NY Shamrocks head coach Kevin Grogan and his former assistant coach Stevie Doyle watching their players in action. NY

Shamrocks Images

 

Nov. 4th, 2017

 

A look at the upcoming fixtures promises a sensational upcoming round in the CSL’s first division. The matchup between

league toppers Shamrocks and champions NY Greeks lead the anticipation.

 

Here’s eight things to look forward to across all the five games of the top flight this weekend.

 

1. Will the Rocks stay on top of the league over Lansdowne?

NY Shamrocks SC players in a huddle. NY Shamrocks Images

 

Shamrocks has been at the summit of the table since Week 5. Their Irish rivals Lansdowne are behind them by two points

with a game in hand. A win against NY Greeks will keep Kevin Grogan’s men up top when a loss and a win from Lansdowne

will push their rivals over them. The Rocks edged NYGA 1-0 the last two times they faced them at St. Michael’s Playground. 

 

 

2. The league’s top scorer meets the champs for the first time

League top scorer James Whyte. NY Shamrocks Images 

 

More on the league leaders, their new signing and league top scorer, James Whyte, will go against the CSL champions

NY Greek Americans for the first time in his career. Whyte netted seven goals in his first six CSL matches for the Rocks.

The 26-year-old is coming off his first scoreless game with the Irish club as he went blank against Central Park Rangers

in a 5-2 win last Saturday. Whyte muffled his first scoreless game with two assists.

 

The Greeks’ defense was the leading factor of their championship season last year as they conceded six goals in 10 games in

the Spring including a shutout against Lansdowne Bhoys and NY Pancyprian Freedoms in the semifinal and the final

respectively. However this season, NYGA conceded nine goals in five league-games and sits in sixth place.

 

 

3. Do they have any tricks left?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lansdowne Bhoys striker Ovan Oakley. 

 

The CSL experienced something out of the norm during the Halloween weekend last round: a hat trick of hat trick. Bhoys

star striker Ovan Oakley, Shamrocks new signing Kurt Cameron and Cedar Stars Academy captain Christopher Katona all

netted three goals last weekend.

 

All eyes will be on the in-form forwards this round. Oakley will be going against fifth placed NY Athletic Club who owns

two ex-MLS defenders; Cameron will look to net against champions NY Greeks and Katona will play Zum Schneider. Zum

conceded the third most goals in D1, 15 in seven games.

 

 

4. Another Greek derby for Doxa

Doxa SC players and head coach Paul Grafas. 

 

Doxa will play another Greek derby after losing to NY Greeks 2-0 in the Fricker Cup on Thursday—this time against NY

Pancyprian Freedoms. The Freedoms are undefeated in all competition when last placed Doxa is still looking for its first

league-win of the season.

 

 

5. Three teams will fight for their first league-win, two teams will

look to stay unbeaten

Zum Schneider and Central Park Rangers will join Doxa in the chase for a first league-victory of the season. On the flip side,

the Freedoms and Lansdowne will put their undefeated season on line—the Bhoys against NY Athletic and NY Pancyprian

against Doxa.

 

 

6. Zum looks to score first league-goal in five games

As Zum seeks their first win in the league the club will also look to score their first goal in five CSL matches as they host 

Cedar Stars Academy at Randall’s Island Field 75 on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. The Stars haven’t conceded a goal against a

team from the bottom half of the table yet.

 

 

7. The Bhoys take on the new NY Athletic for the first time

The Bhoys will face the rejuvenated NY Athletic Club for the first time. NYAC brought in 14 players during the offseason

including ex-MLS defenders Anthony Arena and Patrick Slogic. The team’s sole loss this season is a 2-1 defeat to Cedar

Stars Academy.

 

NY Athletic notably conquered league toppers Shamrocks 4-2 on opening weekend. However the club sits in fifth place in

the table with a 3-1-2 record when the Bhoys are placed in second position with 4-0-1 record.