The NYSPHSAA semifinals feature five Section V Girls’ Soccer squads looking to capture state titles. One squad is making its first semifinal appearance in program history. One squad looks to advance to the final for the first time since 2008. Another is making its seventh straight appearance in the state semis. Another looks to reach the final for the first-time in program history and one wants to make a second straight NYS final appearance. Fairport, Spencerport, Haverling, Holley and Fillmore all continue their quests for state championships starting this Saturday. Here’s what you need to know:
CLASS AAA
FAIRPORT RED RAIDERS (7-8-2/Monroe County Division I)
vs.
MONROE-WOODBURY CRUSADERS (13-2-2 Section IX Division I)
Tomkins Cortland Community College, Saturday, 2:30 p.m.
How they arrived here: Fairport (No. 20 NYSSWA Class AAA) won the AAA title with a 1-0 win over Rush-Henrietta. The Red Raiders then downed Lancaster 2-1 in the Far West Regional to advance to the state semifinal. Monroe-Woodbury (No. 5 NYSSWA Class AAA) defeated Pine Bush in the Section IX Class AAA final, then beat Arlington (I) 1-0 to reach the semifinal.
Total goals scored: Fairport (31)
Total goals allowed: Fairport (35)
Trends: Fairport has won four of its last six games.
Players to watch for Fairport: Savanna Biehler So. F 14 goals, four assists; Addison Tally So. GK 130 saves, 1,303 minutes in goal.
Players to watch for Monroe-Woodbury: Lily Bandel, Reese Dolan, Marissa Ely, Natalie Harwood, Mia Menzzasalma and Elaina Wood.
Coaches: Tom Natalie (Fairport), William Mpasiakos (Monroe-Woodbury)
History 101: Fairport is looking to make its first state final appearance since 2008. That year, the Red Raiders defeated Section XI champion, East Islip (2-1), before falling to John Jay (I) in the final. Monroe-Woodbury is looking to advance to the state final for the third time in the last five seasons (No state tournament in 2020 due to COVID-19). The Crusaders won back-to-back state titles in 2018 and 2019.
What’s at stake: A spot in the NYSPHSAA Class AAA final against the winner of Shenendehowa (II) and Ward Melville (XI).
CLASS AA
SPENCERPORT RANGERS (21-0-0/Monroe County Division II)
vs.
SOMERS TUSKERS (22-0-0/Section I)
Tomkins Cortland Community College, Saturday, 9:30 a.m.
How they arrived here: Top-seeded Spencerport (No. 2 NYSWWA Class A) defeated No. 16 Greece Arcadia (10-0), No. 8 Victor (1-0) and No. 4 Pittsford Mendon (4-0) to reach the Class AA final before beating No. 2 seed Webster Schroeder 3-0 in the sectional title game. The Rangers then defeated Niagara Wheatfield 10-0 to reach the NYS semifinal for the seventh straight season. Somers defeated Brewster (4-0), Clarkstown North (2-0), Harrison (7-2) and Horace Greeley (3-1) to win the Section I Class AA title. The Tuskers then beat Vestal (IV) 2-1 and Valley Central (IX) 2-1 to reach the semifinal.
Total goals scored: Spencerport (97), Somers (78)
Total goals allowed: Spencerport (2), Somers (14)
Trends: Spencerport has not conceded a goal this postseason and has recorded seven straight clean sheets. Somers has not allowed more than two goals in a match this season and has allowed five goals in six postseason games.
Players to watch for Spencerport: Lindsay Lenhard (VCU Commit) Jr. M 27 goals, 23 assists; Emma Watson (RIT Commit) Sr. M 14 goals, four assists; Emily Peacock So. F 13 goals, five assists; Isabella Fiorillo Sr. M 10 goals, seven assists; Liana Tata So. M/F eight goals, two assists; Aleena Solano Sr. M three goals, eight assists; Kendall Mesh (Old Dominion Commit) Sr. D six goals, two assists; Jamie Keens (Stony Brook Commit) Sr. M six goals, four assists; Cate Burns (Siena Commit) Sr. GK 79 saves, 0.1 GAA, 1375 minutes, 19 clean sheets.
