Two Section V squads have weathered the storm of the Far West Regionals and are gearing up for the New York State Boys’ Soccer semifinal. One is looking for its fourth state title in program history. Another aims to advance to the state final for the first time since 2017. Here’s how Aquinas and Byron-Bergen/Elba stack up against their respective opponents.
CLASS A
AQUINAS LI’L IRISH (18-0-2/Private-Parochial)
vs.
WESTHILL WARRIORS (16-1-2/Section III)
Middletown HS, Friday, 1 p.m.
How they arrived here: Aquinas (No. 1 NYSSWA Class A) started sectionals with a 6-1 win over No. 8 seed Pittsford Mendon, then defeated No. 4 Wayne, 4-1 and Pittsford Sutherland 2-0 to win the Class A title. The Li’l Irish defeated Williamsville South, 2-0 in the Far West Regional to advance to the NYS semifinal. Westhill (No. 2 NYSSWA Class A) opened with a 1-0 victory over Whitesville, then over Jamesville-Dewitt (5-4 PKs) and New Hartford 1-0 to capture the Section III title. The Warriors then defeated Ichabod Crane and Plattsburgh both by 2-0 scores.
Total goals scored: Aquinas (75), Westhill (45)
Total goals allowed: Aquinas (13), Westhill (3)
Trends: Aquinas enters having won five straight. Westhill has allowed goals in one match this year and is riding a six-game win streak.
Players to watch for Aquinas: Micaiah Benjamin-Castle Jr. M Eight assists, three goals; Nicola Costa Sr. F Six assists, five goals; LJ Gleason Jr. GK 106 saves, 1,634 minutes in goal; JB Leary Sr. F Nine goals, five assists; Ryan Lewin So. F Seven goals, one assist; Tin Tin Pasia So. F 11 goals, eight assists; Ali Shabani Sr. MF 19 assists, nine goals; Charlie Sorensen Sr. M Six goals, three assists; Alfonso Vito Sr. F 20 goals, 11 assists; Carter Wegman Sr. D two goals, three assists.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM JOE TERRITO.
Westhill: Eric Holstein So. 12 goals, two assists; Owen Etoll Sr. nine goals, four assists; Hasan Altheblah Sr. two goals, five assists; Luke Infanti Sr. four goals, seven assists; Max Cowin So. five goals, three assists; Charlie DeMore Sr. GK 28 saves, 1.000 save percentage
Coaches: Josh Gleason (Aquinas), Tom Etoll (Westhill)
History 101: Aquinas reaches the NYSPHSAA semifinal for the fourth time in program history and first time since 2006. The Li’l Irish have gone on to win the state championship in each of their previous appearances in the state semifinals (2000, 2003, 2006). Westhill is looking to advance to the state final for the seventh time in program history. The Warriors won the 1992 and 2018 state championships.
What’s at stake: A spot in the Class A NYS final against either Byram Hills (I) or Mineola (VIII).
CLASS C
BYRON-BERGEN/ELBA BEES (16-2-1/Genesee Region)
vs.
SETON CATHOLIC SAINTS (Section IV)
Goshen HS, Saturday, 11 a. m.
How they arrived here: Byron-Bergen/Elba (No. 4 NYSSWA Class C) took down Holley 5-0, Addison 3-0 and East Rochester 1-0 to capture the Class C1 title. The Bees then downed Cuba-Rushford/Hinsdale 4-0 to advance to the Far West Regional and defeated Wilson 2-1 to reach the NYS semifinal. Seton Catholic (No. 1 NYSSWA Class C) defeated Greene, Afton/Harpursville and Southern Cayuga en route to the Class C Section IV title and then defeated Fabius Pompey 1-0 to reach the semifinal.
Total goals scored: Byron-Bergen/Elba (80)
Total goals allowed: Byron-Bergen/Elba (17)
Trends: Byron-Bergen/Elba enters on a nine-game win streak and has conceded one goal this postseason.
Players to watch for Byron-Bergen/Elba: Jack Farner Jr. A 36 goals, six assists, Colin Martin Sr. M 23 goals, 23 assists, Martin MacConnell Jr. GK 1324 minutes played, 10 goals against, Braedyn Chambry Sr. D eight goals, 11 assists, Carter Prinzi Sr. M four goals, three assists, Joel Lamb So. D three assists, Adam Piper Jr. M three goals.
Coaches: Ken Rogoyski (Byron-Bergen/Elba)
History 101: Byron-Bergen/Elba is making its second trip to the state semifinals for the second time since merging, the other coming in 2017. The Byron-Bergen program reached the NYS semifinals twice, once in 2002 and 2005. The ’02 team reached the state final, but fell to Keio Academy (I) 1-0. Seton Catholic is looking to advance to the NYS final for the first time in program history.
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