MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. — Justin LaFountain delivered :39 into the first overtime, and the McQuaid Jesuit Knights (21-0-0) defeated the Ithaca Little Red (IV) to advance to Sunday’s NYSPHSAA Class AA final.
LaFountain’s 16th goal of the season clinched McQuaid’s second trip and first since 2005 to the state championship game.
Dominic Duncan nearly gave McQuaid the lead early in the second half when the senior attacker hit the post.
The shutout was the 17th of the season and fourth of the postseason for the Jesuit Knights.
McQuaid has outscored opponents 11-1 in five playoff games.
McQuaid will meet Half Hollow Hills West (XI) in Sunday’s final. A 12:30 p.m. start time is scheduled. The Colts (16-4-1) advanced on penalty kicks in their semifinal with Shenendehowa (II). Half Hollow Hills West played the entire overtime sessions down a man after a red card was issued in the second half. The Colts will also go for their first state championship in program history.
McQuaid lost to Shenendehowa, 1-0 in its only previous state final appearance. The Plainsmen have won six NYSPHSAA titles.
The Jesuit Knights are looking to become the first Section V team since Penfield (2004) to win the NYS Class AA title.
Ithaca fell to 12-5 with the loss.
OTHER SCORES
Class A
Vestal (IV) 2 Pittsford Sutherland (V) 1
Vestal, the Section IV champion, rallied from an early deficit to advance to the Class A final. The loss snapped a five-game Sutherland winning streak in which the Knights had not allowed multiple goals in any one contest. The appearance in the state semi-finals was the first for Sutherland since 1999. The Knights were looking for their first state title since 1985.
Class C
Byron-Bergen/Elba (V) 4 Lake Placid (VII) 0
Wade Thompson netted two goals, and Adam Swapceinski added another as Byron-Bergen/Elba (20-1-1) advanced to Sunday’s Class C final where they will meet Lansing (IV).
Leave a Reply