By CARSON WERNER
Four of Class AA’s top five seeds will vie for the final two spots Thursday night at Eastridge High School. Top-seeded Fairport and No. 5 seed Webster Thomas start the night with a 5 PM kick off. No. 2 seed McQuaid and No. 3 seed Penfield will follow. Here’s the breakdown:
No.1 seed FAIRPORT RED RAIDERS (12-3-2/Monroe County Division I) vs No.5 seed WEBSTER THOMAS TITANS (10-4-2/Monroe County Division II)
How they got here: Fairport (No.11 NYSSWA) defeated No.9 seed Webster Schroeder 2-0 in the quarterfinals. Webster Thomas downed fourth-seeded Victor, 3-2, to reach the semifinals.
Total goals scored: Fairport (38), Webster Thomas (30)
Total goals allowed: Fairport (13), Webster Thomas (15)
Last time they met: The Red Raiders and Titans battled one another in their respective season openers. The match ended in a 2-2 tie.
Trends: Fairport has won six of its last seven games. The Red Raiders have not conceded a goal in their last three matchups, winning all by a score of 2-0. Webster Thomas is 1-1-1 in its past three games and 5-2-1 in its past eight. The Titans have not given up more than two goals in a game all year.
Names to know: Fairport – Jude Rouhana (eight goals, three assists), Myles Palmer (five goals, two assists), Ryan Collins (two goals, six assists), Michael Nesser (46 saves, 13 goals against in 1039 minutes), Rorie Simpson (four goals, three assists), Caden Brunken (three goals, five assists), Kinglsey Malcolm (four goals, two assists).
Webster Thomas – Zach Wolfe (eight goals, four assists), Taner Goren (four goals, one assist), Bailey Rogers (70 saves, 13 goals against in 1187 minutes), Nick Harrington (one goal, five assists) Cameron Webb (three goals, one assist), Brendan Hill (three goals, one assist).
Coaches: Gianni Bussani (Fairport), Steve Grose (Webster Thomas)
History 101: Both sides lost in the 2018 sectional tournament quarterfinals. It’s Fairport’s first time making it to the semifinals since 2016 when it defeated Webster Thomas for its third sectional title in four years. Webster Thomas is looking for its first sectional championship since 2008. The Titans have not progressed past the semifinals since 2016 when it lost to Fairport in the championship.
A 5:00 PM kickoff is scheduled at Eastridge on Thursday, Oct. 31.
No.2 seed MCQUAID JESUIT KNIGHTS (13-2-1/RCAC) vs. No.3 seed PENFIELD PATRIOTS (8-4-3/Monroe County Division I)
How they got here: McQuaid (No.14 NYSSWA) beat No.7 Rush Henrietta by a 3-0 score in the quarterfinal round. By a 1-nil score, Penfield pushed by Hilton to advance to the semifinals.
Total goals scored: McQuaid (59), Penfield (28)
Total goals allowed: McQuaid (11), Penfield (14)
Last time they met: Penfield downed McQuaid, 3-2, in the Class AA sectional quarterfinals last year with an overtime win.
Trends: McQuaid has won eight of its past nine games, conceding only five goals within that span. The Knights have outscored its last three opponents 13-0. Penfield lost all four of its games within a seven game span. The Patriots have won four straight with three shutouts since its last loss.
Names to know: McQuaid – Elliot Aguirre (nine goals, one assist), Andrew O’Hern (seven goals, three assists), Brad Talsania (five goals, nine assists), Caden Kress (six goals, five assists), Wilson Brauer (six goals, one assist), Justin Larry (five goals, two assists).
Penfield – Shane McMillan (13 goals, two assists), Joe Vogt (four goals, one assist), Mark Zilist (three goals, one assist), Ryan Wensley (74 saves, 14 goals allowed in 1272 minutes), Emre Atkas (three goals), Cullen Masters (one goal, three assists), Tahj Mounnarat (three assists).
Coaches: Nino Pilato (McQuaid), John Cotsonas (Penfield)
History 101: McQuaid won the Class AA tournament in 2017, the same year it claimed the Class AA state championship. Last year, Penfield ended McQuaid’s season in the quarterfinals with a 3-2 overtime victory, but lost in the following round. The Patriots are seeking their first championship appearance since 2011 and its first championship win since 2010 when Penfield defeated Webster Schroeder on PK’s in the Class AAA tournament.
A 7:00 PM kickoff is scheduled at Eastridge on Thursday, Oct. 31.
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