Five girls’ soccer teams from Section V remain alive in the state tournament. Fairport, Pittsford Mendon, Hornell, Byron-Bergen and Keshequa all continue the season this weekend. Here’s the breakdown:
CLASS AAA
FAIRPORT RED RAIDERS (12-5-0/Monroe County Division I)
vs.
WARD MELVILLE PATRIOTS (16-0-1/Section XI League II)
Tompkins Cortland Community College, Saturday, 12 p.m.
How they arrived here: As the top seed in a three-team bracket, Fairport (No. 8 NYSSWA) earned a bye to the championship and then defeated No. 2 Rush-Henrietta, 6-0 to win the Section V title before winning a quarterfinals matchup with Section VI champion Lancaster, 4-0. Ward Melville (No. 1 NYSSWA) won the Section XI by beating Commack and then won its quarterfinals game with Section VIII champion Oceanside, 1-0.
Total goals scored: Fairport (52)
Total goals allowed: Fairport (32)
Trends: Fairport has won five straight and six of seven. Ward Melville has won every game this season save for a 0-0 draw against St. Anthony’s on Sept. 5.
Players to watch for Fairport: Ava Bagnato Sr. M (2 goals, 1 assist); Eliana Biehler Fr. M (2 goals, 7 assists); Savanna Biehler Jr. F (30 goals, 3 assists); Zainab Khalid Jr. M (1 goal, 2 assists); Delaney McIntyre Sr. F (2 goals, 2 assists); Kate Pecora So. D (3 assists); Lola Pucci Sr. M (1 goal, 6 assists); Addison Tally Jr. GK (120 saves, 1,163 MP); Andrea Wilson Sr. M (11 goals, 10 assists).
Coaches: Tom Natalie (Fairport), John Diehl (Ward Melville)
History 101: Fairport is trying for its second-ever appearance in the state championship game, having finished second in 2008. The two-time defending champion Ward Melville squad is aiming to reach the finals for the third straight season and earn a three-peat.
What’s next: The winner will face either Section I Arlington or Section II Saratoga Springs in the state title game at SUNY Cortland on Sunday at 9:30 a.m.
CLASS A
PITTSFORD MENDON VIKINGS (17-1-1/Monroe County Division III)
vs.
SHOREHAM-WADING RIVER WILDCATS (12-2-2/Section XI League VII)
Cortland High School, Saturday, 9:30 a.m.
How they arrived here: Pittsford Mendon (No. 3 NYSSWA Class A) had a bye in the first round before it downed Newark/Lyons (10-0) in the quarterfinals beginning its sectional run. Then, the Vikings defeated No. 5 Our Lady of Mercy (3-2) before they claimed the Section V Class A title with a 1-0 win over Pittsford Sutherland and then opened their state tournament with a 1-0 win over Section VI’s Lewiston-Porter. Section XI’s Shoreham-Wading River (No. 8 NYSSWA Class A) clinched their sectional title with a win over Sayville and then defeated Section VIII’s Wantagh 2-0 in the quarterfinals.
Total goals scored: Pittsford Mendon (43)
Total goals allowed: Pittsford Mendon (7)
Trends: Pittsford Mendon has not lost since Sept. 28th, amassing 10 wins straight. The Vikings have a 30-5 goal differential over that span and have allowed a goal in only one of their last seven games (3-2 win over Mercy). Shoreham-Wading River is on a three-game win streak, having dropped their regular season finale to Islip.
Players to watch for Pittsford Mendon: Kate Crowley Sr. GK 1448 minutes played, 61 saves, seven goals allowed; Charlotte Engin Sr. M 14 goals, seven assists; Lillian Larimer Jr. F 13 goals, four assists; Ella VanPutte Jr. D one goal, eight assists; Mikaela Lloyd Jr. M Four goals, four assists; Claire Baek Sr. D Two goals, four assists; Brinley Schreib Jr. M Two goals, four assists; Olivia Rohan Jr. F Two goals; Leonora Graff Sr. D One goal, one assist.
Coaches: Eric Pritchard (Pittsford Mendon), Adrian Gilmore (Shoreham-Wading River)
History 101: Pittsford Mendon is making its ninth state semifinal appearance and first since 2014. The Vikings have won three state titles: 1984, ’86 and ’88. Shoreham-Wading River is making its second straight state semifinal appearance. The Wildcats claimed the 2019 NYS Class A title.
What’s Next: The winner advances to the New York State Class A final on Sunday, November 17th at SUNY Cortland and will face either Rye (I) or New Hartford (III). Kickoff is 10 a.m.
CLASS B
HORNELL RED RAIDERS (17-1-1 / Livingston I)
vs.
COLD SPRING HARBOR SEAHAWKS (10-2-5 / Section VIII Conference A/B-2)
Cortland High School, Saturday, 2:30 p.m.
How they arrived here: As the top seed, Hornell (No. 6 NYSSWA Class B) only had to win two games to reach the sectional finals: a quarterfinals match-up with Dansville (4-1) and a semifinals face-off with Le Roy (4-1). Clinching a sectional title with a win against Haverling, the Red Raiders opened the state tournament with a 2-1 win over Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove of Section VI. Cold Spring Harbor (No. 5 NYSSWA Class B) won its state quarterfinal against Section XI’s Babylon, 1-0.
Total goals scored: Hornell (83)
Total goals allowed: Hornell (11)
Trends: Hornell is on an 11-game win streak, having gone undefeated since a 2-1 loss to Livonia on Sept. 28. Cold Spring Harbor enters the semifinals after four straight wins.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM LAURA ACCIAIO.
