With sectionals in the rearview mirror, teams will set their sights on a state title. Five Section V boys’ teams kick off this weekend in the New York State Far West Regionals. Here’s what you need to know:
Class C: Friday, Nov. 4, 5 PM at Spencerport High School
AVON BRAVES (Livingston County Division II/20-0-0)
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PORTVILLE PANTHERS (Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division III East/14-3-1)
How they arrived here: Avon (No. 1 NYSSWA Class C): Avon opened sectionals with a 7-0 win over Canisteo-Greenwood and got a 1-0 win over Geneseo in the semifinals. The Braves shutout Williamson, 3-0 to claim the Class C1 title before earning a regional berth with a 2-0 over Red Creek. Portville (No. 7 NYSWAA Class C) defeated Randolph, 2-1 before besting Wilson (1-0) and Holland/Franklinville/West Valley (3-1) on way to claiming a Class C title.
Total goals: Avon (72), Portville (47)
Total goals allowed: Avon (3), Portville (21)
Trends: Avon has held opponents scoreless in their last 17 matches and have allowed goals in only two games all season. Portville is riding a 10-game win streak where they have outscored their opponents 28-5, with five shutout wins during that stretch.
Players to watch for Avon: Lee Hartke Sr. M 30 goals, 5 assists; Christopher Kashorek Sr. GK 57 saves, 3 goals allowed 1600 minutes in goal; Evan Masten Sr. D 8 assists; Dominic Patti Jr. A 10 goals, 10 assists; Austin Lattuca Jr. A 8 goals, 14 assists; Hudson Volpe Sr. M 6 goals, 5 assists; Cael Driscoll Sr. D.
Players to watch for Portville: Michael Cole Sr. D 13 goals, 7 assists; Mario Pascucci Sr. F 6 goals, 2 assists; Bryan Randolph Sr. MF 3 goals, 4 assists; Cole Faulkner Sr. D 6 goals; Brady German 7 goals, 8 assists
History 101: Both Avon and Portville recently won first sectional titles in program history and are subsequently making inaugural appearances in the state quarterfinals.
What’s at stake: A spot in the NYS Class C semifinals against the winner of Pierson/Bridgehampton (XI) vs. Haldane (I).
Class A: Friday, Nov. 4, 7:30 PM at Spencerport High School
SPENCERPORT RANGERS (Monroe County Division II/ 15-4-1)
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NIAGARA-WHEATFIELD Falcons (Niagara Frontier League Niagara Division/13-3-1)
How they arrived here: Spencerport (No. 13 NYSSWA Class A) started sectionals with a 6-1 win over Gates Chili. The Rangers then defeated Greece Arcadia (4-0) and No. 2 Webster Thomas (1-0) to clinch a spot in the finals. The Rangers claimed their 13th sectional title with a 2-1 win over Pittsford Sutherland, and earned a regionals bid. Niagara Wheatfield (No. 11 NYSSWA Class A) opened with a 4-1 win over Kenmore West before defeating Williamsville East (1-0) and Grand Island (2-0) to claim the Section VI Class A title.
Total goals: Spencerport (56), Niagara Wheatfield (48)
Total goals allowed: Spencerport (19), Niagara Wheatfield (23)
Trends: Spencerport has won eight straight games, limiting nine of their previous 10 opponents to one goal or less. The Rangers outscored their opponents 28-7 during the stretch. Niagara Wheatfield have limited their opponents to one or less goals in 11 of 17 games this season, and have won five of their last six games.
Players to watch for Spencerport: Jack Distaffen Jr. GK 1,590 minutes played, 72 saves, 19 goals allowed; Frank Grad Jr. D two goals, two assists; Justice Hinman Jr. A 12 goals, five assists; Jack Keady Jr. D two assists; Kyle Milburn Jr. A 21 goals, nine assists; Andrew Moss Sr. A three goals, six assists; Zach Tortora Fr. M three goals, three assists; Josiah Warrington Jr. M five goals, one assist; Joey Weaver Sr. M one goal, 10 assists.