Players to watch for Somers: Julia Arbelaez (Syracuse commit), Adrianna Cooke, Marley Hawkins, Lily Mazzaella, Jordan McMorrow, Tiana Righetti, Natalia Sanchez and Julia Schmidberger GK.
Coaches: Jamie Schneider (Spencerport), Kelci Hegg (Somers)
History 101: Spencerport is making its seventh NYS semifinal appearance in a row. The Rangers have a 3-5-1 record in the semifinal, with the 2016 team winning a state title and the 2017 team sharing a state championship with Pearl River (I). Spencerport’s last state final appearance was in 2019. Somers looks to make its third state final appearance in program history. The Tuskers won the Class A championship in 2014 and appeared in the final in 2011.
What’s at stake: A spot in the NYSPHSAA Class AA final against the winner of Smithtown West (XI) and Columbia (II).
CLASS B
HAVERLING RAMS (19-1-0/Livingston County Division I)
vs.
MARCELLUS MUSTANGS (18-3-0/Section III)
Cortland HS, Saturday, 9:30 a.m.
How they arrived here: Haverling (No. 3 NYSSWA Class C) cruised to a 6-0 win over No. 16 seed Wayland-Cohocton in the opening round. The Rams went on to beat eighth-seeded Le Roy 1-0 in the quarterfinals before advancing past No. 4 seed Dansville 2-0 in the semis. They beat No. 3 seed Mynderse 2-0 to win the Section V title and then Southwestern 4-0 in the Far West Regional. Marcellus (No. 8 NYSSWA Class C) defeated Sherburne-Earlville 14-0, Cazenovia 2-0, Skaneateles 2-1 and CBA 4-0 to win the Section III title. The Mustangs then downed Chenango Valley 4-0 to reach the NYS semifinal.
Total goals scored: Haverling (72), Marcellus (94)
Total goals allowed: Haverling (7), Marcellus (16)
Trends: Haverling has not allowed a goal in its last seven contests, outscoring opponents 26-0. Marcellus enters having won six straight and eight out of the last nine. The Rams have conceded five goals in that span.
Players to watch for Haverling: Ella Yartym (St. Bonaventure University commit) Sr. F 36 goals, 13 assists; Keegan Smith (University of Arkansas commit) Sr. M 24 goals, 14 assists; Lola Coots Jr. GK 1,264 minutes in goal, 47 saves; Lydia Dickson Sr. M three goals, five assists; Madison Thorp Jr. M three assists.
Marcellus: CeCe Powell So. F 29 goals, six assists; Claire Card Sr. M 15 goals, seven assists; Janie Powell Sr. F 14 goals, six assists; Jadyn Baker Sr. 11 goals, 10 assists; Corrine Aldrich Jr. M nine goals, 11 assists
Coaches: Braedyn Northrup (Haverling), Laurie Updike (Marcellus)
History 101: Haverling is appearing in the NYS semifinal for the second straight year. The Rams downed Section III champion Westhill (1-0) before falling in the state final to Irvington (I) by a 2-1 score. Marcellus looks to make its eighth state final appearance in program history and first since 2013. The Mustangs won back-to-back state titles in 2003 and 2004 and won another in 1989.
What’s at stake: A spot in the NYSPHSAA Class B final against the winner of Babylon (XI) and Saranac (VII).
CLASS C
HOLLEY HAWKS (18-3-0/Genesee Region Division I)
vs.
