Three Section V squads came out the Far West Regionals with a win and continue seasons this weekend in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Boys’ Soccer semifinals. One squad is looking for its first state title since 1999 while the other two are looking for a first state title in the program histories. Here’s how Fairport, Brockport, and Naples stack up against respective opponents.
CLASS AAA
FAIRPORT RED RAIDERS (14-0-3/Monroe County Division I)
vs.
WALT WHITMAN WILDCATS (14-4-0/ Section XI League II)
Middletown HS, Saturday, 5:45 p.m.
How they arrived here: After earning a first-round bye in the postseason, Fairport (No. 1 NYSSWA Class AAA) defeated Rush-Henrietta 2-0 in the semifinals and pulled out the victory 3-2 against McQuaid Jesuit to earn a spot in the Far West Regional. The Red Raiders topped Lancaster 5-3 to advance to the NYS semifinals.
Walt Whitman (No. 4 NYSSWA Class AAA) also earned a bye to open the postseason and then defeated Newfield 3-1. The Wildcats knocked off No. 2 Commack 2-1 and went on to win the Section XI title against No. 4 Connetquot, 2-1. Walt Whitman pulled out a 5-4 victory against Syosset (VIII), a game in which the Wildcats trailed 4-1, to clinch a spot in the state semifinals.
Total goals scored: Fairport (49), Walt Whitman (44)
Total goals allowed: Fairport (18), Walt Whitman (26)
Trends: Fairport has won its last eight games in a row with four coming by shutout. In that stretch, the Red Raiders have outscored opponents 21-10. Fairport has six shutouts this season. Walt Whitman has come out victorious in its past nine games and have outscored opponents 30-13 in that stretch.
Players to watch for Fairport: Nolan Geib Sr. GK (421 minutes played, 27 saves, nine goals allowed); Evan Furciniti, Jr. GK (340 minutes played, 30 saves, 5 goals allowed); Ryan Mathis, Sr. A (18 goals, 9 assists); Trevor Scoppa, So. A (six goals, three assists); Austin Stephany, Sr. A (four goals, five assists); Justin Burton, Jr. A (three goals, three assists); Alexander Grejda, Jr. D (three goals, two assists); Sean Griffin, Jr. A (three goals, one assist); Charles Ippolito, Sr. M/D (three goals); Thomas Edwards, Sr. A (two goals, one assist); Brock Stephany, Fr. M (two goals, one assist).
Walt Whitman: Michael Mannino, Sr. F; Jamith Jimenez, Sr. M; Jackson Dillon, Sr. M; Edwin Alfaro, D; Jerson Contreras, Sr. D; Edward Flores, Sr. D; Anthony Reyes, D; Jayden Castro, Jr. GK.
Coaches: Bill Teasdale (Fairport), John DiGiacomo (Walt Whitman)
History 101: Fairport is 4-3 all-time in state semifinal games with wins in 2019, 2016, 2014 and 2013. The Red Raiders are looking for their first state title in the program’s history. Walt Whitman is looking for its first state title since 2015 and its second in school history. This will be the first meeting between the two schools. Section V schools are 11-15-3 all-time against Section XI in the state tournament.
What’s at stake: A spot in the Class AAA NYS final on Sunday against either Scarsdale (I) or Shaker (II).
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM LAURA ACCIAIO.
CLASS A
BROCKPORT BLUE DEVILS (19-1-0/Monroe County Division IV)
vs.
SCHALMONT SABRES (20-1-0/Section II)
Middletown HS, Saturday, 6 p.m.
How they arrived here: Brockport (No. 1 NYSSWA Class A) earned a first-round bye then proceeded to defeat Honeoye Falls-Lima 4-0 in the quarterfinals. The Blue Devils went on to win 3-1 in the semifinals against Newark and knocked off No. 1 Pittsford Mendon 4-3 for the sectional title. Brockport won 4-2 in the Class A Far West Regional against Grand Island to earn its spot in the NYS Class A semifinals.
