By CARSON WERNER
Five Section V boys’ soccer teams advanced to the final weekend of the season. Fairport, Greece Athena, Bath-Haverling, Keshequa and Fillmore will all take the field Saturday looking for a spot in Sunday’s state finals. Here’s the breakdown:
Class C Saturday (Nov. 16) 8:30 AM
LANSING BOBCATS (15-2-2) VS. KESHEQUA INDIANS (21-0-0/LCAA Division II)
How they got here: The two-time defending state champion Lansing Bobcats (IV) defeated Trumansburg 2-1 for the Class C title and set down Bishop Grimes by a 3-2 score in regionals.
Keshequa began the tournament in the semifinals with a 3-0 victory over Perry and a 1-0 win over Marion to claim the Class C title. In the state qualifier, Keshequa ended East Rochester’s undefeated season with a 1-nil victory. The Indians advanced to the state semifinals after defeating Maple Grove 4-1 in the Far West Regional.
Total goals scored: Lansing (69), Keshequa (78)
Total goals allowed: Lansing (16), Keshequa (11)
Players to watch: Lansing — Morgan Somchanhmavong (Jr. midfielder), Sam Panzer and Mason Edwards
Keshequa — Aidan Wood (20 goals, four assists), Riley Rease (14 goals, nine assists), Reese Powers (nine goals, 19 assists), Brendan White (73 saves in 927 minutes in goal, 0.345 goals against average) and Jordon Luther (seven goals, seven assists).
Coaches: Benjamin Parkes (Lansing), Ron Macomber Jr. (Keshequa)
History 101: Keshequa is making its first trip in program history to the state semifinals. Section V is 21-16-2 all time against Section IV in postseason meetings. Lansing downed Geneseo in last year’s state finals. The last Class C team from Section V to come out a winner in a matchup with Section IV was World of Inquiry in 2016 which beat Lansing 2-1 in the semifinals. Lansing is making its third straight trip to the state semis.
What’s at stake: A spot in the NYS Class C finals against the winner of Rhinebeck (IX) vs. Voorheesville (II).
Class A Saturday (Nov. 16) 8:45 AM
JAMESVILLE-DEWITT RED RAMS (14-5-1/SCAC Empire) VS. GREECE ATHENA TROJANS (17-2-2/Monroe County Division III)
How they got here: J-D (III) shut out East Syracuse-Minoa 1-0 and downed Whitesboro 2-1 to open up the Class A tournament. In the sectional finals, J-D defeated Fowler 2-1 for the championship. The Red Rams topped Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake 1-0 in regionals match to reach the state semis.
Greece Athena opened the tournament with two shutouts over Irondequoit and Churchville-Chili, totaling eight goals in 160 minutes. The Trojans defeated longtime rival, Greece Arcadia, 3-2 for the sectional crown. Athena’s past two games to reach the state semis consist of 3-nil victories over Pittsford Sutherland and Niagara-Wheatfield in the Far West Regional.
Total goals scored: Jamesville-Dewitt (50), Greece Athena (64)
Total goals allowed: Jamesville-Dewitt (12), Greece Athena (20)
Players to watch: Jamesville-Dewitt – Zach McBennett (nine goals, five assists), Jack Carmen (seven goals, seven assists), Patrick David (four goals, two assists), Tshike David (four goals) Matt Gera (114 saves, .905 save percentage)
Greece Athena – Victor Alongi (six goals/four assists), Othman Belhseine (19 goals/four assists), Jared Burns (68 saves, 973 minutes in goal, 12 goals against), Ryan Fitzgerald (three goals/five assists), Dylan Rice (19 goals/13 assists), Brian Piendel (four goals/three assists).
Coaches: Dan Law (Jamesville-Dewitt), Mike Butler (Greece Athena)
History 101: Athena won the 2014 NYS Class A title. The Trojans are making their first trip to the state semis since then. Jamesville-Dewitt is making its third trip to the state’s final four. Section V is 22-13-2 all-time in postseason matchups against Section III. The last Class A team from Section V to come away with a win in a head-to-head meeting was Pittsford Mendon in 2010 which downed J-D, 3-0.
What’s at stake: A spot in the NYS Class A finals against the winner of Rye (I) vs. Jericho (XI).
Class AA Saturday (Nov. 16) 9:15 AM
FAIRPORT RED RAIDERS (15-3-2/Monroe County Division I) VS. SHENENDEHOWA PLAINSMEN (13-2-1/Suburban Council)
How they got here: Fairport opened the Class AA tournament with a 2-0 win over Webster Schroeder. The Red Raiders advanced to the finals with a 1-nil win over Webster Thomas. Fairport shared the AA crown with McQuaid and advanced on PKs. Four goals from four different goal scorers led Fairport over Lancaster in the Far West Regional.
Shenendehowa (II) shut out Albany 1-nil in the semifinals and Bethlehem 3-0 in the finals to capture their 20th Section II Class AA title. The Plainsmen defeated Baldwinsville 3-1 in the regional match to advance to the state semifinals.
