One side rides a dominant regular season and sectional tournament into the finals as they seek to avenge last season’s loss in the finals and capture its first sectional title since 2021. Another is searching for its first title since 2016 after a similarly dominant run through sectionals. It’s a Monroe County affair as Pittsford Sutherland goes toe-to-toe with HF-L for the Class A Championship. Here’s the breakdown:
No. 1 seed PITTSFORD SUTHERLAND KNIGHTS
(12-4-0/Monroe County Division III)
vs.
No. 3 seed HONEOYE FALLS-LIMA COUGARS
(8-6-4/ Monroe County Division IV)
How they arrived here: Coming into sectionals as the No. 1 seed, Pittsford Sutherland took down Vertus 11-0 in the quarterfinals as seven players recorded a goal, including a hat trick from Max Morgenstern. In the semi-finals, Morgenstern netted four as the Knights defeated No. 5 Greece Olympia, 6-0. Entering sectionals as the No. 3 seed, HFL hosted No. 6 Newark in the quarterfinals, winning 2-0 behind goals from Linden Bellizi and Cade Merill. HFL was then matched up with No. 7 Geneva in the semi-finals, coming out on top 5-1 to book its first trip to the sectional finals since 2017.
Total goals scored: Pittsford Sutherland (54), Honeoye Falls-Lima (33)
Total goals allowed: Pittsford Sutherland (13), Honeoye Falls-Lima (17)
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM STEVEN TWARDZIK.
Trends: Pittsford Sutherland enters as winners in four of its last five, scoring 26 goals and only giving up four during that stretch. Offensively, the Knights have scored at least three goals on nine occasions, including four games with at least six. Sutherland has recorded 10 shutouts and has yet to concede during sectionals. After starting the year 2-6-2, HFL comes into this matchup unbeaten in its last eight games, scoring 22 and giving up two goals during that span. The Cougars have scored at least three goals in six games, including two games in which they netted six, and have earned 10 shutouts on the season.
Regular season meetings: The two sides met twice during the regular season, with Pittsford Sutherland coming out on top 3-0 both times.
Players to watch:
Pittsford Sutherland: Max Morgenstern Sr. M (21 G, 7 A); Ronan Mulligan Sr. D/M (4 G, 5 A); Frank Mazzarella IV. Jr. M (6 G, 3 A); Jahyden Maiorani Sr. F (6 G); Teddy Winter Sr. D (3 G, 7 A); Zephyr Garigen Sr. M (1 G, 7 A); Joe Derisi Sr. G (.43 GAA, 8 shutouts)
Honeoye Falls-Lima: Cade Merrill Sr. F (18 G, 4 A); Chase Pritchard Jr. M (3 G, 8 A); Austin Schor Sr. F (3 G); Breck Masters So. F (3 G); Ollie Osterling Sr. D; Quentin Marshall Jr. M; Gavin Bent Jr. M; Brody Swan Sr. G (.67 GAA)
Head Coaches: CJ Knapp (PIttsford Sutherland), Mike Merrill (Honeoye Fall-Lima)
History 101: Pittsford Sutherland last won a sectional title in 2021 when they defeated Churchville-Chili 1-0. Since that triumph, the Knights have fallen in the finals in three of the last four seasons, including a 1-0 loss last year vs Pittsford Mendon. Sutherland was also held scoreless in its last two appearances in the finals. Honeoye Falls-Lima has not won a sectional title since 2016 when the Cougars did not give up a goal the entire tournament and defeated Wilson Magnet 4-0 in the Class A2 final, but later fell to Greece Athena in the Class A playoff. These two sides met in the 2017 Class A2 finals, with No. 3 Pittsford Sutherland beating No. 1 HFL 2-0, this was the last time the Cougars appeared in a sectional title until this season. That year Sutherland made a run to the NYS semi-finals. The Knights have won three NYS titles, most recently in 1985.
What’s at stake: A spot in the New York State Class A Far West Regional against the Section VI champion.
Kickoff is scheduled for Friday, October 30th at 5:00 p.m. at Greece Athena High School.
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