After a first-round bye, Schalmont (No. 3 NYSSWA Class A) defeated Broadalbin-Perth 2-0 in the quarterfinals and paced past Glen Falls 6-1 in the semifinals. The Sabres won the sectional championship 2-1 against No. 2 Ichabod Crane and earned a spot in the state semifinals with a 2-1 victory over New Hartford in double overtime.
Total goals scored: Brockport (90), Schalmont (73)
Total goals allowed: Brockport (24), Schalmont (15)
Trends: Brockport has won its last four games in a row after losing its final outing of the regular season. Brockport has eight shutouts on the season. Schalmont has won its past 17 games with the Sabres last loss coming on Sept. 17th, 3-0 against Mohonasen. Since then, the Sabres have outscored opponents 54-12 and registered eight shutouts. Schalmont has 11 shutouts on the season while allowing more than one goal in only three games.
Players to watch for Brockport: Will Hawken Sr. F (33 goals, 14 assists); Cash Rosado Jr. F/M (30 goals, 8 assists); Ryan Camman So. M (six goals, 15 assists); Benjamin Bristol Sr. M/D (five goals, four assists); Aiden Fitzpatrick So. D (four goals, 14 assists); Alexander Schram Sr. M (three goals, eight assists); Shay Fitzpatrick, Sr. M (three goals); Andrew Lennartz, Sr. D (two goals, one assist); Brayden Cummings, Jr. M (two goals); Ty Sherman Jr. GK (73 saves, 20 goals allowed in 881 minutes)
Schalmont: Connor Byrnes, Jr. (20 goals, six assists); Corbert Hallberg, Sr. (18 goals, seven assists); Santiago Vega, So. (seven goals, five assists); Andrew Sprenger, Sr. (seven goals, one assist); Cody Coop, Jr. (four goals, one assist); Luke Viscusi, So. D (three goals, eight assists); Brian Schaffer, Jr. D (three goals, three assists); Aiden Lawrence, Sr. (two goals, seven assists); Vincenzo Pezzuto, Fr. (two goals, five assists); Mason Panarese, Fr. (two goals, two assists); Michael Spina, Sr. (two goals, two assists); Gabriel Tommasone, So. (two goals, one assist); Derek Natalie, Jr. D (one goal, two assists); Aidan Cleveland, Sr. GK (81 saves, 15 goals allowed in 1,680 minutes)
Coaches: Jeff Phillips (Brockport), Vito Urbano (Schalmont)
History 101: After Brockport earned its first regional final victory in its first ever appearance, the Blue Devils make the program’s inaugural trip to the state semifinals. This is Schalmont’s first appearance in the NYS semifinals since 2018 when the Sabres fell to Westhill (III). Schalmont is also looking for its first state semifinals victory in school history and first appearance in the NYS Finals. Section V squads are 17-11-4 all-time against Section II in state-tournament action.
What’s at stake: A spot in the Class A NYS Final on Sunday against either Our Lady of Lourdes (IX) or Floral Park Memorial (VIII).
CLASS D
NAPLES BIG GREEN MACHINES (19-1-0/Finger Lakes West)
vs.
HAMILTON EMERALD KNIGHTS (17-3-1/Section III)
Middletown HS, Friday, 3:15 p.m.
How they arrived here: Naples (No. 1 NYSSWA Class D) kicked off its playoff run with a 10-0 shutout against Friendship-Scio and defeated Lyndonville 6-1 in the quarterfinals. The Big Green Machines grabbed the victory 2-1 against Fillmore in the semifinals and cruised to a 3-0 shutout against No. Arkport-Canaseraga for the sectional title. Naples kept its foot on the gas pedal with a 4-0 win against Section VI champions Ellicottville in the Far West Regional to earn a spot in the Class D NYS semifinals.
Hamilton (No. 2 NYSSWA Class D) started the postseason with a 9-1 victory over Watertown HC in the first round and went on to defeat Lyme 3-1 in the quarters. The Emerald Knights continued the scoring with a 4-0 win against Belleville Henderson and won the sectional finals over Faith Heritage, 3-2. Hamilton earned its spot in the NYS semifinals with a 4-0 shutout against South Kortright in the state quarterfinals.