Players to watch for Niagara Wheatfield: Vinnie DiBello Sr. F 34 goals, three assists; Troy Hassen Sr. MF three goals, 18 assists; Ryan Bergstrom Sr. MF 10 assists; Noah Siford Jr. MF four goals, one assist; Aiden Bennett Jr. MF four assists; Lucas Cirino Sr. D one goal, two assists.
History 101: Spencerport is making its third trip to regionals and first since 1979. The Rangers defeated Amherst, 2-1 in the 1979 NYS Class Far West Regional. Spencerport also reached the state semis in 1978 – the inaugural year of the tournament. Niagara-Wheatfield is making its second trip to the state quarterfinals. Greece Athena defeated the Falcons, 3-0 in the 2019 regional.
What’s at stake: A spot in the NYS Class A semifinals against either Glen Grove (VIII) or the winner of Amityville (XI)/ Half Hallow Hills West (XI).
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM DENNIS JOYCE HERE.
Class B: Saturday, Nov. 5, 11 AM at Spencerport High School
LIVONIA BULLDOGS (Livingston County Division I/18-1-1)
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LEWISTON-PORTER LANCERS (Niagara Frontier League Frontier Division/20-0-1)
How they arrived here: Livonia (No. 10 NYSSWA Class B) opened the postseason with a win over Palmyra Macedon before beating Attica/Alexander 2-0 and Hornell to claim the program’s 14th sectional title in program history. The Bulldogs earned a spot in the NYS Class B regional tournament with a 2-0 win over Bishop Kearney/Chesterton. Lewiston-Porter (No. 5 NYSWAA Class B) opened with a 16-0 win over Dunkirk before earning shutout wins over Lake Shore (4-0) and International Prep (4-0). The Lancers claimed the Section VI Class B title with a 1-0 win over East Aurora.
Total goals: Livonia (70), Lewiston-Porter (87)
Total goals allowed: Livonia (70), Lewiston-Porter (7)
Trends: Livonia has won their last seven matches and have not allowed a goal in their last four games. Lewiston-Porter is on a 12-game win streak and have only allowed more than one goal in one game this season.
Players to watch for Livonia: Jackson McEnerney Sr. M 11 goals, 8 assists; Luke Fasso Sr. A 9 goals, 3 assists; Peter Tonkery Sr. GK 94 saves, 6 goals allowed, 1275 minutes in goal; Connor Feehan Jr. A 15 goals, 8 assists; Colin Ullock So. A 11 goals, 8 assists; Michael Neckers Sr. D 1 assist; James Spezzano Jr. M 2 goals, 4 assists.
Players to watch for Lewiston-Porter: Drew Leardini Jr. F 39 goals, 21 assists; Dominic Massaro Sr. MF 20 goals, seven assists; Eli Veltri Jr. MF four goals, 14 assists; Athan Lee Jr. MF six goals, five assists; Quinn Walton Jr. F three goals, three assists; Nick Leardini So. MF two goals, seven assists.
History 101: Livonia is making its eighth regional appearance. The Bulldogs have an all-time record of 4-1-2 in the state quarterfinals having advanced on PKs in 2014 and seeing their season end on shots from 12 yards away in 2001. This will be the first time Livonia and Lewiston-Porter have met in the postseason. The Lancers’ are making their first trip to the regionals since 1993.
What’s at stake: A spot in the NYS Class B semifinals Carle Place (VIII) vs. Our Lady of Lourdes (IX) on November 12.
Class D: Saturday, Nov. 5, 1:30 PM, at Spencerport High School
FILLMORE EAGLES (Allegany County Division I/20-0-0)
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ELLICOTTVILLE EAGLES (Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division I East/11-4-2)
How they arrived here: Fillmore (No. 2 NYSSWA Class D) opened with a 9-0 win over Alfred-Almond in the quarterfinals before advancing past Keshequa, 3-0, in the semifinals. The Eagles bested HAC 4-0 in the Section V Class D1 finals before beating Mount Morris 3-0 to earn a regionals spot. Ellicottville (No. 18 NYSSWA Class D) collected wins over North Collins (5-1) and Maple Grove (4-3) to claim the Section VI Class D title.
