By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Credit Rylan Moran with taking full advantage of his time on the pitch, Friday night.
The junior striker came off the bench midway through the first half and played no more than 15 minutes during the Section V Class AA championship game.
With those limited minutes, he delivered the eventual game winner with his first varsity goal as top-seeded Churchville-Chili (16-1-2) outlasted No. 2 Spencerport (15-2-2), 2-1 to win back-to-back titles.
“It feels amazing, feels great,” he said.
The play started at midfield with Joey Stimson controlling possession along the left side.
“I saw Joey get the ball, so I decided to get outside,” Moran said. “He crossed it to over me. I took a touch (and went) bottom left.”
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM LAURA ACCIAIO.
The shot skipped through a pair of defenders before ending in the opposite side netting.
The two sides had played to a pair of scoreless draws during the regular season.
Friday’s matchup on Eastridge’s Erna Frank Field, though, took on a different complexion in the early going.
Spencerport’s Adriano Sanfilippo started the scoring less than three minutes into the game.
Two minutes later, C-C’s Lucas Cariola leveled the match with an assist from Bryce Wolf.
Moran connected with 18:11 left before halftime.
Spencerport, ranked No. 8 in the state, had won nine straight and was unbeaten in 15 games heading into action. The Rangers were looking for their second title in three years.
“I’m super proud of my boys,” said Spencerport head coach Jody Wyant. “They had a great season. They worked their butts off all season long, and, you know, I’m so proud of them. They were so bonded together all season long, and it just was such a great year to be along the journey with them. I am going to miss them. It was such a great group.”
The remaining time wasn’t without scoring chances.
Cariola hit the crossbar on a header attempt off a corner kick.
Spencerport pushed forward late in the game for a corner kick with less than eight minutes left in the contest. The Rangers then drew a foul for a direct kick with under a minute remaining.
“That was outstanding soccer,” Churchville-Chili head coach John Mahoney said of the game.
Finally, Spencerport’s Jackson Schneider volley hit the goal post as time expired.
“Tip of the hat to their team,” Mahoney said of Spencerport. “They played outstanding and made us really uncomfortable all night long.”
The championship was the ninth in program history for the Saints who have also taken titles in 1945, ‘56, ‘65, ‘72, ‘73, ‘90, ‘23 and ‘25.
Churchville, No. 4 in the state, will play either Clarence or Williamsville North in the state quarterfinals. That game is scheduled for next Saturday, November 7th at Geneseo High School.
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