Hornell looks to avenge its two regular season losses while Haverling vies for a three-peat as Section V Class B2 champions. The Livingston County Athletic Association rivals will take the field Friday night. Here’s what you need to know:
No. 1 seed HAVERLING RAMS (18-0-0/Livingston Division I) vs. No. 2 seed HORNELL RED RAIDERS (15-3-0/Livingston Division I)
How they got here: Haverling (No. 5 NYSSWA Class B) started strong with an 8-0 win over No. 8 seed Attica. The Rams subsequently clinched their spot in the championship game with a semifinal win over No. 5 LeRoy 4-1. Hornell (No. 20 NYSSWA Class B) opened up its title campaign with a 5-1 win over No. 7 Dansville and reached the final with a hard-fought 3-2 win over No. 3 Mynderse.
Total goals scored: Haverling (96), Hornell (76)
Total goals allowed: Haverling (9), Hornell (20)
Last time they met: The Rams and the Red Raiders met twice with Haverling’s record remaining unblemished both times. The Rams defended home field on September 16 with a 2-1 victory and then blew past Hornell, 5-0, on the road on October 6th. Hornell hasn’t lost a game since the two’s last meeting.
Trends: Haverling’s undefeated season has largely gone smoothly aside from the 2-1 win over Hornell, and an early season 1-0 road win against Geneseo. As for the Red Raiders, aside from an early season loss to Pal-Mac, their only roadblock has been Haverling, as they have outscored their opponents by a combined score of 75-15. Hornell rides into this championship game on a five-game winning streak.
Players to Watch for Haverling: Ella Yartym Jr. F 35 goals, 30 assists; Keegan Smith Jr. M/F 25 goals, 15 assists; Lola Coots So. GK 33 saves, four goals allowed, 705 minutes in goal; Reese Sweet So. GK 1 goal, 21 saves, three goals allowed, 475 minutes in goal; Meredith Czajkowsk Sr. M nine goals, ten assists; Natalie Krelie Sr. D/F ten goals, eight assists; Triesta Sprague So. D/F four goals, eight assists; Lydia Dickson Jr. D/M five goals, two assists.
Hornell: Ireland Harrison Sr. F 26 goals, two assists; Parker Graham Fr. M six goals, seven assists; Elaina Flaitz Sr. D five goals, seven assists; Stella Carretto Sr. F seven goals, two assists; Sophie Wilkins Sr. M four goals, eight assists; Salena Maldonado Fr. D seven goals; Alexis Patrick Sr. GK 28 saves, three goals allowed, 1,455 minutes in goal; Reese Harwood So. GK six saves, two goals allowed, 930 minutes in goal.
Coaches: Braedyn Northrup (Haverling), Mike Wilkinson (Hornell)
History 101: Haverling is the two-time defending champions of Class B2, vying for a three-peat as well as its third sectional title overall. A win would cap off the Rams undefeated season with a third win over Hornell as the two have by far the largest goal differentials in the class (+87 and +56). Hornell is gunning for its sixth sectional title but first in Class B2.
What’s next: The winner faces either Palmyra-Macedon or Aquinas in the Clas B New York State regional qualifier.
A 6:00 p.m. kickoff is scheduled at Dansville High School.
Thank you so much for the write up! In case no one else has mentioned it, Ella and Keegan are juniors from Bath.