One team has won the last three Section V Class A1 championships. Two other teams reached No. 3 in the New York state rankings this season. Another squad is undefeated in its last eight. One program has won 21 Section V titles – second all-time. Another program has 11 titles. Sectional play starts Tuesday. Here’s the rundown.
No. 1 seed Brighton (13-2-0)
Players to Watch: Gabriel Barraclough-Tan (nine goals, three assists), Caio De Medeiros (three goals, four assists), Lucas De Medeiros (0.801 GAA/seventh Section V), Felipe Haunch (14 goals, nine assists), Connor McQuillan (four goals, five assists), Matt Ochs (two goals, four assists) and Sagar Sharma (three goals, five assists).
What to know: Brighton won 11 straight and climbed as high as No. 3 NYS Class A. The Barons open against the winner of No. 8 SOTA/NW/NE vs. Canandaigua. Brighton won its second straight A1 title in 2012.
No. 2 seed Brockport (13-2-1)
Players to Watch: Tyler Daly (four goals, two assists), Vander Hart (three goals, six assists), Zachary Langelotti (13 goals, six assists), Ben Leach (five goals, nine assists), Michael Rennie (one goal, five assists), Peyton Young (1.249 GAA), Colby Wharram (six goals, one assist) and Zach Wharram (14 goals, eight assists).
What to know: Brockport went undefeated in its first nine games of the season to reach No. 3 NYS Class A. The Blue Devils will play the No. 7 seed Spencerport vs. No. 10 Irondequoit winner in the quarter-finals. Brockport claimed the 2005-06 AAA crowns.
No. 3 seed Greece Arcadia (10-3-3)
Players to Watch: Chris Collili (six goals, six assists), Denis Danilenko (three goals), Carter Englert (Jr. defender), Joe Esposito (1.059 GAA), Ryan Karker (two goals, four assists), Tyler Lewandowski (16 goals, six assists), Cameron Misiurewicz (three goals, seven assists), Cooper LaValley (three goals, three assists).
What to know: A finalist last year, Arcadia is undefeated in its last eight including going 4-0-1 against Class AA teams. The Titans have nine shutouts this season. They will open against No. 6 seed Eastridge in the quarter-finals. A finalist a year ago, Arcadia last won a sectional title in 1993. The Titans have won or shared 10 championships.
No. 4 seed Greece Athena (8-6-2)
Players to Watch: Othman Belhseine (11 goals, five assists), Ryan Burns (Jr. defender), Ryan Fiannaca (three goals, one assist), Anthony Loiacono (three goals, seven assists), Michael Monti (0.853 GAA- 10th Section V), Ryan Papke (two goals, one assist), Dylan Rice (four goals, six assists), Jean-Mark Sankara (two goals, one assist), Robert Stirrup (Sr. midfielder), CJ Takatch (13 goals, four assists) and Trevor Talone (two goals, one assist).
What to know: Winners of the past three A1 championships, Athena opened 3-0 and 4-1-2. Three of the Trojans defeats have been by one goal. They start the sectionals against No. 5 seed Pittsford Mendon in the quarter-finals. The Trojans won both meetings (2-0, 5-1) between the Monroe County Division III foes.
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No. 5 seed Pittsford Mendon (7-8-1)
Players to Watch: Mustafa Ahmed (one goal, three assists), Matt Bamford (eight goals, six assists), Marty Banghart (four goals, three assists), Andy Hutkowski (two goals), Alex Morley (three goals, two assists), Ian Schmitt (1.983 GAA), Charles Shi (three goals) and Tyler Wilkes (three goals, one assist).
What to know: Mendon won its last three games of the regular season including 2-1 victory over Brighton then ranked No. 3 NYS Class A. Bamford scored four goals in those three wins. The Vikings open against No. 4 seed Athena. Mendon lost both meetings between the two teams this season. Mendon won the 2013 A1 title . Mendon owns 21 sectional titles in program history and eight New York State crowns.
No. 6 seed Eastridge (9-7-0)
Players to Watch: Garrett Delves (one goal, seven assists), Dakoda Iamele (two goals, three assists), Jordon LeBlanc (19 goals, eight assists – 46 points/16th Section V), Brendan O’Kane (2.133 GAA), Garrett Silva (three goals), Matt Stefaniw (22 goals, 11 assists – 55 points/eighth Section V) and Tyler Tryt (seven goals, 11 assists).
What to know: Eastridge won five straight in September. Of the Lancers seven losses, five have come at the hands of state-ranked opponents: Brighton, Brockport, Honeoye Falls-Lima (2) and Palmyra-Macedon. Eastridge opens agains No. 3 seed Greece Arcadia.
No. 7 seed Spencerport (5-10-1)
Players to Watch: Luke Dobles (1.963 GAA), Justin Hockenberger (three goals, one assist), Ajan Rajamohan (three goals, three assists), Greg Ranieri (two goals, two assists), Vincent Ranieri (four goals, three assists), Alex Sigurjonsson (three goals, two assists) and Ivan Valodzka (four goals, one assist).
What to know: Spencerport won three of five midway through the season. They will open against No. 10 seed Irondequoit. The Rangers took both meetings (5-0/2-1) between the Monroe County Division II rivals. Spencerport and Irondequoit shared the 2010 AA title, the Rangers first of three straight sectional championships. Spencerport has won 11 Section V titles.
No. 8 seed SOTA/NW/NE (3-10-0)
Players to Watch: Aviel Fischer (one goal, one assist), Matthew Fox (two goals), Eliphazi Irrshura (five goals, two assists), Lucky Khounsombat (two goals), Saheed Miller (three goals, four assists).
What to know: The Silverhawks roster contains 10 juniors, five sophomores and three freshman. SOTA/NW/NE has just three seniors. SOTA/NW/NE opens against No. 9 seed Canandaigua.
No. 9 seed Canandaigua (2-14-0)
Players to Watch: Connor Fisher (six goals, one assist), Aden Forcier (five goals, two assists), Dan Herrick (one goal, two assists) and Jon Herrick (two assists).
What to know: Canandaigua’s roster of 19 players consists of 12 juniors including Forcier and Jon Herrick. Canandaigua opens against No. 8 seed SOTA/NW/NE.
No. 10 seed Irondequoit (1-14-1)
Players to Watch: Obed Berhe (two goals, two assists), Mason DeLuca (four goals), Nathan Halloran (2.00 GAA) and Emir Erkenkalken (two goals, one assist).
What to know: Irondequoit has 17 juniors and six sophomores on its current roster of 27. The Eagles shared the 2010 AA title with Spencerport. Irondequoit opens with No. 7 seed Spencerport.
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