Total goals scored: Fairport (45), Shenendehowa (33)
Total goals allowed: Fairport (14), Shenendehowa (6)
Players to watch: Fairport – Jude Rouhana (11 goals, four assists), Myles Palmer (seven goals, two assists), Ryan Collins (two goals, six assists), Michael Nesser (57 saves, 14 goals against in 1389 minutes), Rorie Simpson (five goals, six assists), Caden Brunken (three goals, seven assists), Kinglsey Malcolm (five goals, two assists).
Shenendehowa – Jaylin Sykes (16 goals, five assists), Reggie Durden (five goals, four assists), Rhys Hourmont (three goals), Darien Espinal (three goals), Noah Flint (66 saves, .920 save percentage).
Coaches: Gianni Bussani (Fairport), Jonathan Bain (Shenendehowa)
History 101: Fairport is making its fourth trip to the state semifinals this decade. The Red Raiders have advanced to the finals in each of the three previous appearances. This will be the first postseason meeting between Fairport and Shenendehowa. Section V is 15-11-4 all time against Section II in postseason. Shenendehowa is 4-2 against Section V teams with its most recent being a 1-o decision over McQuaid in 2005.
What’s at stake: A spot in the NYS Class AA finals against the winner of Brentwood (XI) vs. Ossining (I).
Class D Saturday (Nov. 16) 1:30 PM
FILLMORE EAGLES (19-1-1/Allegany County Division I) VS. MARATHON OLYMPIANS (17-0-1/)
How they got here: Fillmore defeated Arkport/Canaseraga 4-2 and Kendall 3-0 in the semifinals of the Section V Class D tournament. The Eagles downed Avoca 2-0 for the championship and handed Scio its second loss of the year in the state qualifier, 2-1. Fillmore advanced to the state semifinals with a win over North Collins 3-0 in the Far West Regional.
For the second year in a row, Marathon (IV) took the Class D title with a 4-1 win over Cherry Valley-Springfield. In regionals, the Olympians shutout Poland 5-nil to advance to the state semifinals.
Total goals scored: Fillmore (88), Marathon (92)
Total goals allowed: Fillmore (13), Marathon (4)
Players to watch: Fillmore – Levi Webb (19 goals, 9 assists), Tobias Webb (17 goals, six assists), Mitchell Ward (12 goals, six assists), Ethan Peet (11 goals, 21 assists), Trevor Clark (six goals, six assists), Dylan Valentine (1,185 minutes in goal, five goals against).
Marathon – Cameron Neilson (35 goals, 10 assists), Diego Castellot (22 goals, 16 assists), Trenton O’Neill (nine goals, six assists), Braeden Morrison (10 goals, 12 assists) Kenyon DePuy (1200 minutes, 3 goals against, 21 saves)
Coaches: Jamie Mullen (Fillmore), Chip Stewart (Marathon)
History 101: Fillmore is making its fifth trip to the NYS semifinals and first since 2005 when the Eagles lost to Chazy in overtime. Neither team has won a state title.
What’s at stake: A spot in the NYS Class D finals against the winner of Mount Academy (IX) vs. Chazy (VII)
Class B Saturday (Nov. 16) 1:45 PM
SKANEATELES LAKERS (16-5-0/OHSL Liberty National Division) VS. BATH-HAVERLING RAMS (21-0-0/LCAA Division I)
How they got here: Skaneateles (III) downed Vernon-Verona-Sherrill 7-0 in the first round of the Section III Class B tournament. The Lakers then shut out Marcellus and Clinton by scores of 1-0 to advance to the finals where they defeated Westhill 2-1 for the championship. Skaneateles advanced to the semifinals with a 1-0 victory over Oneonta in regionals.
Bath-Haverling cruised through the Section V Class B tournament beginning with a 5-0 win over Wayland-Cohocton. The Rams beat WOIS School #58 4-1 in the semis and shut out Bishop Kearney 4-0 for the title. In the qualifier, Bath downed Palmyra-Macedon in overtime 2-1 and advanced to the state semifinals with a 2-0 win over Lackawanna in regionals.
Total goals scored: Skaneateles (62), Bath-Haverling (86)
Total goals allowed: Skaneateles (20), Bath-Haverling (10)
Players to watch: Skaneateles — Tylar Moss (22 goals, 20 assists), Owen Cheney (15 goals, three assists), Colin Gaglione (five goals, five assists), Brendan Powers (three goals, two assists) Andrew Neumann (114 saves in 1560 minutes in net, 12 shutouts).
Bath-Haverling — Thomas Binkowski (31 goals, 18 assists), Lorenzo Serafini (14 goals, two assists), Keefer Calkins (12 goals, eight assists), Sam Arnts (seven goals, two assists), Jordan Deats (83 saves in 1,684 minutes in goal, 0.475 goals against average).
Coaches: Aaron Moss (Skaneateles), Matt Hill (Bath-Haverling)
History 101: Bath-Haverling is making its first trip to the state semifinals since 1996 when the Rams won the Class B NYS title. Skaneateles won the 2010 Class B championship.
What’s at stake: A spot in the NYS Class B finals against the winner of Center Moriches (XI) vs. Schuylerville (II).
Leave a Reply