, the Eagles' bid for the top spot was dealt a blow by a league rival.

Mercy (Md.), another SIMA FAB 50-ranked team, upset McDonogh 1-0 last week, allowing Eastern (N.J.) to move into the No. 1 spot this week. Eastern is riding a 28-match undefeated streak.

McDonogh's loss puts the team third in a loaded IAAM race behind undefeated Archbishop Spalding (Md.) and Mercy. Spalding and McDonogh have yet to play.

On the boys side, much will be determined this week in the race for the SIMA FAB 50 No. 1 ranking. Top-ranked Peoria Notre Dame (Ill.) takes on No. 3 St. Ignatius (Ohio) on Friday, while No. 2 St. Benedict's Prep (N.J.) faces No. 16 Salesianum (Del.). Also, the Go 4 The Goal Fall Classic features four Top 25-ranked teams, highlighted by Milwaukee Marquette (Wis.) and Libertyville (Ill.).

Now, on with the rest of the rankings ...

BIG MOVERS: BOYS: Commack (N.Y.). Commack's eight-spot move from No. 47 to No. 39 marked the largest movement of the ranked teams this week. ... GIRLS: Mercy (Baltimore, Md.). Mercy had a statement win early in the season to jump into the state and regional rankings. The Magic played FAB 50-ranked Archbishop Spalding close en route to a FAB 50 ranking. Now, Mercy jumps from No. 31 to No. 16 following a 1-0 win over leaue rival and former No. 1 McDonogh School.

NEWCOMERS: BOYS: No. 35 Garden City (Garden City, N.Y.), No. 38 Lower Merion (Ardmore, Pa.), No. 44 Pingry School (Martinsville, N.J.), No. 45 Archbishop Curley (Baltimore, Md.), No. 46 Fort Zumwalt South (St. Peters, Mo.), No. 47 Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio), No. 48 Triad (Troy, Ill.), No. 49 Bay (Bay Village, Ohio) and No. 50 Las Vegas (Nev.). ... GIRLS: No. 28 West Salem (Salem, Ore.), No. 30 Castle (Newburgh, Ind.), No. 31 Evansville Memorial (Evansville, Ind.), No. 40 Puyallup (Wash.), No. 43 Cincinnati Country Day School (Cincinnati, Ohio), No. 44 Shawnee (Medford, N.J.), No. 45 Natick (Mass.), No. 46 Dublin Coffman (Dublin, Ohio), No. 47 Rutgers Prep (Somerset, N.J.), No. 48 Bethlehem Central (Delmar, N.Y.), No. 49 Briarcrest Christian (Memphis, Tenn.), No. 50 Beaverton (Ore.).