WATERFORD-HALFMOON FORDIANS (18-1-2/Section II)
Homer HS, Saturday, Noon
How they arrived here: Holley (No. 9 NYSSWA Class C) opened the postseason with 4-0 win over No. 8 seed Red Creek then a 7-0 win over No. 4 seed Bloomfield before winning its first sectional title in 29 years with a 2-1 win over No. 2 Williamson. With a 3-2 win over Byron Bergen in the Class C regional qualifier, Holley clinched its first trip to regionals in program history and advanced to its first state semifinal with a 2-0 win over Frewsburg. Waterford-Halfmoon (No. 2 NYSSWA Class C) defeated BKW (12-0), Mayfield (9-0), Chatham (9-1) and Stillwater to win the Section II crown. The Fordians then downed Section VII champion, North Adirondack (4-0) to reach the state semifinal.
Total goals scored: Holley (82)
Total goals allowed: Holley (21)
Trends: After starting the season with two losses in its first five games, Holley has dropped one decision in its last 16 games and is outscoring opponents 79-10 during that period. Waterford-Halfmoon allowed one goal in its first three postseason games.
Players to watch for Holley: Samantha Bates Sr. M 29 goals, 10 assists; Jailyn Bishop Sr. M 11 goals, 13 assists; Emma Brady Sr. M nine goals, nine assists; Natalie Foose Jr. M one goal, four assists; Isabella Thom Sr. D five goals, seven assists; Layne Walker Sr. GK 1,315 minutes in goal, 31 saves; Leigha Walker Sr. D four goals, three assists.
Coaches: Renee Wolf (Holley), Meg Reynolds (Waterford-Halfmoon)
History 101: Holley makes its first state semifinal appearance in program history. Waterford-Halfmoon is making its second-straight appearance in the NYS semifinal. The Fordians defeated Millbrook (IX) 3-0 and Sauquoit Valley (III) 6-3 to capture the state title.
What’s at stake: Winner faces either Mount Academy (IX) or Sauquoit Valley (III) in the NYSPHSAA Class C final.
CLASS D
FILLMORE EAGLES (21-0-0/Allegany County)
vs.
LISBON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (19-1-0/Section X)
Homer HS, Saturday, 5:00 p.m.
How they arrived here: Fillmore (No. 1 NYSSWA Class D) had a bye in the first round, and took down No. 8 seed Finney 9-0 and No. 5 seed Marion 3-0 on their way to the championship game, in which they beat second-seeded Northstar Christian 4-0. The Eagles then downed North Collins 6-0 to advance to the Class D NYS semifinal. Lisbon (No. 4 NYSSWA Class D) opened with a 6-0 win over Heuvelton, then defeated Colton-Pierrepont and Chateaugay both by a 2-0 score to win the Section X Class D title. The Knights then defeated Chazy (VII) 4-0 to reach the semifinal for the first time in program history.
Total goals scored: Fillmore (130), Lisbon (80)
Total goals allowed: Fillmore (3), Lisbon (10)
Trends: Fillmore has scored five or more goals in eight of its last 11 games. Lisbon has not allowed a goal this postseason.
Players to watch for Fillmore: Hope Russell Sr. F 65 goals, 19 assists; Grace Russell Sr. M 25 goals, 38 assists; Preslee Miller Sr. GK 1,480 minutes in goal, 46 saves; Rachel Hatch Sr. D two goals, seven assists; Delaney Hillman Sr. F/Mid five goals, six assists and Amelia Rose Sr. D three goals, 12 assists.
Players to watch for Lisbon: Allison Bell, Averee Bouchey GK, Lexi Clark, Ava Murphy, Regan Pirie and Brooke Stephens.
Coaches: Jon Beardsley (Fillmore) John Tregan (Lisbon)
History 101: Fillmore is looking to make its first NYS final appearance in program history. The Eagles last reached the semifinal in 2021, but fell 2-1 to Mount Academy. Lisbon is making its first state final appearance in program history. With the 4-0 win over Chazy, the Girls’ Soccer team is the first team in school history to appear in a state semifinal.
What’s at stake: Winner advances to the NYSPHSAA Class D final and faces either Fort Ann (II) or Cincinnatus (III).
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