Total goals: Fillmore (99), Ellicottville (57)
Total goals allowed: Fillmore (7), Ellicottville (24)
Trends: Fillmore has pitched 14 shutouts this season, including four straight. The Eagles have scored three-plus goals in six consecutive matches. Ellicottville has scored five-plus goals in five matches this season and post a plus-33 goal differential.
Players to watch for Fillmore: Luke Colombo Sr. GK 89 saves, six goals allowed, 1,580 minutes in goal; Jack Cool Jr. M 9 goals, 3 assists; Layton Sanasith Jr. A 8 goals, 3 assists; Henry Sardina Jr. M 14 goals, seven assists; Eben Schilke Jr. M 9 goals, 15 assists; Zach Sisson Jr. MF 6 goals, 15 assists; Mitchell Ward Sr. A 43 goals, 18 assists; Brent Zubikowski Sr. D 2 goals, 6 assists.
Players to watch for Ellicottville: Sam Edwards Jr. M 24 goals, 14 assists; Owen Doherty So. F 10 goals, 8 assists; Willian Benatovich Jr. M 4 goals, 2 assists; Maddox Johnson So. F 7 goals, 1 assist; Aiden Harrington Jr. M 3 goals, 9 assists; Cameron Mendell Fr. F 4 goals, 2 assists.
History 101: A rematch of last year’s regional that Fillmore took by a 9-0 count. The Eagles have won the past three Class D regionals and have five wins all-time without a loss in the state quarterfinals with victories also in 1999, 2000 and 2005.
What’s at stake: A spot in the NYS Class D semifinals to face the winner of Chapel Field Christian (IX) vs. Greenport (XI).
Class AA: Saturday, Nov. 5, 4 PM at Spencerport High School
McQUAID JESUIT KNIGHTS (Rochester City Athletic Conference/16-0-2)
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CLARENCE RED DEVILS (ECIC Division I/17-1-1)
How they arrived here: McQuaid (No. 6 NYSSWA Class AA) opened sectionals with a 7-0 win over World of Inquiry/Edison/Franklin/SOTA and outlasted Hilton, 1-0 in the semifinals. The Knights earned a regional bid with a 2-0 win over Brighton in the finals. Clarence (No. 7 NYSSWA Class AA) bested West Seneca (6-0), Lockport (5-1) and Williamsville North (3-2) on route to a Section VI Class AA championship.
Total goals: McQuaid (69), Clarence (70)
Total goals allowed: McQuaid (4), Clarence (17)
Trends: McQuaid has shutout opponents 13 times this season, allowing a goal in only four games. Clarence is 9-1-0 in its last 10 games, outscoring their opponents 36-9 during that stretch.
Players to watch for McQuaid: Trey Leo Sr. D four goals, five assists; Sam Leone Fr. M three goals, four assists; Kevin Miller So. A 11 goals, two assists; Casey Montesano Sr. A 11 goals, three assists; Andrew O’Neill Sr. A 12 goals, eight assists; Marco Pilato Sr. M two goals, 11 assists; Niyen Ruffin Sr. GK 64 saves, 1252 minutes played, four goals allowed, one assist; Jacob Sevene Sr. M eight goals, 12 assist; Colin Shanahan Sr. A four goals, six assists.
Players to watch for Clarence: Eli Douglas Sr. F 19 goals, six assists; Sean Philbin Sr. MF five goals, six assists; Evan Webster Jr. F nine goals, nine assists; Jaden Ganga Jr. F eight goals, five assists; Alex Laski Sr. D one goal, four assists; Will Baehre Sr. MF six goals, two assists.
History 101: McQuaid won 3-0 won the two teams met last month. McQuaid also defeated Clarence, 1-0 in the 2017 regional. This will be the Jesuit Knights third appearance in the state quarters having beaten Lockport, 1-0 in 2005.
What’s at stake: A spot in the NYS Class AA semifinals against Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK (VIII) or the winner of Smithtown West (XI) vs. Connetquot (XI).
**Article was updated to include Spencerport’s appearance in the 1978 state semifinals.
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