By PAUL CIFONELLI
The Class D1 sectional tournament has gone to chalk to this point, with the higher seed winning every game. The top four seeds will battle it out on Monday, Nov. 16. Both games will be the first time the teams are squaring off this season. Here’s the breakdown:
No. 1 seed FILLMORE EAGLES (13-0-0/Allegany County Division I) vs. No. 4 seed ARKPORT/CANASERAGA WOLVES (7-2-2/Steuben County Division II)
How they got here: Fillmore had a bye through the play-in round then beat Genesee Valley for the third time this season, 3-0. Arkport/Canaseraga also didn’t need to win in the play-in round, then toppled Honeoye 1-0.
Total goals scored: Fillmore (64), Arkport/Canaseraga (26)
Total goals allowed: Fillmore (6), Arkport/Canaseraga (9)
Last time they met in the postseason: Fillmore took down Arkport/Canaseraga 4-2 in the Class D1 quarterfinals in 2019 en route to a championship.
Trends: Fillmore won every game this season by multiple goals. The Eagles won 10 times by three or more. Won five of last seven contests, with the other results being draws.
Names to know: Fillmore – Mitchell Ward (So. attack 26 goals/9 assists), Isaiah Voss (Sr. midfielder 12 goals/4 assists), Mason Cool (Sr. attack 8 goals/7 assists), Alex Ellsworth (Jr. striker 5 goals/1 assists), Zach Sisson (So. attack 4 goals/5 assists), Carter Sisson (Jr. attack 4 goals/3 assists), Eben Schilke (Fr. midfielder 6 assists)
Arkport/Canaseraga – Josh Abraham (Sr. midfielder 7 goals/1 assist), Ki Steiner (Jr. midfielder 5 goals/6 assists), Konnor Stuckley (Sr. attack 5 goals/4 assists), Mikah Hoyt (Sr. midfielder 4 goals/4 assists)
Coaches: Jamie Mullen (Fillmore), Dale Steiner (Arkport/Canaseraga)
History 101: Fillmore won the Class D1 title in 2019 and lost to the eventual champion in both 2017 and 2018. Arkport/Canaseraga hasn’t advanced to the semifinals since 2013, when it was the top seed in Class D1.
The game will be at Fillmore on Monday at 6 PM.
No. 2 seed KESHEQUA INDIANS (14-1-0/Livingston County Division II) vs. No. 3 seed ALFRED-ALMOND EAGLES (10-0-1/Steuben County Division I)
How they got here: Keshequa defeated C.G. Finney 8-2 in the quarterfinals after having a bye. Alfred-Almond also had a first-round bye and beat Wheatland-Chili 4-0 in the quarters.
Total goals scored: Keshequa (101), Alfred-Almond (33)
Total goals allowed: Keshequa (12), Alfred-Almond (4)
Last time they met in the postseason: Alfred-Almond defeated Keshequa 4-0 in the 2008 Class DD quarterfinals.
Trends: Keshequa won its final six games and all of its 14 wins were by at least three goals. Alfred-Almond hasn’t lost this season, with its lone draw coming in the regular-season finale. The Eagles won two one-goal games.
Names to know: Keshequa – Riley Rease (Sr. attack 25 goals/17 assists), Jacob Schiano (Sr. attack 20 goals/13 assists), Aidan Wood (Sr. midfielder 15 goals/7 assists), Jordon Luther (Sr. attack 12 goals/11 assists), Reese Powers (Jr. midfielder 11 goals/23 assists), Avery Strobel (Jr. attack 4 goals/4 assists)
Alfred-Almond – Jack Emo (Fr. midfielder 10 goals/7 assists), Dylan Coots (Jr. attack 6 goals/5 assists), Ayden Burdick (Sr. midfielder 6 goals/3 assists), Carsen Hann (Sr. midfielder 5 goals/3 assists), Aquila Cushing (Sr. attack 3 goals/2 assists)
Coaches: Ron Macomber Jr. (Keshequa), Burt Turner (Alfred-Almond)
History 101: Keshequa won the 2019 Class C2 championship. The Indians lost in the semifinals in 2015 and 2018 and the finals in 2016. Alfred-Almond hasn’t advanced past the quarterfinals since 2017, but it won the Class D1 championship in 2015 and 2016.
These teams will square off on Monday at 6 PM at Keshequa.
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