Senior Ryan Mathis had two goals and two assists and junior Justin Burton scored twice as Fairport avenged a previous loss with a 5-3 victory over Lancaster, Saturday in the New York State Class AAA Far West Regional at Geneseo High School.
Fairport (14-0-3) will play Walt Whitman (XI) or Syossett (VIII) in next Saturday’s 5:45 p.m. state semifinals in Middletown.
A wild opening 24 minutes saw five goals and Fairport holding a 3-2 lead. The Red Raiders actually fell behind just 45 seconds in on an own-goal after a scramble in front started by Lancaster top-scorer Roland Wenk (28 goals), who was held scoreless on the day. A Fairport clear attempt went off a defender and in.
But Burton tied the game nine minutes later, finishing a pass from Zach Buys, then Fairport took the lead when Mathis converted a Buys free kick. Mathis crashed the far post and converted on a leaping, point-blank header for a 2–1 edge with 19 minutes left
in the half. The Legends tied the game just 70 seconds later off a long free kick, as Lincoln Counihan lost his mark and nodded in a header. Just 90 seconds after that, Mathis ripped a low free kick around a wall from 18 yards for a 3-2 lead.
The Red Raiders, who led 13-7 in shots, made it 4-2 in just under four minutes into the second half. Trevor Scoppa finished an 11-yard shot off a long Mathis cross. Lancaster (15-3) made it a one-goal game with 18:21 remaining but Mathis (18 goals/9 assists this fall) hit Burton in stride for the clincher with 6:38 left. Burton had only two goals this season, headed into the day.
Goalie Evan Furciniti made four saves, including a big stop on a tight Lancaster shot with 5:25 to go.
Lancaster defeated Fairport, 1-0 in the 2023 Class AAA regional.
Fairport improved to 8-2-0 in regional play and will make its first state semis appearance since 2019 when the Red Raiders advanced to the state final.
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