For the third time in four years Churchville-Chili and Clarence will meet with a regional championship on the line. Clarence took a 3-0 decision when the two met in 2023. Churchville-Chili avenged that loss a year ago with a 2-1 triumph. Saturday night on the turf at Geneseo High School the two sectional champs will decide who advances to the state final four. Here’s the breakdown:
CLARENCE RED DEVILS
(17-2-0/ECIC Division I)
vs.
CHURCHVILLE-CHILI SAINTS
(16-1-2/Monroe County Division II)
How they arrived here: Clarence was the No. 1 seed in its bracket and opened sectional play with a 5-1 win over No. 9 Kenmore West, followed by a 5-0 victory over No. 5 Hamburg in the semi-finals. In the finals, the Red Devils took down No. 6 Williamsville North 2-0 to secure the sectional title. Entering sectional as the No. 1 seed, Churchville-Chili took down no. 16 Victor 5-0 in the first round. In the quarters, Churchville-Chili survived a scare from No. 9 Webster Thomas 2-1 behind goals from Bryce Wolf and Callum Berg to advance to the semi-finals where they took on No. 4. Brighton. Wolf scored the lone goal as the Saints won 1-0 to advance to the finals. In the finals, Lucas Cariola and Rylan Moran scored as the Saints held off a late push by Spencerport that included hitting the post as time expired to win the Class AA title 2-1.
Total goals scored: Clarence (59), Churchville-Chili (45)
Total goals allowed: Clarence (13), Churchville-Chili (11)
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM LAURA ACCIAIO.
Trends: Clarence comes into this matchup on a 10-game win streak, scoring 37 and giving up six. The Red Devils earned nine shutouts and scored at least three goals on nine occasions. Churchville-Chili enters the finals winners of six in a row, scoring 15 and allowing two goals in that stretch. The Saints have scored at least three goals on eight occasions with a high of seven vs Lockport (IV). Churchville-Chili has recorded eight shutouts and have only given up more than one goal once the entire season in a 4-2 win at Gates-Chili and have failed to score in just two games.
Players to watch:
Clarence: Gabe Gerbetz Sr. M (16 G, 10 A); Braedon Brennan Sr. M (7 G, 7 A); David Berkoh Jr. M (7 G, 7 A); Amore Clarke Jr. F (6 G, 6 A); Noah Weber Sr. M (5 G, 4 A); Eli Muller Jr. F (3 G, 2 A)
Churchville-Chili: Lucas Cariola Sr. F (8 G, 10 A); Avery Ewell Sr. F (9 G, 9 A); Bryce Wolf Sr. F (11 G, 11 A); Gavin Carnevale Sr. D; Isaac Gale Sr. D; Noah Murano Sr. D; Logan Vujanovic Sr. D; Austin Allen Sr. G (10 shutouts, 10 GA)
Coaches: Andre Gates (Clarence), John Mahoney (Churchville-Chili)
History 101: Churchville-Chili is making its third state quarterfinal appearance in program history with a record of 1 win and 1 loss. C-C lost in the state semifinals last season. Clarence has made 15 regional appearances with a record of 4 wins and 11 losses. Aside from the victory over C-C in 2023, the Red Devils also claimed wins in 2024 (Spencerport, 4-0), 2010 (Penfield, 3-0) and 2008 (Webster Thomas). Clarence has reached the state finals once in 2024 and lost to Garden City (2-1).
What’s at stake: The winner will face either Watertown (III) or Bethlehem Central (2) in the NYS semi-finals.
Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday November 7th, 7:30 p.m. at Geneseo High School.
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