By PAUL CIFONELLI
Four different leagues are represented in the Class C2 semifinals. The biggest surprise is the presence of No. 7 Geneseo, but No. 1, No. 3 and No. 4 are all still involved. The semifinals will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 17. Here’s the breakdown:
No. 1 seed NAPLES BIG GREEN (10-0-0/Finger Lakes West) vs. No. 4 seed KENDALL EAGLES (6-8-0/Genesee County)
How they got here: Naples took on Bradford/Dundee in the quarterfinals and won 3-1. Kendall rolled through Pembroke 7-2 in the quarters. Both teams had a bye through the play-in round.
Total goals scored: Naples (40), Kendall (28)
Total goals allowed: Naples (6), Kendall (28)
Last time they met in the postseason: Naples defeated Kendall 2-1 in the opening round of the 2009 Class C tournament.
Trends: Naples has won every game this season by at least two goals, including five shutouts. Kendall has won its past two games, but lost the four before that.
Names to know: Naples – Owen Hulbert (Jr. attack 11 goals/4 assists), Ryan Lester (Jr. back 8 goals/2 assists), Austin Chapman (Jr. midfielder 7 goals/6 assists), Donivan Todd (So. attack 5 goals/11 assists), Wyatt Woodard (Jr. back 2 goals/5 assists)
Kendall – Zach Barret (So. attack 8 goals/1 assist), Michael McCue (Jr. midfield 7 goals/3 assists), Jacob Esposito (Sr. midfielder 5 goals/4 assists), Derek Edick (Sr. midfielder 4 goals/1 assist), Tory Raufeisen (Sr. striker 5 assists)
Coaches: Ryan Betrus (Naples), Rich Espisito (Kendall)
History 101: Naples lost in the Class C2 finals in 2018, the Class D1 finals in 2016 and the D1 semifinals in 2017. Kendall lost in the Class D1 semifinals in 2019, which was the program’s first semifinal appearance since it lost in the C2 semifinals in 2014.
Naples and Kendall will face off on Tuesday at 2 PM at Naples.
No. 3 seed BOLIVAR-RICHBURG WOLVERINES (7-4-2/Allegany County Division I) vs. No. 7 seed GENESEO BLUE DEVILS (6-8-0/Livingston County Division II)
How they got here: Bolivar-Richburg had a pass through the opening round and beat divisional for Cuba-Rushford 2-1. Geneseo toppled Marion 2-0 in the play-in round then upended Caledonia-Mumford 1-0 in the quarterfinals.
Total goals scored: Bolivar-Richburg (27), Geneseo (33)
Total goals allowed: Bolivar-Richburg (25), Geneseo (34)
Last time they met in the postseason: The Wolverines and Blue Devils haven’t met in sectional play since 2002.
Trends: Bolivar-Richburg has won its last four games and five of its last eight. One of the games the Wolverines didn’t win was a draw. Geneseo has won four of its past five games, including the two sectional matchups.
Names to know: Bolivar-Richburg – Jarrod Polk (Jr. attack 8 goals/2 assists), Jason Greeson (Sr. attack 7 goals/1 assist), Mark Pangburn (Sr. midfielder 4 goals/10 assists), Landon Danaher (Jr. midfielder 3 goals/1 assist), Dom Baldwin (Sr. midfielder 2 goals/2 assists), Wyatt Karnuth (Jr. striker 1 goal/3 assists)
Geneseo – James Thomas (Sr. midfielder 10 goals/4 assists), Ethan Bennett (So. midfielder 7 goals), Michael Walton (Sr. attack 6 goals/12 assists), James Hy (So. attack 4 goals/3 assists), Sebri Fantauzzo (So. midfielder 3 goals/5 assists), Sean McCaughey (Jr. attack 3 goals)
Coaches: Mike Zilker (Bolivar-Richburg), Chris Masters (Geneseo)
History 101: Bolivar-Richburg hasn’t won a sectional game since 2010. Geneseo won the Class C2 championship in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2018 and finished as runners-up in 2010, 2012 and 2017.
This game will be held at Bolivar-Richburg on Tuesday at 6 PM.
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