One team is looking to win its second state title in four years. The other is returning to the state final four for the first time in more than two decades. Fillmore and Edmeston will battle for a spot in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Class D championship. Here’s the breakdown:
CLASS D
FILLMORE EAGLES
(20-1-0 / Allegany County I)
vs.
EDMESTON PANTHERS
(15-2-3 / Section IV)
Middletown HS, Saturday, Nov. 15, 8:30 a.m.
How they arrived here: Fillmore (No. 2 NYSSWA) defeated Honeoye (5-1), Genesee Valley-Belfast (2-1) and Northstar Christian (1-0) to take the Class D1 championship. Fillmore topped Avoca-Prattsburgh 5-2 in the regional qualifier before taking down Maple Grove 3-0 in the Far West Regional.
Edmeston (No. 4 NYSSWA) defeated Notre Dame-Elmira (4-0) and played to a draw (2-2) with Gilboa-Conesville/Roxbury in the Section IV Class D title game. The Panthers advanced on penalty kicks (3-1). In the regional against Colton-Pierrpont, the Panthers won 2-0.
Trends: Fillmore comes into the game on a six-game winning streak, outscoring opponents 22-4 in that span. The Eagles have only allowed more than one goal in a game twice and have shut out their opponent in 13 of the 21 games played.
Players to watch for Fillmore: Isaiah Sisson Sr. Mid/F (35 G, 4 A); Brayden Walton So. Mid/F (16 G, 12 A); Carson Sanasith Sr. Mid/F (6 G, 4 A); Issac Wilcox Jr. Mid/F (6 G); Levi Russell So. Mid/F (5 G, 8 A); Judah Russell So. MF (4 G, 6 A); Jared Boon So. GK (102 saves, 9 goals against).
Players to watch for Edmeston: Max Bolton (10 G/ 5 A); Sire Champen GK; Braymon Clark Jr. Mid (7 G/ 13 A); Braedyn Hurlbutt (7 G); Brock Redner Jr. F (11 G); Landon Wust Sr. D.
Coaches: Jarrett Vosburg (Fillmore), Dan Cheatham (Edmeston)
History 101: Fillmore is making its first appearance in the state semis since winning a program-first title in 2022 and eighth overall trip to the final four with a record of 1-4-2 in the previous appearances. Fillmore defeated Greenport (3-2) of Section XI in 2022 on the way to the state title. In 2021 under then-head coach Jamie Mullen, the Eagles played to a scoreless draw with Chazy (VII) and advanced on PKs before falling in the finals to Mount Academy (X), 3-1. In 2000, Fillmore advanced on PKs in its semifinal matchup with Blind Brook (I) and lost to Manlius-Pebble Hill (III), 2-1 in the championship game. Mullen led the Eagles to their first six state semifinal appearances.
Section V is 21-18-1 all-time against Section IV in the state tournament.
Edmeston is making its first trip to the state final four since claiming the NYSSPHSAA Class D championship in 2003 under then-head coach Jim Huntington. Edmeston beat S.S. Seward (IX), 3-1 in the finals.
What’s at stake: A spot in the Class D NYS championship on Sunday against either Chazy (VII) or Hamilton (III).
More history: Since the inception of the NYSPHSAA Boys’ Soccer Tournament in 1978, Section V sides have won 47 of the 204 titles (23 percent) contested. Of those, 35 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, Fairport, Gates-Chili, Greece Arcadia, Greece Athena, Hilton, Jasper-Troupsburg, Marion, McQuaid Jesuit and Northstar Christian. Pittsford Mendon (3), 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. Fairport took the AAA title in its second year in its existence. 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.
*Preview has been edited and updated.
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