By PAUL CIFONELLI
With defending champion Palmyra-Macedon already eliminated, a new champion will be crowned in Class B1. Hornell, the team that knocked them out, will look to take down the top seed. Meanwhile, a perennial Class B powerhouse will look to make yet another appearance in the sectional finals. The semifinals will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 17. Here’s the breakdown:
No. 1 seed WAYNE EAGLES (12-1-0/Finger Lakes East) vs. No. 5 seed HORNELL RED RAIDERS (5-5-1/Livingston County Division I)
How they got here: Wayne routed Greece Odyssey 7-0 in the quarterfinals. Hornell also got a quarterfinal win, theirs being 4-1 over Palmyra-Macedon. Both teams got a free pass through the opening round.
Total goals scored: Wayne (48), Hornell (21)
Total goals allowed: Wayne (3), Hornell (20)
Last time they met in the postseason: These programs haven’t matched up in the postseason since 2002.
Trends: Wayne has won seven consecutive games. The Eagles have amassed 10 shutouts this season. Hornell has three wins in its past six games, including a draw.
Names to know: Wayne – Josh Bolt (Jr. midfielder 15 goals/7 assists), Tyler Reynolds (Sr. midfielder 8 goals/6 assists), Ryan Wilson (Sr. midfielder 8 goals/4 assists), Dylan Cook (Sr. attack 5 goals/8 assists), CJ Salatino (So. midfielder 5 goals/3 assists), Alex Cook (So. attack 5 goals), Kaleb Glessing (Jr. midfielder 2 goals/6 assists)
Hornell – Liam Khork (So. attack 7 goals), Ian Ashworth (Jr. attack 4 goals/3 assists), Kade Slayton (Sr. midfielder 3 goals/3 assists), Shawn Rose (So. midfielder 2 goals/4 assists), Wyatt Argentieri (So. attack 1 goal/4 assists)
Coaches: Tim Mattle (Wayne), Jim Tobin (Hornell)
History 101: Wayne, appearing for the first time in Class B, advanced to the Class A2 finals a year ago and made four trips to the semifinals since 2016. Hornell has six appearances in Class B1 semifinals since 2010, but has only made one appearance in the finals over that time.
The game will take place on Tuesday at Gananda at 6:30 PM.
No. 2 seed LIVONIA BULLDOGS (12-2-0/Livingston County Division I) vs. No. 3 seed BATAVIA BLUE DEVILS (7-4-1/Monroe County Division IV)
How they got here: Livonia ran through Midlakes/Red Jacket 7-0 in its first game. Batavia’s quarterfinal tilt with Newark ended in a 1-0 Blue Devil victory.
Total goals scored: Livonia (58), Batavia (17)
Total goals allowed: Livonia (14), Batavia (19)
Last time they met in the postseason: Livonia took down Batavia 1-0 in the 2019 Class B1 quarterfinals.
Trends: Livonia has won five games in a row and have beaten everyone on the schedule except for Bath-Haverling (No. 1 seed of Class B2 with a 12-1-0 record). Batavia is 3-1-1 over its past five contests.
Names to know: Livonia – Shane Melead (Jr. midfielder 11 goals/4 assists), Bryce Hoang (Jr. attack 9 goals/12 assists), Ewan Maxwell (Sr. midfielder 8 goals/11 assists), Jackson McEnerney (So. midfielder 6 goals/3 assists), Brady Bishop (Sr. attack 5 goals/3 assists), Jake Watkins (Jr. back 5 goals/2 assists), Connor Feehan (Fr. attack 3 goals/3 assists), Shawn Minnehan (Sr. midfielder 2 goals/4 assists)
Batavia – Nick Grover (Jr. back 6 goals), Carter Havens (Jr. midfielder 2 goals), Jaziel Childs (Sr. midfielder 1 goal/2 assists), Owen Halpin (Fr. midfielder 1 goal/1 assist), Casper Stewart (Fr. midfielder 1 goal/1 assist)
Coaches: Ray Maxwell (Livonia), Brandon Every (Batavia)
History 101: Livonia has been a runner-up twice and the champion six times at Class B1 and B since 2011. This is Batavia’s first semifinal appearance since 2002.
Livonia and Batavia will meet on Tuesday at 6 PM at Livonia.
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