By PAUL GOTHAM
The Byron-Bergen/Elba boys’ soccer team climbed to the top of the NYSSWA Class C rankings on October 16th. This weekend in Middletown, New York the Bees will look to punctuate their season with the program’s first NYSPHSAA title.
“They definitely feel this is where they belong,” Bees’ head coach Ken Rogoyski said by phone earlier this week. “They feel confident. They’re ready to prove it this weekend.”
Byron-Bergen/Elba (19-1-1) will meet Lake Placid (VII) in Saturday’s semifinal. The Bees take a five-game winning streak into the match, a stretch in which they have not allowed a goal.
“This team plays very well together,” Rogoyski added. “They also play with a lot of heart. This might not be the most skilled team, but they’re the best team at playing together and playing with heart. They back each other up. They’re there for each other. Everyone is doing all the little things just right. They deserve that number one ranking just because of how we play together.”
Led by Genesee Region and Section V Class C Player of the Year, Kyle Chambry, Byron-Bergen/Elba has outscored its opponents 69-11 this season. Chambry has collected 24 of those tallies. The senior back has assisted on another 12.
“He is truly a defender who can score,” Rogoyski said of Chambry who ranks eighth in Section V individual scoring. “He’s the player who every keeper wants in front of him as a defender, but every opposing keeper is worried about. He is the one defender who the opposing keeper is scared of who is also the favorite of the team goalkeeper.”
Junior Wade Thompson has 15 markers and 22 assists while sophomores Kyle Foeller (six goals/three assists), Rick Hubbard (three goals/two assists), Greyson Huntington (seven goals/two assists) and Sam Pringle (nine goals/five assists) balance out the attack. Senior Adam Swapceinski has three goals and 10 assists.
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“We might not individually be the best group of 11 individuals to show in Middletown this weekend, but we will be the best, solid team to show up,” Rogoyski noted.
Senior goalkeeper Brandon Kropf has made 132 saves on the season, and the Bees have allowed multiple in just four separate contests. As Rogoyski notes that is significant based upon Byron-Bergen/Elba’s schedule.
“We play some really, really tough teams that have great players, great high-quality players and excellent coaches. Every game we had to really work at.
“The Genesee region league is one of the toughest leagues…There are 28 Class C teams. A team coming out of Section V is really vetted…Once you become a Section V champion, you then have the difficult task of playing an additional game, the state qualifier which is another vetting process. By the time you enter the state tournament and we’re playing Western Regionals, you are one heckuva team.”
Byron-Bergen/Elba is making its first state semi-final appearance as a combined program. The Bees went to the final four in 2005 under then-head coach Will Fitzpatrick. Rogoyski was the program’s JV coach at that time.
Lake Placid (6-8-2) is also looking for its program’s first state title.
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“I tailor every game,” Rogoyski said about preparing to play the Bombers. “Our plan for every game is designed by who our opponent is. We tweak things and go at it differently. We will do what it takes to win the game. We will play the game that’s necessary to beat our opponent.”
Pierson/Bridgehampton (XI) will play Lansing (IV) in the other semifinal. A year ago, Lansing lost to World of Inquiry (V), 2-1 in the state semis. North Salem (I) went on to win the title in double overtime, 2-1.
“The Section V teams that enter the [state] tournament didn’t get there by luck. They had to win way too many games against way too many good opponents. Every team that enters the state tournament from Section V is a solid top-four team in the state no doubt.”
Byron-Bergen/Elba and Lake Placid will kick off at 1:30 p.m.
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