The BHSEC boys soccer team remained a strong presence in the New York City B-division this year despite a disappointing loss in the playoffs. The Bard Raptors won an impressive eleven out of twelve games during the season and made it to the quarterfinals of the playoffs. With only two losses in the past three years, the Raptors have shown consistent dominance in the B-division. The PSAL has taken notice and recently invited the Raptors to join the A-division.
When approached with the prospect of changing divisions, Raptors coach Winston McKoy was unsure how to reply. After discussing it with the players, however, he decided it would be beneficial for both the team and the school to accept. Although the A-division is home to strong teams such as Martin Luther King Jr. (the NYC champions for the past four years) and Beacon, McKoy believes that the team has both the skill and the dedication necessary to succeed in the A-division. Within the past year, the Raptors have scrimmaged both Beacon and Julia Richmond, two of the top teams in the A-division, and held their own against both.
In addition to accepting the invitation, McKoy also proposed a new relegation system for the PSAL to consider using in future seasons. In McKoy’s proposal, each season the two Manhattan B-division teams with the highest record would move into the A-division and the two Manhattan A-division teams with the lowest record would move into the B-division. According to McKoy, this would create more competitive and well-rounded match-ups and help A-division teams like AP Randolph, who have only won two games in the past three years. Under McKoy’s system, Randolph would be relegated to the B-division where they could play competitively and grow as a team. Forcing them to stay in the A-division only hurts their morale and their chances of becoming better, whereas other teams in the B-division need a higher level of competition to grow.
Whether this new system is adopted or not, the Raptors look forward to a successful and challenging year playing against some of the strongest teams in the city.