Total goals scored: Naples (93), Hamilton (82)
Total goals allowed: Naples (5), Hamilton (20)
Trends: Naples enters the NYS semifinals on a 15-game winning streak with its only loss of the season coming on Sept. 18, 2-1 at Dundee/Bradford. Since then, the Big Green Machines have outscored opponents 71-3 and racked up 12 victories via shutout, including three in the postseason. Naples has won 15 games by shutout and has allowed a total of two goals in the postseason.
Hamilton has won eight of its last nine with four coming by shutout. During that stretch, the Emerald Knights have outscored opponents 39-8. The last time Hamilton lost was Oct. 3 at Waterville 3-0 which was one of two games where they allowed more than two goals. The Emerald Knights have allowed more than one goal in five games this season and have a total of eight shutouts, including two this postseason.
Players to watch for Naples: Matthew Lincoln Sr. (30 goals, 13 assists); Connor Betrus So. (17 goals, 17 assists); Oscar Austin Jr. (15 goals, 14 assists); Jacob Betrus So. (eight goals, 12 assists); Isaac Ward Jr. (six goals, eight assists); Landon Gleichauf Sr. (five goals, six assists); Maddox Mannella, So. (four goals, one assist); Evan Rischpater, Sr. (two goals, three assists); Lukas Hall, Sr. (two goals, one assist); CJ Fuller Sr. GK (47 saves and 4 goals against in 1170 minutes)
Hamilton: Gavin Hames, Jr. MF (22 goals, 24 assists); Levi Neuenschwander, Jr. F/MF (19 goals, eight assists); Luke Langel, Fr. F/MF (10 goals, eight assists); Sawyer Latella, So. MF (six goals, four assists); Matthias Page Fangon, So. MF (five goals, one assist); Bryce Wright, Sr. D (four goals, one assist); Brayden Pretre, Fr. F (three goals, six assists); Dylan George, Jr. MF (two goals, three assists); Caleb Neuenschwander, So. D (two goals, two assists); Teddy Freeth, Sr. MF (one goal, five assists); Gavin Snyder, Sr. D (one goal, four assists); Colin Olsen, Sr. D/MF (one goal, three assists); Cooper Roy, Sr. GK (105 saves, 19 goals allowed in 1,584 minutes).
Coaches: Ryan Betrus (Naples), Brian Rose (Hamilton)
History 101: Naples is back in the NYS semifinals after a 25-year hiatus thanks to its fifth victory in the Far West Regional Finals. The Big Green Machines remain undefeated in the state quarterfinals. The last time Naples advanced past the regional finals, they won the state finals in 1999, and the Big Green Machines are looking for a third state title in program history (1999, 1989). Hamilton is looking for its first NYS title since 2011 and fourth in school history (2011, 2008, 1997). Naples and Hamilton met in the 1995 state semifinals with the Emerald Knights advancing on PKs. Section V squads are 22-16-3 against Section III in the state tournament.
What’s at stake: A spot in the Class D NYS Final on Saturday against either Northville (II) or Chazy (VII).
More history: Since the inception of the NYSPHSAA Boys’ Soccer Tournament in 1978, Section V sides have won 45 titles. Of those, 34 have been outright. Pittsford Mendon leads the way with six such NYS titles followed by Red Creek (4) and Aquinas (4). Holley, Naples, Penfield and Pittsford Sutherland have all won two titles apiece with another 12 schools bringing home one outright state crown: Bath-Haverling, Bloomfield, Cardinal Mooney, Fillmore, Gates-Chili, Greece Arcadia, Greece Athena, Hilton, Jasper-Troupsburg, Marion, McQuaid Jesuit and Northstar Christian. Pittford Mendon (2), Red Creek (2), Gates Chili, Greece Arcadia, Jasper-Troupsburg, Livonia, Marion, Penfield and Pittsford Sutherland have all shared at least one title.
Cornell University hosted the first NYS tournament that was competed at three classifications (A, B and C). Class D was added in 1980, AA in 2004 and AAA in 2023. Two Section V teams (Penfield ’04 and McQuaid ’17) have won outright Class AA titles while Section V teams have combined to win 11 Class A championships, 14 Class B, 11 Class C and seven Class D titles.
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