Four sides put undefeated records on the line as sectionals begin

By PAUL GOTHAM

Two teams carry 30-game winning streaks – one that hasn’t lost since 2019. Two other teams look to win a title for the second time in three years.

Four undefeated teams put those records on the line at the time of year when one loss ends a season.

Fillmore (16-0-0), Spencerport (14-0-1) and Warsaw (16-0-0) girls along with the Bath-Haverling boys (16-0-0) are among the contenders as the 2021 Section V Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer tournaments open on Tuesday.

Grace Russell (15 goals, 18 assists), Hope Russell (27 goals, 9 assists) and Sophia Templeton (15 goals, 15 assists) lead a Fillmore team which has outscored opponents by combined total of 75-7 this season to claim the top seed in Class D1. The Eagles face the No. Mount Morris – No. 9 South Seneca winner in the quarter-finals.

Second-seeded Marion (13-3-0) is led by Abigail Marotta (41 goals, 13 assists and 95 points). Marotta is familiar with putting up big numbers. Her 34 assists in 2019 rank fifth all-time in NYS.

Unbeaten streaks are nothing new for the Spencerport girls. Bre DeHond leads the top seed in Class A1 with 22 goals and 56 points. The senior is flanked by classmates Lily Brongo (6 goals, 16 assists) and Alyssa Hackett (9 goals, 8 assists). With 11 shutouts on the season, the Rangers have outscored opponents 59-4.

“This team is just its own team,” Spencerport head coach Jamie Schneider said. “Like the teams in the past, they have great leadership and are very good both offensively and defensively. They have high expectations. This team has just found its own path for a great regular season and hopefully a successful sectional run.”

One of the teams to find the back of the net against Spencerport is second-seeded Brighton (11-5-0) led by Maggie Cregan, the leading scorer in Class A with 26 goals and seven assists.

Fans were denied a possible sectional preview when weather cut short Spencerport’s tilt with No. 3 seed Webster Schroeder last Friday. Kent Brown’s Warriors make the move to A1 from AA where they shared the title in 2019 and won it outright the prior year. Our Lady of Mercy (No. 4) fell to Spenceport in last year’s final.

The last time Spencerport came out on the wrong side of the score was November 17th of 2019 when Schneider’s squad lost to Shoreham-Wading River (XI) 1-0 in the NYS Class A final. The Rangers went undefeated for a New York State record 64 games from 2016-18.

Warsaw (No. 2 NYSSWA Class C) shared the 2019 C1 title with Williamson. Chloe Hubbard (24 goals, 14 assists and 62 points) paces the current Tigers looking to run the table for the outright crown this year. Warsaw beat No. 2 Geneseo twice this season without allowing a goal from the Blue Devils.

The top-seeded team in Girls’ Class B1, Palmyra-Macedon (14-2-0) will be looking for vindication. Unbeaten in 2020, Pal-Mac had its titles hopes dashed when Covid-19 protocols cut short its season before sectionals started. Clare Boesel has 75 saves this season and is part of a Pal-Mac defense that did not allow a goal for eight games. Maya Ikewood (21 goals, 14 assists) and Emma Robinson (18 goals and 5 assists) pace the offense. Pal-Mac will be looking for its first title since 2018.

No. 2 seed (B1) Greece Olympia (13-3-0) won seven straight until falling to Pittsford Sutherland, 1-0 in the regular season finale. Kuditra Derosa leads the Spartans with 30 goals and seven assists.

Penfield (15-1-0) won 14 in a row to claim the top seed in Class AA. Delaney Tellex (10 goals, 2 assists) and Emily Fordham (7 goals, 5 assists) lead the Patriots – the only team with a winning record in Class AA.

Greece Athena (12-4-0) handed Penfield its only setback of the campaign. Sophomore Wrianna Hudson has 22 goals for Class A2’s top seed that has won four straight.

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Ella Yartym (25 goals, 23 assists) and the Bath-Haverling girls have won 15 in a row and are the No. 1 seed in Class B2. York’s Libby Volsey made 90 saves while allowing six goals to lead the Golden Knights to the No. 1 seed in C2. No. 1 Batavia-Notre Dame is going for its second straight Class D2 crown.

Matt Hill’s Bath-Haverling Rams (16-0-0) haven’t lost since opening day of 2020 – a stretch of 30 wins. Led by Keefer Calkins (37 goals, 9 assists), the top seed in Boys’ Class B2 is looking to win its fourth straight sectional title.

“A lot of great players that are passionate about the game and the program,” Hill said when asked about the Rams’ post-season success the past four years. “They really buy in from day one.”

AJ Brotz has made 56 saves in 1,021 minutes in goal for the Rams who have outscored opponents, 84-3 this season.

McQuaid (14-1-0) claimed the top seed in Boys’ Class AA. Elliot Aguirre (10 goals, 6) and Andrew O’Hern (9 goals, 10 assists) pace an offense that has scored 59 goals this year. Niyen Ruffin made three saves in McQuaid’s 3-nil over Canisius (Monsignor Martin) in the second game of the season. The clean sheet was one of seven to open the campaign.

Hilton (14-1-1) avenged its only loss of the season and won eight straight to move into the No. 2 seed. of Class AA. Cody Cavuoto (19 goals, 10 assists) and Alec Smith (14 goals, 12 assists) lead Hilton. The Cadets and McQuaid played in the 2017 Class AA final.

Reigning champion Penfield (11-2-1) comes in at the No. 3 seed. Shane McMillan’s status will play a role in whether the Patriots defend their title. Sidelined with a foot injury for eight games, the Robert Morris commit returned to the lineup and scored two goals in 30 minutes last Thursday against Gates-Chili.

“I would say he’s almost back to full fitness,” Penfield head coach John Cotsonas noted. “He will play more than 30 minutes on Friday against Victor.”

McQuaid’s only loss of the season came to the top seed in Class A, Pittsford Sutherland (13-1-2). The Knights have had their own challenges with injuries – in particular senior center back David Adeleke Adedoyin.

No. 2 seed Churchville-Chili (11-2-2) is unbeaten in 11 straight including a scoreless draw with Sutherland. Nick Rippe has five goals and 14 assists for John Mahoney’s Saints. Third-seeded Greece Arcadia (12-3-1) has lost twice to Sutherland – both times by identical 1-nil counts.

Ron Macomber, Jr.’s Keshequa Indians (14-2-0) will be looking for their third straight sectional title. The top seed in Class C2 will play the winner of No. 8 Byron-Bergen and No. 9 Red Creek in the quarter-finals. Senior midfielder Reese Powers has 19 goals and 26 assists for Keshequa.

Hornell (12-2-1) claimed the top seed in B1. Addison (15-1-0) is the No. 1 seed in C1 while Naples and Hinsdale (10-3-1) took top spots in D1 and D2 respectively. Naples (14-1-1) went undefeated until the final game of the regular season when the Big Green fell to Pal-Mac of Class B1.