For the fourth time in the last five postseasons, the boys’ soccer teams of Fairport and McQuaid will face each other. On this occasion, the 2023 Section V Class AAA championship is on the line Friday at Spencerport High School. Here’s what you need to know:
No. 1 seed FAIRPORT RED RAIDERS (9-4-2/Monroe County Division I)
vs.
No. 2 seed MCQUAID JESUIT KNIGHTS (9-4-1/Rochester City Athletic Conference)
How they arrived here: Fairport defeated No. 5 seed World Of Inquiry/Edison Tech/Franklin/School Of The Arts, 8-0, to clinch a spot in the finals. McQuaid took a 1-0 victory over No. 3 seed Rush-Henrietta to advance to the title game.
Total goals scored: Fairport (45), McQuaid (58)
Total goals allowed: Fairport (18), McQuaid (14)
Trends: Fairport has gone unbeaten in three of its last four games. McQuaid has won three of its last four matches.
Players to Watch for Fairport: Zachary Buys Jr. D Six assists, five goals; Alexander Grejda So. D Four goals; Ryan Mathis Jr. MF Eight assists, five goals; Aiden Nelson Sr. GK 48 saves, 1,091 minutes in goal; Austin Stephany Jr. A Four goals, three assists; Daniel Van Aardt Sr. MF 10 goals, two assists.
McQuaid: Dillon Bucci Sr. MF 10 goals, three assists; Chase Diehl So. D Five assists; Leonardo Furgiuele Jr. F Five goals, four assists; Sam Leone So. MF Kevin Miller Jr. F 12 goals, 10 assists; Alex Morey Jr. GK 760 minutes in goal; Tyler Pagano Sr. F 10 goals, four assists.
Coaches: Bill Teasdale (Fairport), Jeff Oliver (McQuaid)
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM DENNIS JOYCE.
History 101: This is the fourth time in the last five years Fairport and McQuaid will meet in sectionals. Both squads clashed in the postseason in 2019, 2020 and 2021 with the Red Raiders coming out on top in each occasion. In 2019, the Red Raiders and Knights tied, 1-1, in the Class AA final before Fairport moved on to regionals via penalty kicks. The Red Raiders advanced to the state title game that year as well. Fairport took down McQuaid in the Class AA sectional semifinals in 2020 (3-1) and 2021 (3-2). McQuaid is seeking its second straight sectional title and sixth in program history. The top-seeded Knights claimed Class AA with a 2-0 win over Brighton last season. McQuaid reached the state final before falling to Section I champion, Scarsdale.
What’s next: The winner will face the Section VI champion in the New York State Class AAA Far West Regional.
Kickoff is scheduled for Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Spencerport High School.
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