They had two tightly contested games during the regular season and now they meet again for the 2022 Section V Class C2 crown. Byron Bergen and Wheatland-Chili will square off Friday night for the championship. Here’s what you need to know:
No. 1 seed BYRON-BERGEN BEES (19-0-0/Genesee Region 2) vs. No. 3 seed WHEATLAND-CHILI WILDCATS (15-2-2/Genesee Region 2)
How they got here: Byron-Bergen (No. 2 NYSSWA Class C) began its title defense with a pair of dominant wins over No. 16 seed Perry and No. 8 Cuba Rushford/Hinsdale, followed by a semifinal victory over No. 4 seed Warsaw, 6-0. Wheatland-Chili (No. 10 NYSSWA Class C) defeated No. 14 seed Campbell-Savona 6-0, No. 6 seed Batavia Notre Dame 4-1, and No. 7 Bolivar-Richburg 2-1 to reach the final.
Total goals scored: Byron-Bergen (129), Wheatland-Chili (76)
Total goals allowed: Byron-Bergen (3), Wheatland-Chili (10)
Last time they met: The two teams played two regular-season games with Byron-Bergen winning both by a goal in the Bees’ two closest contests. Byron-Bergen’s 1-0 victory on September 6th marked the only time Wheatland-Chili was shut out.
Trends: Byron-Bergen hasn’t given up a goal in seven games going back to the last time they faced Wildcats. Wheatland-Chili has won ten of its last eleven games including six straight heading into this championship showdown.
Players to Watch for Byron-Bergen: Mia Gray Fr. M 40 goals, 23 assists; Novalee Pocock Jr. GK 49 saves, three goals allowed, 1231 minutes in goal; Mackenzie Hagen Jr. F 29 goals, 19 assists; Emma Starowitz Jr. F 15 goals, 21 assists; Elizabeth Starowitz Fr. M 15 goals, 10 assists; Kendall Phillips Sr. M nine goals, five assists.
Wheatland-Chili: Emily Parker Jr. M/F 16 goals, thirteen assists; Keira Nash 8th grade GK/M three goals, one assists, 38 saves, four goals allowed, 724 minutes in goal; Alison Farrell Jr. F eleven goals, seven assists; Lillian Swavely So. F 10 goals, six assists; Jaeda Mekker 8th grade. M nine goals, four assists; Chyene Whitcomb Jr. D/F eight goals, four assists; Marena DeBruyne Fr. GK 26 saves, six goals allowed, 658 minutes in goal.
Coaches: Wayne Hill (Byron-Bergen), Jennifer Quinn (Wheatland-Chili)
History 101: Byron-Bergen is looking to repeat as C2 champions. A win would give the Bees their third sectional title in C2 and sixth overall. On the other side of the field, Wheatland-Chili is looking for its first-ever sectional title in C2, while having won eight total championships in class C3 and D1 combined. The Wildcats have scored double the amount of goals against the Bees than any other opponent the Bees have faced combined.
What’s next: The winner will face either Gananda or Holley in the Class C regional qualifier.
A 6:30 p.m. kickoff is scheduled at Caledonia-Mumford Central School District.
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