Top Four Teams Fight For First

This Sunday, the top four teams are still in the running to win the league. With league leading FC Headers playing 3rd-place Chico's Bail Bonds, and with 2nd-place Scousers at 4th-place Berry Park, the points really mean something this week.

Although the league championship is no longer available to the league's other four teams, they'll be looking to end the regular season on an upswing. Each of these teams can beat any of the top four on a good night. And so any momentum they can build now should serve them well when the league's second title is on offer, in just a couple weeks.

Here are this Sunday's match ups and our predictions.

Hawks vs. Badgers FC

Since the team's creation in 2007, the Badgers' offense has almost always been one of the best in NYC coed soccer. In the WSP league, the team's two Daves are a scoring duo to be reckoned with on any Sunday. But this season, the two have rarely been out on the same night. Rumor has it that they'll both be on the pitch this Sunday. If so, the Hawks may do well to approach BFC as they did FCH last Sunday: defensively.

Last season, with the two Daves playing together most nights, BFC tallied 19. This season, the team's lights have mostly been off, with just 8 tallies so far.

The Hawks, on the other hand, have turned it on this Summer, scoring 15 in 5 games. Last year, the team managed just 9 goals in 7 games.

Where both teams are similar to last season is in a fair number of goals allowed. But the two teams may have finally sorted themselves out in the back. In recent weeks, they each allowed only one goal against the league's highest scoring team (FCH).

While the two offenses are comparable when both teams are at full strength, and while the defenses have a similar overall and recent record, we give the edge to the Hawks this Sunday.

Last meeting: Badgers 3, Hawks 1.

WSP's prediction for this Sunday: Hawks 3, Badgers 2.

AC Kermans vs. Wild Turkeys

Both of these recently formed teams play a daring game of attacking football. It has largely gone against them, however, as they've succumbed heavily to the counter attacks of veteran, high scoring NYC coed teams. By degrees, however, both these teams have tightened up their defense. But we think this game is going to be won or lost in terms of how well these teams' respective attackers translate chances to goals, rather than on any decisive, defensive strategy.

AC Kermans' players pass more often than WT's, giving the former a more sophisticated approach to the attack. WT has relied a bit too heavily on the one-on-one skills of Drew D. and Seweryn O. But last Sunday against Badgers, WT put together several fine series of short passes, involving the whole team. These resulted in a classic team goal as well as some great chances at net. So WT's approach could be changing.

Both teams are desperate for a win and will likely come out with guns blazing. But we think this one's going to end in a 2-2 draw.

Last meeting: ACK 1, WT 0.

FC Headers vs. Chico's Bails Bonds

This Sunday should be a tight, tense, fierce and unforgiving affair in what is perhaps NYC co-ed soccer's biggest and oldest rivalry.

The penultimate match of the Summer season is a repeat of last season's penultimate match: it's the same teams; FCH is again three points up on CBB; and so, again, first place is on the line. Last season, CBB usurped FCH in this match, taking not just the game but the season (on head-to-head results).

FCH will not only be seeking revenge for Spring's lost league title but for their loss to CBB in Spring's cup final. Moreover, FCH will be looking to put a dent in their 6-game winless record against CBB.

Given how FCH has been playing this season, you'd have to give them this one. But then you can never count Chico's out. Last Sunday's game saw their return to form after a shaky start to the season. And they should again have a full roster out for this Sunday.

Chenco may be CBB's most dangerous player. But look to the Spring season's third and fourth highest league scorers (CBB's Ben T. and Jimmy H.) to be given a dangerous amount of space if FCH decides to double-team the Haitian hurricane.

FCH had last season's two highest point earners in Argentine Fernando C. and Cyprian Chris P. They're at second and third this season, along with hometown Captain Mike R., who is tied with England's Neil C (Scousers) for the most goals scored.

On both teams, you've got three game-changing players. After these three, on each team, you've well-rounded, skilled and determined footballers who know how to play with one another, and who know their opposition on Sunday all too well.

It's hard to say that this will be a battle of wills. No one team has any less determination. CBB is motivated to hold on to its winning streak against FCH and to win back-to-back titles just as much as FCH wants to knock CBB down a notch. So it may just come down to who gets the luckiest bounces, to who holds their concentration more, to who is less nervy on the night. However it plays out, this is surely the match to watch on Sunday. Tickets are on sale now.

We don't think it's going too far out on a limb to give this one to FCH, 2-1. The odds are simply in their favor to pull out a win against Chico's. Finally.

Scousers vs. Berry Park

Another key match this Sunday. The result could also determine who secures first place by the end of week 7.

Scousers will finally have a full roster, with the return of brothers Matt D. and Paul D. on defense. It will be Matt's last game with WSP for a good while, as he's soon leaving for New Orleans for grad school. So he and his brother will be hoping for a good send off on Sunday. And the two are formidable in the back, even without any extra motivation. This should give BP's reeling attacking midfielder, Nick A. a good run for his money.

BP were a bit frantic last Sunday, abandoning a short passing and close-quarters shooting game for individual efforts at net and for desperate, long shot attempts. If they don't return to the calmer, smarter approach of previous matches, BP will find themselves chasing another game against a team that has never given up a lead.

Scousers are a well-drilled side. They play like Barcelona and Arsenal. They don't take too many cracks at net from afar but walk the ball softly into the mesh. They don't take bold chances. They don't rush. But if you give them too much space, look out. They can strike fast. And from any quarter.

Assuming BP play it smart, we predict another closely fought game: Scousers 3, BP 2.