Players to watch for Hornell: Parker Graham Jr. (21 goals, 8 assists); Raegan Evingham So. (12 goals, 14 assists); Ella White So. (15 goals, 6 assists); Brynna Wilkinson 7th (13 goals, 5 assists); Selena Maldonado Jr. (3 goals, 6 assists); Lillian Hoyt Sr. (2 goals, 5 assists); Chloe Harwood Sr. (4 goals)
Coaches: Mike Wilkinson (Hornell), Ryan Towers (Cold Spring Harbor)
History 101: This is Hornell’s first time in the semifinals since 2013, when the Red Raiders lost to Oneonta. Cold Spring Harbor has made the state final 13 times, earning at least a co-championship all 13 times. None of those championships have come since 2000.
What’s at stake: The winner earns a spot in the NYS Class B final against either Section I Bronxville or Section III Marcellus.
Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. on Sunday at SUNY Cortland.
CLASS C
BYRON-BERGEN BEES (20-1-1/GENESEE 1)
vs.
BURKE CATHOLIC EAGLES (14-3-0/Section IX Conference 5)
Homer High School, Saturday, 9:30 a.m.
How they arrived here: Byron-Bergen (NYSSWA No. 3) began the Class C2 section of Section V tournament by beating No. 15 Red Jacket (10-0) then No. 7 Gananda (3-0) and No. 3 Genesee Valley-Belfast (6-1) in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively before beating Kendall 1-0 in the C2 title game. In the regional qualifier, the Bees secured a spot in the state tournament with a 2-1 victory over Williamson. The Bees then opened the state tournament with a 2-1 overtime win over Frewsburg. Burke Catholic (NYSSWA No. 14) won both games of its sectional tournament then opened the state tournament with a 2-0 win over Section I’s Tuckahoe.
Total goals scored: Byron-Bergen (109), Burke Catholic (101)
Total goals allowed: Byron-Bergen (8), Burke Catholic (18)
Trends: Byron-Bergen enters the state semifinals on a seven-game win streak, having beaten Aquinas in its regular season finale before winning six in postseason play. Burke Catholic has won seven straight.
Players to watch for Byron-Bergen: Mia Gray Jr. M (37 goals, 24 assists); Janessa Amesbury Sr. F (19 goals, 8 assists); Grace DiQuattro Jr. F (17 goals, 25 assists); Elizabeth Starowitz Jr. M (15 goals, 10 assists); Riley Shallenberger So. M (3 goals, 10 assists); Natalie Prinzi Sr. GK (97 saves and 5 goals allowed in 1780 minutes)
Coaches: Wayne Hill (Byron-Bergen), Sara Fandl (Burke Catholic)
History 101: Byron-Bergen is aiming to make its first state championship game, having last advanced to the semifinals in 2022. Burke Catholic is also trying to reach its first state title game in program history.
What’s next: The winner will face either Stillwater (II) or Cincinnatus (III) in the state finals on Sunday, Nov. 17 at noon at SUNY Cortland.
CLASS D
NORTHVILLE FALCONS (12-7-0/Section II Western Athletic-Northern League)
vs.
KESHEQUA WILDCATS (14-5-0/Livingston County Division III)
Homer High School, Saturday, 2:30 p.m.
How they arrived here: Keshequa (No. 1 NYSSWA CLASS D) kicked off its sectional run with a 7-0 win over No. 12 Andover-Whitesville then defeated No. 4 Northstar Christian Academy 2-0 in the quarterfinals. The Wildcats then knocked off No. 1 Fillmore 1-0 in the semifinals and won the Class D title with a 1-0 victory over No. 2 Naples. In states, the Wildcats beat Section VI Ellicottville in the quarterfinals, 3-0. Northville (No. 15 NYSSWA CLASS D) , meanwhile, beat top-seeded Fort Anne to win their sectional title and then beat IX’s Livingston Manor in the state quarterfinals.
Total goals scored: Keshequa (87), Northville (64)
Total goals allowed: Keshequa (21), Northville (22)
Trends: Keshequa has won its last 11 games in a row with nine of those victories coming by shutout. The Wildcats have outscored opponents 49-4 during that stretch and have 13 shutouts in total on the season. Keshequa has not allowed a goal all postseason. The last time the Wildcats allowed a goal was on Oct. 15th in a 3-2 victory over Class B sectional finalist, Haverling. The Wildcats haven’t lost a game since Sept. 30th when they fell on the road, 2-1 to York/Pavilion. Northville enters the semifinal on a three-game winning streak.
Players to watch for Keshequa: Lilly Rautenstrauch, Jr. (60 saves, 15 allowed); Ava Thayer, Sr. (34 goals, 17 assists); Braelyn Isaman, So. (17 goals, 19 assists); Quinn Powers, Fr. (eight goals, five assists); Rylee Benner, So. (six goals, three assists); Alivia Cartwright, Jr. (four goals, six assists); Bree Benner, Fr. (four goals, five assists); Riley Nageldinger, So. (three goals, eight assists); Lillianna Hugi, So. (three goals, three assists); Michaela Bugman, Jr. (two goals, one assist); Elizabeth Wood, Sr. (two goals); Madeline Strain, Sr. (one goal, two assists).
COACHES: Pat Forrester (Keshequa), Doug Hammons (Northville)
History 101: Keshequa will make its fifth state semifinal appearance since 2011, most recently before now in 2022. The Wildcats have made one state final, losing in the Class C championship game in 2012. Northville finished Class D runner-up in 2011.
What’s next: The winner between the Wildcats and Falcons will take on either Colton-Pierrepont (X) or Copenhagen (III) on Sunday, November 17th, at 12:30 P.M. on the campus of SUNY Cortland.
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